The Devil’s Backbone Scarf/Shawl pattern is 20% off through May 1, 2026! No coupon code necessary; this discount is automatic at checkout. Enjoy!

This is a little hard to categorize: it’s more of a scarf/shawl hybrid than anything. The construction and the knitting project itself feels very shawl-like, and it has a shawl-like visual flow—but the length of it makes it a scarf, right? Or at least more scarf-looking. More scarf-utility. It’s probably a scarf.

Either way, it’s an excellent immersive project with an evocative finished shape and beautiful flow. It’s named for a landmark, a sort of rocky ridge, and the flexible fabric makes it easy to block the finished work into a shape with either straight lines or more organic curves.

The main sample is shown in scrap yarns—heavy on Malabrigo Yarn Sock, with a few extras thrown in to help me get the dimensions I wanted. This is another project that’s very easy to customize, and I think even a bit beginner-friendly—there’s nothing technical that should make it inaccessible for most knitters.

Materials:

• 440-500 yards of heavy fingering-weight yarn; the sample is shown in scraps of Malabrigo Yarn Sock, Noro Silk Garden Sock, madelinetosh Merino Light, and a few other things.
• 1 24”+ circular needle in US3-4/3.25-3.5mm, or size needed for gauge
• tapestry needle for weaving in ends

Gauge:
Gauge is 22 sts and 40 rows over 4”/10cm of pattern as written. Gauge is important for dimensions and yardage estimates, but not for fit. It’s just a scarf. Or a shawl. I may be overthinking the scarf/shawl thing a bit.

Measurements:
This shawl or scarf is 82”/2.08m long. The smallest triangle is about 3.5”/9cm deep, and the biggest on the sample is 12”/30cm deep.