Now 2 for 1 with the scale mail choker - buy them both for the price of one, or if you already bought it, claim your free copy of the choker pattern!

Major update for 2026 with new pictures, improved charts, and more guidance for beginners! The pattern has also been rewritten to improve readability.
Now links to new video tutorial as well as step-by-step photos for the knit scale technique.

The pattern and chart pages are photo-free and can be printed in black and white. In all my patterns I use minimal colour coding, and always include other tells (usually via shapes or symbols) so that it is not vital to the pattern, to make it colour-blind friendly.

The neck piece can be made in slightly different weights of yarn as long as you match your needles to meet the gauge - a worsted or aran weight can be used to make much lighter weight neck piece, while the recommended bulky yarn such as James C Brett produces a dense and warm base fabric that more firmly holds the scales in place.

Legacy notes included for completion:
A simple pattern for a scaled neck piece, worked using knit and modified knit (to add the scales - photos instructions included) stitches with basic increase and decrease shaping, and one instance of re-joining yarn to knit remaining stitches.
The pattern additionally includes a blank grid with instructions for if you wish to knit more than one colour of scale into your neck piece in a specific pattern. This chart is not needed if you are only using one colour of scale.

The knitted section of the neck piece is approximately 16 inches in circumference, with instructions for basic jewelry or tied-yarn-ends closure which can be done to increase the total length when worn.

Required
300 scales
any small scale from TheRingLord.com is suitable (any approx 9/16” by 7/8”leaf shaped scale with 5mm hole should also do)
large scales will not work for this pattern

Optional
Necklace findings - two ribbon end clamps (8-10mm wide), two jump rings (4-6mm diameter) and a lobster clasp, plus any additional chain to your desired final length for extension chain
(the pattern includes instructions for a basic yarn tied version which does not require any findings)
If you prefer to move unused stitches to a stitch holder you may require one, however the pattern is written that the stitches can be left on one needle as the other stitches are worked.

Yarn - 100g of aran, worsted, or the narrower chunky yarn should be plenty and these work well with the scales (adjust the needle size to achieve gauge)

The given gauge is on a plain piece of garter stitch, without any scales