Burr Oak Kerchief

I'm mad for plaid! This tartan kerchief is one of a few plaid designs I've been working on.

Worked as a triangle from wide end to narrow point.

The plaid pattern uses light and shadow as much as it does color, and combines garter stitch with basic brioche stitches and slipped stitches (mosaic).

Only one color is used per row, so no multiple strands to juggle. And well-placed splices are used (optionally), eliminating the need to weave in any ends later.

And oh the color possibilities are endless! Choose a main color (MC), a darker color (DC), a lighter color (LC), and another color for a little pop (PC).

The kerchief sample shown above was knitted with with MC: Brigadoon Mustard, LC: Nirvana Natural, DC: Brigadoon Centro, and PC: Eden Brigadoon Aqua.

The following photos are not of this kerchief design, but are here to show a few other possible options and maybe provide a bit of inspiration.

Red sample shown in MC: Nirvana Artisan Apple, LC: Eden Fawn, DC: Brigadoon Relic, and PC: Brigadoon Lagoon.

Olive shawl sample shown in MC: Angelic Artisan Olive, LC: Nirvana Artisan Sage, DC: Brigadoon Relic, and PC: Eden Artisan Violet.

Pink scarf sample shown in MC: Nirvana Artisan French Pink, LC: Eden Mist, DC: Eden Dove, and PC: Eden Bay.

Stats

Size: About 42" tip to tip by 16" deep at center back.

Gauge: 20 sts = 4" in garter stitch using size 5 needles.

Yarn: Sunday Knits 3 ply (light sport weight) in Angelic (75% merino 25% angora), Nirvana (90% merino 10% cashmere), Eden (100% merino) and/or Brigadoon (100% merino tweed); 225 m / 245 yd per 50 g skein:
1 skein each of the main color (MC) and lighter color (LC), one 20-gm mini skein each of the darker color (DC) and the pop color (PC).

Substitute any non-superwash 100% woolen (best for splicing) sport-weight yarn (estimates include a 10% cushion):
MC: 320 yds, LC: 290 yds, DC:130 yds, PC: 30 yds.

Needles: Size US 5 (3.75 mm).

Notions: Stitch markers optional.

Skills used: Slipping stitches, basic brioche stitches (brk, brp and slyo), splicing.

Pattern includes: Written instructions, glossary, linked tutorials.

Knit Burr Oak Kerchief

© Sunday Knits 2026. All rights reserved. Design and photos by Carol Sunday.