After planning your Americana Keyhole Scarf, these are the basic knitting instructions:
Beginning the scarf:
Cast on 24 (28, 32, 36) stitches.
Work in 1x1 ribbing, slipping first stitch in each row, for approximately 6 (9, 12, 15) inches or desired length of first tail (from bottom of scarf to bottom of keyhole).
Setup for keyhole:
Divide the field of navy yarn in half, as each half of the navy field will create one side of the keyhole. To find the middle of the navy field, pull the full length of the navy field from the skein. Holding the two ends of the navy field together, smooth the navy strands together until the middle is found. Cut yarn in the middle of the navy field.
Divide the 24 (28, 32, 36) stitches, slipping odd number stitches onto your knitting needle to form the 1st side of the keyhole and even numbered stitches onto a stitch holder or small circular needle to form the 2nd side of the keyhole. After dividing alternating stitches, there will be 12 (14, 16, 18) stitches on the needle and 12 (14, 16, 18) stitches on the stitch holder or small circular needle.
1st side of keyhole:
Work the 12 (14, 16, 18) stitches from your needle in Seed stitch or 1x1 ribbing to end of navy field (approximately 3-4 inches), ending at end of a row.
2nd side of keyhole:
Work the 12 (14, 16, 18) stitches from your needle in Seed stitch or 1x1 ribbing to same length as 1st side of keyhole, ending at end of a row.
Close the top of the keyhole:
Holding the knitting needle parallel with the stitch holder or small circular needle:
* K1 from front needle, P1 from back needle (stitch holder or small circular needle). Repeat from * to end of row.
After closing the top of the keyhole, there will be 24 (28, 32, 36) stitches on the needle.
(More keyhole patterns in this old post... each describes
making a keyhole a bit differently.)
Ending the Scarf:
Continue in 1x1 ribbing pattern to knit scarf with sufficient length to go around the neck, tuck into keyhole, and have a 2nd tail with matches the 1st tail.
Bind off. Weave in ends.