Tips on the Cable Edge Scarf

I love this Cable Edge Scarf (LW3004) pattern, and you will too! Whether you're a cable veteran or just a beginner, this scarf's neat look and easy design makes it a winner.

CableEdgeModel

The braided cable design might seem intimidating, but the idea of it is simple. The cable pattern is worked over twelve stitches. For the first cable twist, you take the 4 stitches on the right hand side and move them in back to the middle. For the second cable twist, you take the 4 stitches in the middle and move them in front to the left hand side. I'll walk you through it.

Start the scarf by casting on 41 stitches. You'll be doing a 1x1 rib, which means that you will knit one stitch and then purl one stitch all the way across the first row, and then purl one stitch and knit one stitch all the way across the second row. Knit the 1x1 Rib for 11 rows.

On the 12th row, you need to continue doing the 1x1 Rib but decrease down to 35 stitches. To decrease, you can work 4 stitches then combine 2 together six times (instructions here), and then at the end work 5 stitches. Continue doing the 1 x 1 Rib during the decrease row.

For the main body of the scarf, you will have one selvedge stitch on each edge (see end for an explanation of a selvedge stitch), 12 cable pattern stitches on the sides, and 9 garter stitches in the middle. Four stitch markers in between the different sections help you to identify the different stitch patterns as you knit. (I was on vacation when I started this scarf and had forgotten to bring stitch markers, so I use some pieces of Super Saver).

annotated swatch

The third row of the Braid Cable pattern has the first cable twist. You'll knit the selvedge stitch as usual, and then move the first four stitches in the cable pattern onto a cable needle. Make sure you put the cable needle in back of the scarf.

Braid Cable Row 3 step a

Knit the next four stitches in the cable pattern section from the regular needle, and then knit the four from the cable needle.

Braid Cable Row 3 step b

Finish the cable section by knitting the final four stitches without doing anything to them. Complete the row by knitting across the garter stitch section in the middle, and then repeat the Braid Cable row 3 for the second cable and finish with the selvedge stitch.

On the fourth row, do your knit and purl pattern as usual. It may be a little more difficult to work into the stitches that you crossed, but don't treat them any differently than the uncrossed stitches.

The ninth row is the second cable twist and it is very similar to the first one. Knit the selvedge stitch on the edge, and then this time you'll go ahead and knit the first four stitches in the cable section. Take the middle four stitches and put them onto a cable needle, and make sure the needle rests to the front.

Braid Cable Row 9 step a

Knit the final four stitches in the section, and then knit the four stitches off of the cable needle.

Braid Cable Row 9 step b

Complete the row by knitting across the garter stitch section in the middle, and then repeat the Braid Cable row 9 for the second cable and finish with the selvedge stitch.

Blue-Scarf

Continue doing the Braid Cable pattern until the scarf is 58"" long or however long you want it.t the start of the 1 x 1 Rib, you'll increase again to 41 sts. The increase is just the opposite of the decrease row: work 4 stitches and then knit into the front and back of the next stitch six times (instructions here), and then end by working 5 stitches. Knit another 11 rows in the 1x1 Rib before binding off.

And now you're finished! Enjoy your scarf!

Selvedge stitch: A selvedge stitch is a stitch done at the beginning and end of every row to create a neat edge and keep the fabric you are creating steady. In this pattern, the selvedge stitch is garter stitch, done next to the Stockinette stitch of the cable pattern. Garter stitch doesn't roll, so while it is pushed under the edge of the cable by the Stockinette next to it, it doesn't go any further and makes a nice edge.