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Home » Handmade » How to Knit A Simple Cable Knit Scarf

How to Knit A Simple Cable Knit Scarf

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Victoria Pruett Author: Victoria Pruett   Updated: October 28, 2018

Want to learn how to knit a scarf with an easy cable knit scarf pattern? Then this simple cable knit scarf is the answer! It makes the perfect handmade Christmas gift and can be completed in about 4 hours!

How to knit a scarf

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Just like my 8-hour toddler sweater pattern, this project can be completed in well under a day. I made several last Christmas in different colors, and each one took about 4-6 hours, depending on the length.

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How to Knit A Scarf

There are many different ways to knit a scarf, depending on the style of the person receiving it.

As with knitting in general, there are really only 2 basic stitches needed in order to make a scarf: A knit stitch and a purl stitch.

With those 2 stitches you can do any of the following 3 scarf knitting patterns!

You could do a simple straight stitch scarf:
1. Cast on the number of stitches wide you want the scarf to be.
2. Knit across. Turn work.
3. Purl across. Turn work.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 until scarf is the desired length!
5. Bind off stitches.

You can also to an even easier pattern by replacing step 3 above with another knit row!

So a knit stitch only scarf pattern would be:
1. Cast on the number of stitches wide you want the scarf to be.
2. Knit across. Turn work.
3. Repeat step 2 until scarf is the desired length!
4. Bind off stitches.

I love this pattern because if you’re not confident with the purl stitch, you can still make a lovely scarf!

Plus it has the added benefit of not curling up on the edges like the straight stitch scarf tends to do.

Simple Cable Knit Scarf Pattern

Grab your favorite yarn and some knitting needles and get ready to whip this project out quick!

I used a light weight cotton yarn and size 8 bamboo needles for this project, but it is adaptable for any size yarn and needle combination you choose to use.

Stitch Guide
C3L (Cable 3 Left): Slip next st to cable needle and hold at front, K2, then K1 from cable needle

C3R (Cable 3 Right): Slip next 2 sts to cable needle and hold at back, K1, then K2 from cable needle

Pattern

Cast on: 33 stitches

Row 1: K3, *P1, K7, P1; rep from * 3x, K3

Row 2: K3, *K1, P7, K1; rep from * 3x, K3

Row 3: K3, *P1, C3R, K1, C3L, P1; rep from * 3x, K3

Row 4: K3, *K1, P7, K1; rep from * 3x, K3

Repeat Rows 1 through 4 until scarf reaches desired length. Bind off.

NOTE:
A good rule of thumb for scarf lengths is to make it as long as the recipient is tall. However, 40ish inches for an adult is plenty unless you live in an extremely cold climate where it needs to be wrapped several times around!

Once you’re done, hand-wash the scarf in warm water with gentle soap like this one, and lay it straight and flat to dry (I place mine on a few towels laid across the kitchen table).

Cable knit scarf pattern
Print Pin
4.30 from 24 votes

Simple Cable Knit Scarf Pattern

Instructions

Stitch Guide

  • C3L (Cable 3 Left): Slip next st to cable needle and hold at front, K2, then K1 from cable needle
  • C3R (Cable 3 Right): Slip next 2 sts to cable needle and hold at back, K1, then K2 from cable needle

Simple Cable Knit Scarf Pattern

  • Cast on: 33 stitches
  • K3, *P1, K7, P1; rep from * 3x, K3
  • K3, *K1, P7, K1; rep from * 3x, K3
  • K3, *P1, C3R, K1, C3L, P1; rep from * 3x, K3
  • K3, *K1, P7, K1; rep from * 3x, K3
  • Repeat Rows 1 through 4 until scarf reaches desired length. Bind off.

Notes

NOTE: A good rule of thumb for scarf lengths is to make it as long as the recipient is tall. However, 40ish inches for an adult is plenty unless you live in an extremely cold climate where it needs to be wrapped several times around!
Once you're done, hand-wash the scarf in warm water with gentle soap like this one, and lay it straight and flat to dry (I place mine on a few towels laid across the kitchen table).

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Share with your friends!

Filed Under: All Posts, Handmade Tagged With: Christmas, Crafting, Fall, Gift Giving, Gift Ideas, Homestead Skills, How To, Knitting, Quick and Easy, Thanksgiving

About Victoria Pruett

Victoria Pruett is a homesteader and from-scratch chef, sharing life-tested homesteading wisdom. Her recipes, (built around einkorn flour, simple Southern cooking, and scratch ingredients), along with her gardening, canning, and frugal-living advice, have empowered millions of readers to grow food and cook from the ground up. Victoria's work has been featured in Homestead Living magazine, Mother Earth News, The School of Traditional Skills, and many other online resources. Read More ->

Previous Post: « How to Make Acorn Flour
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Brenda says

    February 14, 2020 at 10:12 am

    Is the number of stitches to cast on correct? When I add row one it comes out 12 then do 3x then knit three?

    Reply
    • Victoria says

      February 14, 2020 at 10:36 am

      Hi Brenda! I’m so glad you’re working on this pattern, it’s a fun one!

      Yes, the cast on count is correct. You will knit 3, then knit the pattern which is 9 stitches (3 times), then knit 3 again.

      So, 3+9+9+9+3 = 33

      I hope that helps clarify, please let me know if you have any other issues!

      Reply
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  1. 7 EASY Knit Projects for Beginners - Wandering Hoof Ranch says:
    April 28, 2020 at 10:46 pm

    […] EASY CABLE KNIT SCARF PROJECT PATTERN HERE […]

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Victoria Pruett

Victoria Pruett is a homesteader, from-scratch cook, and author of Creating A Modern Homestead. Her recipes, (built around einkorn flour, simple Southern cooking, and scratch ingredients), along with her gardening, canning, and frugal-living advice, have empowered millions of readers to grow food and cook from the ground up.

Victoria’s work has been featured in Homestead Living magazine, Mother Earth News, The School of Traditional Skills, and many online resources.

Read More ->
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