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Not a Knitter? Not a Problem! Knit a Cable-Knit Scarf

Not a Knitter? Not a Problem! Knit a Cable-Knit Scarf
Impress your friends and family by spinning out this classic, sexless scarf. This instructable will teach you how to do so. I've put it in video format so that you can watch each step of the process, and follow along with your own set of needles at home.

These instructions are designed to be useful to a range of knitting ability levels.
Somebody who has never picked up a set of needles should be able to follow these steps sequentially to learn every element necessary to complete the scarf.
A more moderately experienced knitter may already know the knit and purl stitches, but wants to learn the cable stitch, for example. They can follow the pattern (as given below) and skip ahead to step five to reference instructions for cables.

The time it takes you to finish the scarf will vary depending on your ability level as well as how long you'd like to make the scarf. Keep in mind that for most, knitting is a hobby to unwind--see it as a marathon, not a sprint!

The first tool you'll need for making this scarf is the following pattern. You may want to copy it down for reference as you watch the following videos.

Cable-Knit Scarf Pattern
Key:
     CO: Cast on
     K: Knit
     P: Purl
     CBL: Cable
______________________________________________

CO 20
Row 1: [K3, P1, K4, P1, K2, P1, K4, P1, K3]
Row 2: [P3, K1, P4, K1, P2, K1, P4, K1, P3]
Row 3: Repeat Row 1
Row 4: Repeat Row 2
Row 5: [K3, P1, CBL 2, K2, P1, K2, P1, CBL 2, K2, P1, K3]
Rest of Scarf: Repeat Rows 2-5 until end
______________________________________________

 The following video briefs the remaining supplies you'll need for this pattern.


 
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Step 1Cast On

Cast On
 
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20 comments
Mar 2, 2010. 10:45 PMMikey D says:
Hi,

Thank you for this 'ible.  I teach auto shop and am male so I don't even know if I am allowed to knit,

(however I am pretty darn good with a sewing machine)

(get it ?  Darn - sewing.. I crack myself up!)

but this made me want to try it. 

Everything is clear except step #5 the cable stitch.  I understand that you grab 2 stiches with the giant brass safety pin and then knit right past them...

But then what do you do?  Do you just release them from their brass safety pin imprisonment?  Is there something else that happens at the end of the video that I missed?

Please tell me, the suspense is killing me!

Thanks for the inspiration!

Mikey
Mar 3, 2010. 6:02 AMMikey D says:
Thanks Sydney!

You can edit you steps by logging into you account, click the "you" link at the top right of the page, then click on your "instructables" tab in the center of the window.  A list of your published instructables will come up and then just click the "edit" link that shows up right after the name.

I would infer that you are taking a teaching methods class of some sort? 

Thanks again for the step by step.  It did clear things up!

Mikey
Feb 9, 2012. 1:46 PMbjones22 says:
Every instruction you give is so easy to follow! I learnt casting on, knit and purl stitch and cabling just from this! The only thing is, after a few rows, I seem to acquire an extra 2-6 stitches!!! Is there a way to avoid this or rectify it on the project so as to avoid starting over? This is a beautiful scarf and I have promised it as a gift!
Dec 24, 2011. 5:25 AMginger20037 says:
Thanks for the great instructable! Thanks to your great videos I'm finally able to purl without problems, the person I first learned from never showed me and my step grandmother tried to show me once but it was pure confusion.
Dec 25, 2011. 1:41 AMginger20037 says:
After having such good luck with this project began looking for others like it (though I'm not even done with the first xD ) I have found one scarf I would love to know how to knit it is the cable knit in this pic http://www.scarvesforspecialolympics.org/assets/images/thumbs/b1f916b39ebce9ed9c9d7e41445f346d.jpg
I was wondering/hoping someone knew how to do a scarf like that and if they happen to have a pattern or something I can use. Any help would be appreciated! :)
Dec 27, 2011. 4:20 AMginger20037 says:
lol I just so happened to have stumbled on that site two days ago, gotta love Google! lol That site has so much that if they don't have it nobody does xD Thanks for the info!
Nov 15, 2011. 11:22 AMRevenwyn says:
Thanks a lot for this pattern. I am a knitter, but didn't know cable knit. Someone gave me a cable needle recently and I used it like you used your stitch holder. Worked for me. What didn't work was this pattern with the size of needles and yarn I had available; as a scarf it would have been too narrow. However, I worked it through enough so that I knew the basic pattern then altered it a little; Here's what I ended up doing:

CO 28
Row 1: K3, P1, K4, P1, K2, P1, K4, P1, K2, P1, K4, P1, K3
Row 2: P3, K1, P4, K1, P2, K1, P4, K1, P2, K1, P4, K1, P3
Rows 3-4 repeat 1 & 2

Row 5: K3, P1: CBL 2, K2, P1, K2, P1, CBL 2, K2, P1, K2, P1, CBL 2, K2, P1, K3

Repeat rows 2-5 until end of scarf.

It's working out pretty well.
Dec 3, 2011. 4:20 AMtraceylyn says:
I am trying to follow these directions. I think there is some reason to them, yet I have yet to find it. In row 5 are we CBLing to the front or to the back? then do you follow the pattern without the CBL thing on the back? I am not new to knitting. I have been trying to learn for 4 decades. I began as a teen. sorry if I am a little confused. I tried to follow this pattern last night and kept pulling it out trying to make it work. then shouldn't you end the scarf the same as it began?
Oct 7, 2011. 8:47 PMcbeliel says:
I loved this instructable and I'm almost at the end of my scarf. Your picture shows the scarf with fringe but doesn't share how to attach it to the scarf. Would you mind sharing either a verbal or video explaination? Thanks!
May 14, 2010. 10:47 PMKungFuChicken says:
What do you think about the possibility of using kevlar thread to knit with?
Oct 3, 2011. 5:57 PMcaztan says:
I don't know specifically, but I think kevlar thread would have little stretch to it. Yarn that doesn't stretch is more difficult to knit with, but the finished item will have some flexibility, due to the shape of the stitches.
Jun 27, 2011. 5:32 AMporcupinemamma says:
You are an AMAZING teacher. Your voice is calm, encouraging and your instructions are very easy to follow!! You have done an excellent job of teaching.
Thank you so much! 10/10
Jun 11, 2011. 10:10 PMmarch0fthedeadarmy says:
love it
Dec 20, 2010. 3:55 PMkellimaier says:
Guys...my late husband was a knitter.
Also if you have never received a hand knit gift from a girlfriend it may be she believes the "sweater curse"...which basically says that if you hand knit something for a boyfriend then the relationship will soon end.

Sydney your scarf looks almost as good on the back side as the front! Nice job.
Mar 3, 2010. 6:18 AMdanyforreal says:
Wow this is awesome! I'm a guy too, and I could never get my girlfriends to knit me something!! go figure!! I know about 4 that knit all year round and well I just quit asking but now thanks to this tutorial I'm feeling motivated to try it. It's a tad bit late for a scarf but I've favorited it and I'll give it a shot come fall!! Thanks again!

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