Killarney

Killarney Reversible Cables Scarf by Melissa Leapman

What Is Being Made

The Killarney is a reversible cables scarf designed by Melissa Leapman. This finished scarf measures approximately 6 inches wide by 60 inches long when blocked, making it a versatile accessory suitable for various styling options. The reversible construction means both sides of the scarf feature the same attractive cable pattern, eliminating the need to hide a "wrong side."

Knitting Techniques

This intermediate-level knitting project employs several key techniques to achieve its reversible cable design:

• Cable knitting: The scarf features cables worked using double-pointed needles as cable needles, allowing stitches to be crossed over one another to create the characteristic twisted rope texture
• Slip stitches: All stitches are slipped purlwise throughout the pattern, which helps maintain clean edges and consistent fabric appearance
• Chart-based construction: The pattern uses two alternating charts—Chart A for odd-numbered rows and Chart B for even-numbered rows—read from right-to-left to maintain the reversible fabric structure
• Blocking: The finished scarf is blocked to achieve its final measurements and even out the cable texture

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Killarney scarf is constructed using cable stitches worked from charted instructions. The reversible nature of the design requires that both charts and all stitch symbols are read as right-side rows from right-to-left, ensuring the cables appear correctly on both sides of the finished fabric. A stitch marker is used to track position within the pattern.

Materials and Yarn Weight

This project uses Studio Donegal's Soft Merino yarn in a heavy worsted or Aran weight (210 yards per 100 grams). The pattern calls for 3 hanks of colorway #5534, providing approximately 630 yards of yarn total. Knitting needles in size 10 (6 mm) are recommended, or a size needed to obtain proper gauge. Additionally, 2 double-pointed knitting needles at least 2 sizes smaller than the main needles serve as cable needles for manipulating the cable stitches. Gauge is noted as not crucial to the success of this project, making it forgiving for knitters of varying experience levels.