Mae Scarf in Rowan Kid Classic (DE) - Downloadable PDF

Mae Scarf in Rowan Kid Classic – Knitting Pattern Summary

The Mae Scarf is a beautifully structured knitted scarf designed by Chloe Thurlow and worked in Rowan Kid Classic yarn. This intermediate-level knitting pattern is available as a downloadable PDF and produces an elegant, textured scarf featuring a central cable panel flanked by smooth stockinette sections, finished with hand-knotted fringe at both ends. The pattern is written in German (DE).

Finished Dimensions

The completed scarf measures 26 cm wide and 180 cm long, making it a generously proportioned accessory suitable for year-round wear in cooler climates. The substantial length allows for a variety of wearing styles, from a simple drape to a wrapped look.

Yarn and Materials

• Yarn: Rowan Kid Classic, an aran-weight yarn with a luxurious blend that gives excellent stitch definition and a soft halo. The sample shown in the pattern is photographed in Bittersweet 866.
• Quantity: 4 x 50 g balls of Rowan Kid Classic are required.
• Needles: 5 mm (size 5) straight knitting needles, plus one cable needle for working the cable panel.

Tension and Gauge

Achieving the correct tension is important for matching the finished dimensions. The pattern calls for 19 stitches and 25 rows to 10 x 10 cm measured over stockinette stitch using 5 mm needles. The cable panel itself is worked over 17 stitches and measures approximately 6 cm wide.

Techniques and Construction

The Mae Scarf is knitted flat from cast-on edge to cast-off edge in a single piece. The construction combines two key fabric types side by side across the width of the scarf, creating visual contrast and tactile interest.

Stockinette Stitch Panels

The two outer sections of the scarf are worked in stockinette stitch (knit on right side, purl on wrong side), each spanning 19 stitches. Stockinette produces a smooth, classic fabric that allows the central cable to stand out as a focal point. This is a foundational knitting technique well-suited to intermediate knitters who are comfortable managing multiple stitch types within a single row.

Cable Panel

The central panel features a cable pattern worked over 17 stitches, separated from the stockinette sections by purl stitches that act as dividing columns. Two specific cable crossings are used:

• Z6H (Cable 6 Back): Slip the next 3 stitches onto the cable needle and hold at the back, knit 3 stitches, then knit the 3 stitches from the cable needle. This creates a right-leaning cable twist.
• Z6V (Cable 6 Front): Slip the next 3 stitches onto the cable needle and hold at the front, knit 3 stitches, then knit the 3 stitches from the cable needle. This creates a left-leaning cable twist.

Together, these two cable crossings form a classic intertwining rope or plait cable effect, one of the most recognisable and timeless cable motifs in knitting. Working cables requires the use of a cable needle to temporarily hold stitches while others are worked, a skill that defines intermediate-level knitting projects.

Increases at Setup

The pattern begins by casting on 49 stitches, and on the first right-side row, increases are worked within the cable panel sections to bring the stitch count up to the full working number. This technique of adding stitches at the outset is common in cable knitting, as cables draw in the fabric and require additional stitches to maintain the correct overall width.

Finishing

Blocking

Once knitting is complete, the pattern instructs knitters to steam block the scarf following the yarn's care guidelines. Steaming is particularly effective