Colt Scarf in Rowan Softyak DK - ZB296-00015-DE - Downloadable PDF

Colt Scarf in Rowan Softyak DK – Pattern Summary (ZB296-00015-DE)

The Colt Scarf is a beautifully structured, generously sized knitted scarf designed by Martin Storey and published by Rowan. This pattern is available as a downloadable PDF and is rated as intermediate in difficulty, making it an ideal project for knitters who are comfortable with basic techniques and ready to explore cable knitting. The finished scarf measures an impressive 50 cm wide and 220 cm long, creating a substantial, luxurious accessory with real visual impact.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a single, large-scale knitted scarf worked in a combination of ribbing and a repeating cable motif. The scarf is wide and long enough to wrap generously, making it a statement winter accessory. The sample shown in the pattern photography is knitted in Canopy 254, one of the colourways available in Rowan Softyak DK.

Materials Used

• Yarn: Rowan Softyak DK – a DK weight yarn, used in this pattern at a quantity of 14 x 50 g balls. Softyak DK is known for its exceptionally soft handle, blending natural fibres including yak for added warmth and a subtle lustre.
• Needles: A pair of 3.25 mm knitting needles and a pair of 4 mm knitting needles are both required, as the pattern switches between needle sizes at key points. A cable needle is also needed for working the cable sections of the pattern.

Techniques Used

• Ribbing: The scarf begins and ends with a ribbed border, worked on the smaller 3.25 mm needles. This creates a neat, elasticated edge that frames the cable body of the scarf and helps it lie flat.
• Cable knitting: The main body of the scarf is worked from a 24-row repeating cable chart, using the larger 4 mm needles. Cable knitting involves crossing groups of stitches over one another using a cable needle to create twisted, rope-like or interlocking patterns. This technique gives the Colt Scarf its distinctive textural character.
• Increasing and decreasing: A single stitch increase is worked in the centre of the last ribbed row before transitioning to the cable section, bringing the stitch count from 129 to 130 stitches. Conversely, a single stitch decrease is worked at the end of the cable section before returning to ribbing, reducing back to 129 stitches. These subtle shaping adjustments ensure the tension and width remain consistent across the different stitch patterns.
• Casting off in rib: The scarf is finished by casting off all stitches in the rib pattern, maintaining the elasticity and neat appearance of the border.
• Finishing – steaming: The completed scarf is finished by steaming (dämpfen), which helps to set the stitches, open up the cable pattern, and give the fabric a polished, professional appearance.

Stitches Used

• 2x2 Rib: The border sections use a 2 knit, 2 purl rib pattern, worked over 12 rows at each end of the scarf. Row 1 begins with 1 knit stitch, then alternates 2 purl and 2 knit stitches to the end. Row 2 mirrors this in reverse, creating the classic ribbed texture.
• Cable pattern: The main body stitch pattern is worked from a 24-row chart, repeated continuously until the scarf reaches approximately 217 cm in length before the final ribbed border is begun. The cable design is the defining feature of this scarf, giving it depth, structure, and a handcrafted quality.

Tension and Sizing

The stated tension (Maschenprobe) for this pattern is 26 stitches and 36 rows to 10 x 10 cm, measured over the cable