Combo Cable Scarf in Caron Simply Soft Collection - Downloadable PDF

Combo Cable Scarf in Caron Simply Soft — Knitting Pattern by Lisa Gentry

This Combo Cable Scarf is a free downloadable PDF knitting pattern designed by Lisa Gentry and published by Caron International. It produces a single, elegantly textured scarf measuring 6¾ inches wide by 60 inches long (lightly blocked), making it a generously sized accessory suitable for cool-weather wear. The design is rated intermediate difficulty, making it an ideal next step for knitters who are comfortable with basic techniques and ready to explore the satisfying world of cable knitting.

What Is Being Made

The finished project is a long knitted scarf featuring a richly detailed cable panel running along its length. The combination of cable motifs, twisted stitches, and ribbed borders gives the scarf a sophisticated, multi-textured appearance that looks far more complex than it truly is once the repeat is learned. The name Combo Cable reflects the way several distinct cable and stitch techniques are blended together within a single 37-stitch panel, creating visual interest from end to end.

Materials Required

• Yarn: Caron Simply Soft (100% Acrylic, 6 oz / 170g, 315 yd / 288 m per skein) in Nutmeg — 2 skeins required
• Needles: One pair U.S. size 9 (5.5mm) knitting needles, or size needed to obtain gauge
• Additional tools: Cable needle, yarn needle

Caron Simply Soft is a worsted-weight acrylic yarn well known for its soft hand, smooth stitch definition, and ease of care — qualities that make it particularly well suited to cable work, where clear stitch definition helps cables stand out beautifully. The Nutmeg colorway is a warm, earthy neutral that allows the cable texture to take center stage without distraction.

Gauge

The pattern is worked to a gauge of 17 stitches and 23 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in Stockinette stitch. Achieving the correct gauge is important for matching the stated finished dimensions of the scarf.

Techniques Used

• Cable knitting — the primary technique, used to create the twisted rope-like motifs that define the scarf's character
• Twisted stitches (Left Twist / LT) — a technique worked without a cable needle, adding a subtle diagonal line detail that complements the larger cables
• Ribbing — used within the border sections of the cable panel to frame the design and add elasticity
• Stockinette stitch — the reference stitch for gauge measurement
• Reading a stitch chart — the pattern offers the option to work from written row-by-row instructions or from a visual stitch diagram, making it accessible to knitters who prefer either method

Stitches Used

• C3F (Cable 3 Front): Slip 2 stitches to cable needle and hold to front, knit 1, then knit 2 from cable needle — creates a left-leaning cable cross
• C3B (Cable 3 Back): Slip 1 stitch to cable needle and hold to back, knit 2, then knit 1 from cable needle — creates a right-leaning cable cross
• LT (Left Twist): Insert needle between first and second stitches from back to front, knit the second stitch through the front loop, then knit the first stitch through the front loop and slip both stitches off the needle together — a neat twisted stitch worked without a cable needle
• Knit and purl stitches — used throughout the cable panel and border sections
• Wrong-side (WS) rows — all wrong-side rows are worked uniformly, simplifying the rhythm of the pattern repeat

Pattern Structure and Design Detail

The scarf is worked over a