Reversible Cabled Scarf in Cascade Yarns - A176 - Downloadable PDF

Reversible Cabled Scarf in Cascade Yarns 220 Superwash Aran – Pattern Summary

Designed by Shannon Dunbabin and available as a free downloadable PDF, this pattern guides knitters through the construction of a beautifully textured, fully reversible cabled scarf. The design is rated intermediate in difficulty and is an excellent project for knitters who are comfortable with basic ribbing and ready to explore cable techniques in a straightforward, rewarding format.

What Is Being Made

The finished project is a reversible cabled scarf worked flat on straight needles. Because the cable and ribbing construction is carefully engineered to look attractive on both sides, there is no "wrong side" to this scarf — it is equally polished and wearable from either face. The pattern is described as producing a squishy fabric, thanks to the interplay of ribbing and cables combined with the lofty, bouncy nature of the yarn. Finished measurements yield a scarf approximately 4.5 inches wide and 52 inches long per skein, with two skeins used in total for a generously sized accessory.

Materials Used

• Yarn: Cascade Yarns 220 Superwash Aran — 100% Superwash Merino Wool, 150 yards per 100g skein. The pattern calls for 2 skeins, shown in colorway 1987 (Magenta). The Superwash treatment makes this yarn machine washable, adding practical everyday appeal to the finished scarf.
• Needles: US Size 9 straight or circular needles.
• Additional Tools: A cable needle (or a double-pointed needle used as a substitute) and a yarn needle for finishing.

Yarn Weight

The pattern uses an aran weight yarn, which knits up quickly and creates a substantial, cozy fabric well suited to cold-weather accessories. Aran weight yarn sits between worsted and bulky on the weight spectrum, offering excellent stitch definition — an important quality when showcasing cable and ribbing patterns.

Stitches and Techniques Used

The scarf relies on a combination of foundational knitting stitches and classic cable maneuvers. The primary stitch structure is 1x1 ribbing (alternating knit and purl stitches), which forms the base fabric and contributes directly to the reversible quality of the design. The pattern is worked over 34 stitches cast on, with a gauge of 34 stitches measuring 4.5 inches in the pattern stitch when unstretched.

Cable Techniques

Two custom cable crosses are central to this design, both worked over 4 stitches using a cable needle:

• C4FRib — Slip 4 stitches to the cable needle and hold in front; work [K1, P1] twice from the left needle; then work [K1, P1] twice from the cable needle. This creates a left-leaning ribbed cable cross.
• C4BRib — Slip 4 stitches to the cable needle and hold in back; work [K1, P1] twice from the left needle; then work [K1, P1] twice from the cable needle. This creates a right-leaning ribbed cable cross.

By working the cable crosses in 1x1 rib rather than plain knit stitches, the cables maintain the reversible character of the fabric — a clever and distinctive design choice by Shannon Dunbabin. Traditional cables worked in stockinette would create a clear right and wrong side, but these ribbed cables blend seamlessly into the ribbed ground fabric on both faces.

Pattern Structure and Row Repeats

The scarf is constructed using a structured repeat sequence. Rows 1 and 2 establish the ribbed ground fabric, Row 3 introduces the C4FRib and C4BRib cable crosses flanking a central ribbed section, and Rows 4 through 6 return