Nina's scarf -- now with pattern!

So I finished the scarf for my surrogate grandmother. Yes, in June. Yes, it's wool. No, I didn't like working on it :) Yes, I still have to make a matching hat!

It's a basic cabled keyhole scarf. I made it a bit longer than most keyhole scarves I've seen, because I wanted the ends to keep the chest warm. I also slipped the LAST stitch in each row, as I read Charlene Schurch does in Sensational Knitted Socks, because that way the slipped stitch is picked up and worked right away, preventing it from stretching out. I'm pretty pleased with it -- it's thick from the cables, warm and soft from the wool, nice and even, and a gorgeous color (I have a thing for green).

So here's me, wearing a T-shirt, skirt, and a THICK WOOL SCARF in the backyard, where it's like 90 degrees. My neighbors musta thought I was nuts, especially with my husband taking pictures.


All folded and benign on the picnic table:



So anyway, I made it up as I went along, and it's really self-explanatory, but I thought I'd write up the pattern for practice. Let me know if you make it, and send pictures! ...I'm sure there are mistakes.

Oh, and copyright stuff -- the design is mine, don't steak it to pass off as your own. If you make it, give me credit. Feel free to sell a couple of the FINISHED scarves for "pin money" or for charity auctions, just don't make a business out of mass-producing and selling them, and be sure to give me credit. Feel free to make as many scarves as you want for yourself and as gifts. Feel free to photocopy this pattern for your own convenience, but if someone else wants a copy, send them to my site -- it is, after all, free.


Nina's Scarf

Materials: Paton's Classic Merino Wool, 3 skeins (although I barely used the 3rd skein). Shown in Leaf
Needles: US size 8 (5mm)
Notions: Cable needle
Tapestry needle

Dimensions: 7.5 inches wide, 48 inches long

Gauge: Not terribly important, but 32st and 27 rows = n in cable-and-rib pattern, completely unstretched (16st/4in stretched)

Cable-and-Rib pattern: (multiples of 10 + 4sts)

Row 1 (right side): k1, (k2, p2, k4, p2) to last 3 stitches, k2, sl1 as if to purl
Row 2: p1, (p2, k2, p4, k2) to last 3 stitches, p2, sl1
Row 3: Repeat Row 1
Row 4: Repeat Row 2
Row 5: k1, (k2, p2, slip next 2 sts to cable needle and hold in FRONT of work, knit next 2 sts, then knit 2 st from cable needle, p2)
Row 6: Repeat Row 2

Repeat rows 1-6 to desired length

Directions:

CO 64 sts

Work 14 repeats of Cable-and-Rib pattern, ending with Row 6 (scarf measures about 12 inches from CO edge)

Work right side of keyhole:

Row 1 (right side): K1, (k2, p2, k4, p2) 3 times, sl1, TURN leaving the rest of the stitches unworked (you can place them on a holder)
You now have 32 stitches on a needle, and 32 unworked stitches on a holder
Row 2: p1, (p2, k2, p4, k2) 3 times, k2, sl1
Row 3: Repeat Row 1
Row 4: Repeat Row 2
Row 5: k1, (k2, p2, slip next 2 sts to cable needle and hold in FRONT of work, knit next 2 sts, then knit 2 st from cable needle, p2) 3 times, sl1
Row 6: Repeat Row 4

Repeat rows 1-6 on the 32 sts of the right side of keyhole 4 times, then rows 1-5 once more (scarf measures approximately 17 in from CO edge)

Place stitches on holder and break off yarn.

Work left side of keyhole:

Starting from the center of the scarf, join yarn and work the left 32 sts of the scarf as follows:

Row 1 (right side): k1, (p2, k4, p2, k2) 3 times, sl1
Row 2: p1, (p2, k2, p4, k2) 3 times, sl1
Row 3: Repeat Row 1
Row 4: Repeat Row 2
Row 5: k1, (p2, slip next 2 sts to cable needle and hold in FRONT of work, knit next 2 sts, then knit 2 st from cable needle, p2, k2) 3 times, sl1
Row 6: Repeat Row 2

Continue working left side of keyhole pattern as described, repeating rows 1-6 4 times, and then rows 1-5 once more (left side is same length as right side of keyhole)

Join the two sides of the keyhole:

Work Row 6 of the Cable-and-Rib pattern across the 32 sts of the left side of keyhole, then work across the 32 sts of the right side from the holder. 64 sts.

Repeat Rows 1-6 of Cable-and-Rib pattern 33 times more, ending on Row 4 (scarf measures 48 in).

Bind off in pattern.

Weave in ends and block if desired.