Malabrigo Crosby Scarf Knitting Pattern

Malabrigo Crosby Cable & Rib Scarf

What is Being Made

The Malabrigo Crosby is a knitted scarf featuring an elegant combination of cable and ribbed stitch patterns. This accessory measures approximately 6 inches wide by 65 inches long (15 by 165 centimeters), making it a versatile piece suitable for various styling occasions. The scarf is designed by Annabelle Speer and is classified as an easy skill level project, making it accessible to knitters with basic experience.

Techniques Used

This scarf is worked flat on straight needles, meaning you knit back and forth in rows rather than in the round. The primary techniques employed include cable work and ribbed stitch construction. The cable pattern features two distinct cable crosses: a 24-stitch left cross (24-st LC) and a 24-stitch right cross (24-st RC), which create the visual interest and texture of the finished piece. These cables are integrated into a k2, p2 ribbed background, creating a balanced design where the cables stand out against the consistent rib pattern.

The pattern also incorporates a decorative element called the double-wrapped purl stitch (d-wrap-p), which involves wrapping the yarn twice around the needle when purling to create elongated stitches. On the following row, the extra wrap is dropped, leaving a visually distinct elongated stitch that adds subtle texture and detail to the edges of the cable sections.

Stitches Used

• K2, P2 Rib: A fundamental stitch pattern that alternates two knit stitches with two purl stitches across each row. This creates vertical columns of texture and provides natural elasticity to the fabric, making it ideal for scarves that need to maintain their shape.
• 24-Stitch Left Cross (24-st LC): A cable cross worked by slipping 12 stitches onto a cable needle and holding them to the front, then working 12 stitches in k2, p2 rib pattern, followed by working the 12 stitches from the cable needle in k2, p2 rib. This creates a cable that twists to the left.
• 24-Stitch Right Cross (24-st RC): A cable cross worked by slipping 12 stitches onto a cable needle and holding them to the back, then working 12 stitches in k2, p2 rib pattern, followed by working the 12 stitches from the cable needle in k2, p2 rib. This creates a cable that twists to the right.
• Double-Wrapped Purl (d-wrap-p): A decorative stitch created by inserting the needle as if to purl, wrapping the yarn twice around the needle, and purling. The extra wrap is dropped on the next row, creating an elongated stitch for visual interest.

Materials and Gauge

The Malabrigo Crosby scarf is worked using Mecha by Malabrigo yarn, a wool fiber available in 3½ ounce (100 gram) hanks with approximately 130 yards (119 meters) per hank. The project requires 4 hanks of yarn in colorway #882 Azul Fresco.

Needles required are size 11 (8mm) needles in a straight pair format, suitable for working flat. A cable needle (cn) is also essential for executing the cable crosses throughout the pattern.

The recommended gauge is 16 stitches and 18 rows to 4 inches (10 centimeters) measured over k2, p2 rib using size 11 (8mm) needles. Checking gauge before beginning is emphasized as important to ensure the finished scarf meets the intended dimensions.

Pattern Structure

The scarf begins with casting on 48 stitches and working 13 rows in k2, p2 rib as a foundation. The cable rib pattern then begins and repeats over 20 rows, with this 20-row repeat worked 14 times total to create the length of the scarf. The pattern concludes with 6 additional rows of k2, p2 rib before binding off in rib to finish the edges neatly.