Malabrigo Houston Scarf Knitting Pattern

Malabrigo Houston Cable & Openwork Panel Scarf

What Is Being Made

The Malabrigo Houston is a rectangular scarf measuring approximately 10 inches by 70 inches (25.5 by 178 centimeters). This design by Laura Zukaite features alternating sections of cable and openwork lace, creating visual interest and textural contrast throughout the finished piece. The scarf is worked flat on straight needles, making it an accessible project for knitters seeking to expand their technical skills.

Techniques Used

This intermediate-level pattern employs two primary knitting techniques to achieve its distinctive appearance. Cable work forms structured, twisted columns that add dimension and visual weight to the scarf. Openwork lace creates delicate, airy sections that provide lightness and drape. The pattern alternates between these techniques in repeating blocks, allowing knitters to practice both methods while creating a balanced, sophisticated finished garment.

The cable sections require the use of a cable needle to hold stitches while working the twists. The openwork lace sections employ yarn overs and decreases to form the characteristic holes and flowing lines of lace knitting. Both techniques demand attention to stitch placement and tension to ensure clean, well-defined results.

Stitches Used

The Houston pattern incorporates a comprehensive range of cable and lace stitches:

• 2-stitch Right Cable (2-stRC): A basic two-stitch cable twist worked to the right
• 2-stitch Left Cable (2-stLC): A basic two-stitch cable twist worked to the left
• 4-stitch Right Purl Cable (4-stRPC): A cable combining knit and purl stitches for textural variation
• 4-stitch Left Purl Cable (4-stLPC): A left-leaning version of the purl cable
• 5-stitch Right Purl Cable (5-stRPC): A larger cable incorporating purl stitches
• 5-stitch Left Purl Cable (5-stLPC): A left-leaning five-stitch purl cable
• 6-stitch Right Cable (6-stRC): A classic six-stitch cable twist to the right
• 6-stitch Left Cable (6-stLC): A six-stitch cable twist to the left
• Yarn Overs (yo): Used in the openwork lace sections to create decorative holes
• Knit Two Together (k2tog): A right-leaning decrease paired with yarn overs in the lace pattern
• Make Bobble (MB): An optional decorative stitch for textural embellishment

The openwork lace pattern itself uses a simple repeat of yarn overs and knit two together decreases, worked over two rows to create a consistent, flowing lace design. The cable chart guides placement of all cable stitches, while the open lace pattern is worked from written instructions for clarity.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Malabrigo Houston is designed to be worked in Rios by Malabrigo, a wool yarn produced by Malabrigo Yarn of Montevideo, Uruguay. Each skein contains 3.5 ounces (100 grams) and approximately 210 yards (192 meters) of yarn. The pattern requires three skeins in colorway #49 Jupiter to complete the full 70-inch length.

The pattern calls for size 6 (4 millimeter) needles worked as a single pair, allowing the scarf to be constructed flat in one continuous piece. Knitters should select needles based on achieving the specified gauges rather than relying solely on the recommended size, as individual tension varies. A cable needle is also required to work the cable stitches throughout the pattern.

Gauge Information

Achieving proper gauge is essential for this project. The cable sections should measure 28 stitches and 27 rows to 4 inches (10 centimeters) when worked over the cable pattern. The openwork lace sections, when measured unstretched, should measure 28 stitches and 20 rows to 4 inches (10 centimeters). The pattern explicitly emphasizes taking time to check gauges before beginning, as gauge accuracy