Rowan Newman Scarf Knitting Pattern

Rowan Newman Scarf by Martin Storey

What is Being Made

The Rowan Newman Scarf is a knitted accessory measuring approximately 26 cm (10 inches) wide and 216 cm (85 inches) long. This is a substantial scarf suitable for everyday wear, designed by Martin Storey and produced by Rowan.

Techniques Used

This scarf is constructed using several key knitting techniques:

• Bottom-up construction: The scarf is worked from one end to the other in a single piece, beginning with a cast-on edge and concluding with a cast-off edge
• Seamless, flat knitting: The entire scarf is worked flat on straight needles without seaming, creating a continuous fabric with no joins
• Cable work: The main pattern incorporates cable stitches that create textured, twisted rope-like details throughout the scarf
• Ribbed edging: Both the beginning and end of the scarf feature ribbed sections for a finished, elastic edge

Stitches Used

The Newman Scarf employs fundamental knitting stitches combined with cable techniques:

• Knit and purl stitches: These basic stitches form the foundation of the ribbed sections and the main patterned fabric
• C4B (Cable 4 Back): Slip 2 stitches onto a cable needle and hold at the back of the work, knit the next 2 stitches, then knit the 2 stitches from the cable needle. This creates a cable that twists to the right
• C4F (Cable 4 Front): Slip 2 stitches onto a cable needle and hold at the front of the work, knit the next 2 stitches, then knit the 2 stitches from the cable needle. This creates a cable that twists to the left

Pattern Structure and Progression

The scarf begins with 67 stitches cast on using 4mm needles. The first 8 rows are worked in a knit-one, purl-one ribbed pattern, which creates an elastic, finished edge. The needle size is then increased to 4.5mm for the main pattern section. The central portion of the scarf features a 24-row repeating cable pattern worked from a chart, with the pattern repeated multiple times throughout the length of the scarf until it reaches approximately 213 cm. The final 8 rows return to the ribbed pattern using the original 4mm needles, providing a matching finished edge.

Materials

The Newman Scarf is worked in Rowan Hemp Tweed yarn, requiring 8 balls of 50 grams each. The yarn is photographed in the colorway Kelp 142. The pattern is worked using two sizes of needles: 4mm (US 6) needles for the ribbed sections and 4.5mm (US 7) needles for the main patterned section. A cable needle is also required for executing the cable stitches. The recommended tension is 24 stitches and 25 rows to 10 centimeters, measured over the pattern using the 4.5mm needles.

Finishing

Once the knitting is complete, the scarf should be pressed according to standard finishing instructions to set the stitches and even out the cable texture before wearing.