Valley Yarns Toboggan Tracks Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Toboggan Tracks Winter Scarf

What Is Being Made

The Toboggan Tracks is a dramatic winter scarf designed by Julie Turjoman, measuring approximately 16 inches wide by 72 inches long. This one-size scarf combines both style and practicality, offering a sophisticated accessory perfect for cold-weather bundling. The finished piece showcases a striking visual design that balances texture and structure, making it an ideal project for knitters seeking to create a statement winter accessory.

Techniques Used

This scarf is worked seamlessly in a bottom-up construction method, meaning you begin at one end and knit continuously toward the finished length. The piece is worked flat in rows rather than in the round, allowing for straightforward stitch management and pattern tracking. The design employs a strategic combination of cable work and ribbed textures to create visual interest and dimensional depth throughout the length of the scarf.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Toboggan Tracks features two primary stitch patterns working in concert:

• Broken Rib Pattern: A multiple of 4 stitches plus 3, this pattern frames the central cable design on both sides. Worked over 2 rows, the Broken Rib alternates between knit and purl stitches to create columns of texture. On the wrong side (Row 1), the pattern works as knit 3, purl 1 repeated across. On the right side (Row 2), the pattern shifts to knit 1, then alternates purl 1 and knit 3 to the last 2 stitches, finishing with purl 1 and knit 1.
• Cable Panel: A 26-stitch wide center panel featuring dramatic cable work that repeats over a 12-row sequence. The cables are the focal point of the scarf, creating the striking visual drama that defines this design. The cable panel is worked between stitch markers to maintain pattern clarity and ensure proper cable crossings throughout the 72-inch length.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

This project requires 9 skeins of Valley Yarns Amherst, a 100% Merino Wool yarn. Each skein contains 50 grams and provides 109 yards of yardage, totaling approximately 981 yards for the complete scarf. The yarn is worked in Harvest Gold, a warm, earthy colorway that complements the cable and rib textures. Merino Wool is prized for its softness and natural elasticity, making it an excellent choice for a wearable winter scarf that maintains its shape and drape over time.

Needles and Tools

The pattern calls for US size 8 (5.00 mm) needles, or the size needed to achieve proper gauge. Additional materials include stitch markers for tracking pattern sections and a tapestry needle for weaving in yarn ends during finishing. The stitch markers are essential for managing the three distinct pattern sections—the left Broken Rib column, the center Cable Panel, and the right Broken Rib column—ensuring accurate pattern repetition across the full 72-inch length.

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern specifies a gauge of 18 stitches and 24 rows equaling 4 inches when worked on US size 8 needles in the Broken Rib stitch pattern and blocked. This gauge is measured after blocking, which is important for achieving the finished measurements of 16 inches wide by 72 inches long. Achieving proper gauge ensures that the scarf will have the intended drape and that the cable definition will display beautifully in the finished piece.

Construction Details

The scarf begins with a Long Tail cast-on of 72 stitches, which are divided into three sections: 23 stitches for the left Broken Rib column, 26 stitches for the center Cable Panel, and 23 stitches for the right Broken Rib column. Stitch markers separate these sections, allowing you to work each pattern independently while maintaining alignment. The piece is worked continuously in rows until it measures approximately 72 inches in length, which requires working through approximately 36 repetitions of the 12-row Cable Panel repeat. The scarf concludes with a bind-off worked in the Broken Rib pattern to create a finished edge that matches the cast-on edge.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for knitters with some experience beyond basic knit and purl stitches. The cable work requires familiarity with cable stitches and the use of a cable needle, while the Broken Rib pattern adds textural variety without