Erin Goes to College, a free knitting pattern from Knitty.com. Free knitting pattern for unique bulky cabled scarf with openings to thread one end through, making a cowl.

INTRODUCTION

Erin Goes to College

beauty shot

by Grace Akhrem

Tangy

In June, my little baby sister graduated high school. That day, I presented her with a box of yarn in a perfectly everyday color… like dark grey. I told her I would knit her a big and wonderfully warm scarf that will keep her warm in Boston (where she was going to school in the fall). I knew I wanted to make her something special and overly large… then the yarn spoke out and said, “cable me!” So I did. I played around with cables and textures which brought me to the design we have here today.

Erin goes to College is the lovechild of a scarf and a cowl. Now you can have the best of both worlds and not limit yourself in anyway. This pattern was designed as a scarf but can be converted into a cowl by running one end through the split openings created by the open cable pattern. Double it up, wear it as a scarf, drop it over the shoulders…you decide how you would like to wear it.

The best part is that you can change your mind whenever you like – an endlessly versatile accessory every wardrobe needs to be complete!

spacer model: Ilana Young

spacer photos: Grace Akhrem

SIZE

One

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Width: 9.25 inches/23.5cm
Length: 89.5 inches/227cm

MATERIALS

Lana Grossa Cash Silk [15% silk, 15% cashmere, 30% viscose, 40% polyamide; 81 yd/75 m per 1.75 oz/50 g skein]; color: 30, Grey-Brown; 9 skeins

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter's gauge is unique]
1 set US #10/6mm needles for working flat – straight or circular as you prefer

Notions
2 stitch holders
large cable needle
yarn needle

GAUGE

16 sts/20 rows = 4 inches/10 cm in stockinette stitch
18 sts/20 rows = 4 inches/10 cm in 1x1 rib pattern, after blocking, unstretched

PATTERN NOTES

[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]

When working this pattern you are working a 1x1 rib. Always work the stitch as presented, unless specified otherwise. When pattern specifies to work in established pattern, continue work the stitches as you see them to continue to rib stitch as established.

Slip the first stitch of every row with the yarn in the front purlwise and continue to work. If the following stitch is a purl stitch, keep the yarn in front to work this stitch. If the following stitch is a knit stitch, bring the yarn to the back of the work between the needles to work this stitch.

DIRECTIONS

Increase section
CO 5 sts.
Row 1 [RS]: Sl1, (p1, k1) twice.
Row 2 [WS]: Sl1, m1p, k1, p1, k1, m1p, k1. 7 sts.
Row 3 & every alternate row till Row 17: Work in pattern as established without increasing.
Row 4: Sl1, m1, (p1, k1) twice, p1, m1, k1. 9 sts.
Row 6: Sl1, m1p, (k1, p1) 3 times, k1, m1p, k1. 11 sts.
Row 8: Sl1, m1, (p1, k1) 4 times, p1, m1, k1. 13 sts.
Row 10: Sl1, m1p, (k1, p1) 5 times, k1, m1p, k1. 15 sts.
Row 12: Sl1, m1, (p1, k1) 6 times, p1, m1, k1. 17 sts.
Row 14: Sl1, m1p, (k1, p1) 7 times, k1, m1p, k1. 19 sts.
Row 16: Sl1, m1, (p1, k1) 8 times, p1, m1, k1. 21 sts.
Row 18: Sl1, m1p, (k1, p1) 9 times, k1, m1p, k1. 23 sts.
Row 19: Work in pattern as established without increasing.

First Split Section
Setup row [WS]: Sl1, m1, (p1, k1) 4 times, p1, kfb. 13 sts. Place remaining 12 stitches on a holder.

Right Split
Continuing on the 13 sts:
Row 1 [RS]: Sl1, [p1, k1] to end.
Row 2 [WS]: Sl1, m1p, (k1, p1) 5 times, k2. 14 sts.
Row 3 & every alternate row till Row 15: Work in pattern as established without increasing.
Row 4: Sl1, m1, (p1, k1) 6 times, k1. 15 sts.
Row 6: Sl1, m1p, (k1, p1) 6 times, k2. 16 sts.
Row 8: Sl1, m1, (p1, k1) 7 times, k1. 17 sts.
Row 10: Sl1, m1p, (k1, p1) 7 times, k2. 18 sts.
Row 12: Sl1, m1, (p1, k1) 8 times, k1. 19 sts.
Row 14: Sl1, m1p, (k1, p1) 8 times, k2. 20 sts.
Row 16: Sl1, m1, (p1, k1) 9 times, k1. 21 sts.
Cut yarn and place stitches on holder.

Left Split
Return 12 held stitches to needles and with WS facing, rejoin yarn.
Row 1 [WS]: Sl1, (k1, p1) 5 times, m1, k1. 13 sts.
Row 2 [RS]: Work in pattern as established without increasing.
Row 3 [WS]: Sl1, (k1, p1) to last 2 sts, k1, m1p, k1. 1 st increased.
Row 4: Work in pattern as established without increasing.
Row 5: Sl1, (k1, p1) to last st, m1, k1. 1 st increased.
Repeat Rows 2-5 3 more times. 21 sts.

Joining Row:
Next row, turn cable [RS]: Sl1, (p1, k1) 6 times, p1, slip remaining 7 sts onto cable needle and hold in back of work. Transfer stitches of Right Split from stitch holder onto left hand needle and work the first 7 sts in pattern. Work the stitches from the cable needle as follows: p2tog, (k1, p1) twice, k1. Work the remaining stitches on left hand in established pattern to end of row. 41 sts.
Next row: Sl1, m1p, [ k1, p1] last 2 sts, k1, m1p, k1. 43 sts.

Continued Increase Section
Rows 1, 3, 5 [RS]: Work in pattern as established without increasing.
Row 2 [WS]: Sl1, m1, [p1, k1] last 2 sts, p1, m1, k1. 45 sts.
Row 4: Sl1, m1p, [k1, p1] last 2 sts, k1, m1p, k1. 47 sts.
Row 6: Sl1, m1, [p1, k1] last 2 sts, p1, m1, k1. 49 sts.
Row 7: Sl1, [p1, k1] to end.

Second Split Section
Right Split:
Row 1 [WS]: Sl1, (k1, p1) 11 times, kfb. 25 sts; place the remaining 25 sts onto stitch holder.
Row 2: Sl1, [p1, k1] end of row.
Row 3: Sl1, [k1, p1] last 2 sts, k2.
Row 4: Sl1, [p1, k1] end of row.
Repeat Rows 3-4 14 more times and then row 3 once more.
Cut yarn and place stitches onto holder.

Left Split
Return the 25 held sts to needles and rejoin yarn with WS facing.
Row 1 [WS]: Sl1, [k1, p1] last 2 sts, k2.
Row 2 [RS]: Sl1, [p1, k1] end.
Repeat Rows 1-2 15 more times and then row 1 once more.

Second Joining Row:
Next row, turn cable [RS]: Sl1, (p1, k1) 8 times, slip remaining 8 sts onto cable needle and hold in back of work. Transfer stitches of Right Split from stitch holder onto left hand needle and p2tog, k1, (p1, k1) 3 times. Work the stitches from the cable needle in pattern and continue in established pattern to end of row. 49 sts.

Joined Section
Row 1: Sl1, [k1, p1] to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 2: Sl1, [p1, k1] to end.
Repeat Rows 1-2 once more.

Work from Start of Second Split Section 7 more times more.
Then work from start of Second Split Section once more, stopping after Second Joining Row.
Final row [WS]: Sl1, [k1, p1] to last 2 sts, k2.

Decrease Section
Row 1 [RS]: Sl1, k2tog, [p1, k1] last 4 sts, p1, ssk, k1. 47 sts.
Rows 2, 4: Work in pattern as established without decreasing.
Row 3: Sl1, p2tog, [k1, p1] last 4 sts, k1, p2tog, k1. 45 sts.
Row 5: Sl1, k2tog, [p1, k1] 4 sts, p1, ssk, k1. 43 sts.
Row 7: Sl1, p2tog, [k1, p1] last 4 sts, k1, p2tog, k1. 41 sts.

Last Split Section
Right Split:
Row 1 [WS]: Sl1, (k1, p1) 9 times, kfb. 21 sts. Place the remaining 21 stitches onto a holder.
Row 2: Sl1, [p1, k1] last 4 sts, p1, ssk, k1. 20 sts.
Row 3 & every alternate row till Row 15: Work in pattern as established without decreasing.
Row 4: Sl1, [p1, k1] last 3 sts, p2tog, k1. 19 sts.
Row 6: Sl1, [p1, k1] last 4 sts, p1, ssk, k1. 18 sts.
Row 8: Sl1, [p1, k1] last 4 sts, k1, p2tog, k1. 17 sts.
Row 10: Sl1, [p1, k1] last 4 sts, p1, ssk, k1. 16 sts.
Row 12: Sl1, [p1, k1] lst 3 sts, p2tog, k1. 15 sts.
Row 14: Sl1, [p1, k1] last 4 sts, p1, ssk, k1. 14 sts.
Row 16: Sl1, [p1, k1] last 3 sts, p2tog, k1. 13 sts.
Row 17: Sl1, [k1, p1] last 2 sts, k2.
Cut yarn and place stitches onto a holder.

Left Split
Return the 21 held sts to needles and rejoin yarn with WS facing.
Row 1 [WS]: Sl1, [k1, p1] last 2 sts, k2.
Row 2: Sl1, k2tog, work in established pattern to end. 1 st decreased.
Rows 3: Work in pattern as established without decreasing.
Row 4: Sl1, p2tog, work in established pattern to end. 1 st decreased.
Row 5: Work in pattern as established without decreasing.
Repeat Rows 2-5 3 more times. 13 sts rem.

Last Joining row:
Next row, turn cable [RS]: Sl1, k2tog, (p1, k1) 3 times, slip remaining 4 stitches onto cable needle and hold in back in back of work. Transfer stitches of Right Split from stitch holder onto left hand needle and p2tog, k1, p1, k1. Work the stitches from the cable needle and to end of row as follows – [p1, k1] last 4 sts, p1, ssk, k1. 23 sts.
Next row [WS]: Sl1, [p1, k1] end of row.

Continued Decrease Section
Row 1 [RS]: Sl1, p2tog, [k1, p1] last 4 sts, k1, p2tog, k1. 21 sts.
Row 2: Sl1, [k1, p1] last 2 sts, k2.
Row 3: Sl1, k2tog, [p1, k1] last 4 sts, p1, ssk, k1. 19 sts.
Row 4 & every alternate row to Row 16: Work in pattern as established without decreasing.
Row 5: Sl1, p2tog, [k1, p1] last 4 sts, k1, p2tog, k1. 17 sts.
Row 7: Sl1, k2tog, [p1, k1] last 4 sts, p1, ssk, k1. 15 sts.
Row 9: Sl1, p2tog, [k1, p1] last 4 sts, k1, p2tog, k1. 13 sts.
Row 11: Sl1, k2tog, [p1, k1] last 4 sts, p1, ssk, k1. 11 sts.
Row 13: Sl1, [k1, p1] last 4 sts, k1, p2tog, k1. 9 sts.
Row 15: Sl1, k2tog, p1, k1, p1, ssk, k1. 7 sts.
Row 17: Sl1, p2tog, k1, p2tog, k1. 5 sts.
Row 18: Sl1, k1, p1, k2.
BO all remaining stitches.

FINISHING

Block and weave in ends.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

designername Grace Akhrem lives in Los Angeles, California where she works as the Creative Director at the Trendsetter Yarn Group as well as an independent designer. Grace also teaches knitting classes with a focus on design and technique both nationally and locally.

Her website is here, and you can find her on Ravelry, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Grace also has a blog. Join Grace’s newsletter here.