by Stephen West

Stripes and cabled slipped stitches add a punch of graphic sophistication to this stylish scarf.

Groove is not your typical rectangular scarf and it can be worn in many different ways thanks to the uniquely curved shape. Buttons can go through the yarnovers at the edge or into the fabric next to the cables.

Wear it as a cape with buttons in front or to the side, wrap it, tie it, drape it!

I love combining playful shapes and construction techniques with simple fabrics. Groove starts by casting on 72 sts. Yarn over increases within the fabric lie next to the slipped stitch columns, shaping the fabric into an arch. The simple garter stitch allows you to focus on the construction elements while the addictive stripes keep you saying, "Just one more row!"

SIZE
One

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Length:  11.5 inches along center
Width:  86 inches along BO edge
Note: Measurements taken after blocking

MATERIALS
Yarn
The Fibre Company Acadia [60% Merino, 20% Silk, 20% Alpaca; 145 yd/133m per 100g skein]
[MC] Driftwood, 2 skeins
[CC] Asparagus, 2 skeins

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]
1 40-inch US #6/4mm circular needle

Notions
cable needle
yarn needle
18 stitch markers
7 1.5-inch buttons

GAUGE
18 sts/40 rows = 4 inches in garter stitch

PATTERN NOTES
[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]
Carry strands of yarn along the right edge while striping.

DIRECTIONS
SETUP
Using MC, CO 72 sts.
K 5 rows.

Row 6 [RS]: K3, yo, (k10, yo, pm, k4, pm, yo) 4 times, k10, yo, k3. 82 sts.

Row 7 [WS]: (K to m, p4) 4 times, k to end of row.

SECTION 1
Join CC. 

Row 1 [RS]: Using CC, k3, yo, (k to m, sl4) 4 times, k to last 3 sts, yo, k3. 2 sts increased.

Row 2 [WS]: (K to m, sl4) 4 times, k to end of row.

Row 3 [RS]: Using MC, k3, yo, (k to m, yo, slm, C4B, slm, yo) 4 times, k to last 3 sts, yo, k3. 10 sts increased.

Row 4 [WS]: (K to m, p4) 4 times, k to end of row.

Row 5 [RS]: Using CC, k3, yo, (k to m, sl4) 4 times, k to last 3 sts, yo, k3. 2 sts increased.

Row 6 [WS]: (K to m, sl4) 4 times, k to end of row.

Row 7 [RS]: Using MC, k3, yo, (k to m, yo, slm, k4, slm, yo) 4 times, k to last 3 sts, yo, k3. 10 sts increased.

Row 8 [WS]: (K to m, p4) 4 times, k to end of row.

Repeat last 8 rows 4 more times, then repeat Rows 1-3 once more. There should be 11 CC stripes and 214 sts: 48 before first marker; 34 between the cables; 48 sts after the last marker.

In the next row, place additional markers; leave the existing ones in place.

Next Row [WS]: K29, (pm, p4, pm, k15, p4, k15) 4 times, pm, p4, pm, k29.

Repeat Rows 1-7 once more. There should be 15 CC stripes and 262 sts: 37 sts before the first marker; 19 sts between the cables, and 37 sts after the last markers.

In this next row, you’ll remove the first set of the markers but leaving the second set in place.

Next Row [WS]: (K to m, p4, k to m, remove m, k4, remove m) 4 times, k to m, p4, k to end of row.

SECTION 3
Row 1 [RS]: Using CC, k3, yo, (k to m, sl4) 5 times, k to last 3 sts, yo, k3. 2 sts increased.
Row 2 [WS]: (K to m, sl4) 5 times, k to end of row.
Row 3 [RS]: Using MC, k3, yo, (k to m, yo, C4B, yo) 5 times, k to last 3 sts, yo, k3. 12 sts increased.
Row 4 [WS]: (K to m, p4) 5 times, k to end of row.
Row 5 [RS]: Using CC, k3, yo, (k to m, sl4) 5 times, k to last 3 sts, yo, k3. 2 sts increased.
Row 6 [WS]: (K to m, sl4) 5 times, k to end of row.
Row 7 [RS]: Using MC, k3, yo, (k to m, yo, k4, yo) 5 times, k to last 3 sts, yo, k3. 12 sts increased.
Row 8 [WS]: (K to m, p4) 5 times, k to end of row.

Repeat last 8 rows 4 more times. 402 sts.

FINISHING
Using strand of CC attached to shawl, work a 3 stitch I-cord BO as follows:
CO 3 sts.
Row 1: K2, k2tog tbl.  Slip these 3 sts back to left hand needle.
Repeat Row 1 until all shawl sts have been cast off.  3 sts rem.
Break yarn and pull it through remaining 3 sts.

Stephen West was born and raised in Tulsa, OK, and now resides in Amsterdam where he studies choreography at the School for New Dance Development.

You can find his self-published patterns and pattern books, Westknits Book One, Book Two, and Book Three at your local yarn shop and at westknits.com.