Easy and Free Knitting Patterns: Wool Scarf

I wasn't planning on starting now, but I have a pattern for any of you knitters out there! I am an avid knitter and I have been working on a lot of knitting patterns because I have big big plans for the blog in the near-ish future. This pattern is called Durga because at the time of its creation, I was studying Hindu art and I was inspired. She is a Hindu goddess who was created from the other male gods when their powers weren't strong enough to slay the demon Mahishasura. I really like this goddess because she is more powerful than all the men; she was created when no one else could get the job done!

Durga the scarf pattern was also created when no other scarf pattern could get the job done. Made from bulky wool yarn, it is the perfect scarf to wrap around enough times to make your neck warm and cozy on those blustery days when none of your other scarves can do the job. Also, because the bulky yarn is thicker than most yarns, it is a fairly easy, mindless knit... in case you need to forget that you are making a giant rectangle... Oops, you just finished a scarf!

Materials: US size 13 and 15 needles (I used circular needles)

Yarn: Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick and Quick. 2-3 skeins depending on preferred length

Gauge: Your gauge isn't really important to the scarf because it doesn't require shaping. If you really need a size reference, the final scarf width should be between 4 and 5 inches wide. The width depends on how much you want to knit. 

Pattern: 
Using size 13 needles, cast on 18 stitches. Knit 4 rows. 
Switch to size 15 needles and begin cable pattern. Continue in cable pattern until piece reaches desired length (personal preference). 
Switch back to size 13 needles. Knit 3 rows. Bind off all stitches. 

Cable Pattern:
Row 1- k2, p1, C2F, p1, C4F, k2, p1, C2B, p1, k2
Row 2 and all even rows- k3, p2, k1, p6, k1, p2, k3
Row 3- k2, p1, C2F, p1, k2, C4B, p1, C2B, p1, k2

I have one more thing to add before I finish... I used to have a knitting blog. There is a whole knitting community out there if you are interested and I was involved in it for a long time. I published patterns, including this one, on a different blog and I was really happy with it for a while. This summer, however, I realized that I didn't want to just focus on knitting anymore. 

I have become much more interested in sustainability over the past few years and I wanted a way to showcase my experiments and simple ways that I changed my lifestyle. I created this blog just for that purpose, but I am still crazy about knitting. Every once in a while, I will add a new pattern for free because I believe that knitting/crocheting/crafting can be an integral part of your sustainable lifestyle if that's something you're interested in. I focus on accessories and my preferred medium is usually wool because I live in a colder climate. My knitwear designs are generally fairly practical, easy, and of course, free. Have a wonderful day and don't forget to bring along your new wool scarf!

UPDATE: I had a question about what the abbreviations meant for the cable section so here's a new list of what the abbreviations mean:

C2F-Put next stitch on the cable needle and hold stitch in the front of the piece, knit one stitch, replace the stitch from the cable needle to the left hand needle, knit one stitch. 

C2B-Put next stitch on the cable needle and hold stitch in the back of the piece, knit one stitch, replace the stitch from the cable needle to the left hand needle, knit one stitch.

C4F-Put next 2 stitches on the cable needle and hold stitches to the front of the piece, knit two stitches, replace the stitches from the cable needle to the left hand needle, knit two stitches. 

C4B-Put next 2 stitches on the cable needle and hold stitches to the back of the piece, knit two stitches, replace the stitches from the cable needle to the left hand needle, knit two stitches.