Upcycle Cashmere Scarf Knitting Pattern

Sometimes the best knitted scarf doesn’t start with brand-new yarn — it starts with a story.

My friend’s sister had tucked away her favorite cashmere sweater in a closet for years. It was soft, cozy, and well-loved... but sadly, it had some small damage — the kind only moths know how to make. Hoping to save it, she asked her sister (also a knitter) if it could be fixed.

That’s when I got a call.

When I finally saw the sweater, I realized it was beyond repair — not just one hole, but many tiny ones scattered everywhere. It broke my heart to think this once-favorite sweater would just be thrown away.

But knitters are creative, stubborn souls, aren’t we?

Instead of tossing it, I carefully unseamed, unraveled, and rescued about 300 grams of beautiful brown cashmere yarn. I doubled the fine strands, gave them new strength, and decided to turn them into something that could be loved all over again — a scarf.

This easy scarf pattern uses simple stockinette stitch with ribbed cables running along both sides and finishing the ends. Clean, classic, and oh-so-soft — perfect for showing off special yarn, whether from a new skein or a treasured old sweater.

I worked this one on my knitting machine with hand-manipulated cables, but it’s suitable for hand knitting too. Any knitter with a little patience (and maybe a story of their own) can make it.

Because sometimes… the most beautiful knits come from second chances.

Get Free Printable Version Here at Google Doc;

Upcyled Bordered Cable Scarf

The Classic Bordered Cable Scarf

The "Border & Cable" ScarfInstructions (Lower Border, Main Body and Top Border)

Designed for Hand Knitting

Finished Measurements: Width: Approx. 10 inches (25 cm) Length: Approx. 70 inches (178 cm)

Gauge: 28 sts and 36 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in stockinette stitch.

Materials

• Approx. 800-900 yards of Fingering weight yarn (or 200g reclaimed cashmere).
• US #3 (3.25mm) straight or circular knitting needles.
• Cable needle (cn).
• Tapestry needle.

Abbreviations

• K: Knit
• P: Purl
• RS: Right Side
• WS: Wrong Side
• C4R (Cable 4 Right): Slip next 2 sts onto cable needle and hold at back of work. Knit next 2 sts from left needle, then knit 2 sts from cable needle.

Cast on 69 sts.

This section creates a ribbed texture with cables across the entire width.

Row 1 (RS): *K4, P1; repeat from * to the last 4 sts, K4.

Row 2 (WS): P4, *K1, P4; repeat from * to end.

Row 3: Repeat Row 1.

Row 4: Repeat Row 2.

Row 5: Repeat Row 1.

Row 6: Repeat Row 2.

Row 7 (Cable Row): *C4R, P1; repeat from * to the last 4 sts, C4R.

Row 8: Repeat Row 2.

Row 9: Repeat Row 1.

Row 10: Repeat Row 2.

Row 11: Repeat Row 1.

Row 12: Repeat Row 2.

This section establishes the smooth center panel while keeping the cables on the edges.

Row 13 (RS - Setup): C4R, P1, Knit 59, P1, C4R.

Row 14 (WS): P4, K1, Purl 59, K1, P4.

Row 15: K4, P1, Knit 59, P1, K4.

Row 16: Repeat Row 14.

Row 17: Repeat Row 15.

Row 18: Repeat Row 14.

Row 19 (Cable Row): C4R, P1, Knit 59, P1, C4R.

Rows 20 – 24: Work straight in pattern (Repeat Rows 14, 15, 14, 15, 14).

Repeat Rows 19 – 24 until the scarf measures approximately 68 inches (or 2 inches less than your desired finished length), ending with a Row 24 (WS).

This section returns to the ribbed texture across the full width to match the start.

Row 1 (RS): *K4, P1; repeat from * to the last 4 sts, K4.

Row 2 (WS): P4, *K1, P4; repeat from * to end.

Row 3: Repeat Row 1.

Row 4: Repeat Row 2.

Row 5: Repeat Row 1.

Row 6: Repeat Row 2.

Row 7 (Cable Row): *C4R, P1; repeat from * to the last 4 sts, C4R.

Row 8: Repeat Row 2.

Row 9: Repeat Row 1.

Row 10: Repeat Row 2.

Row 11: Repeat Row 1.

Row 12: Repeat Row 2.

Finishing: Bind off all stitches knitwise on the Right Side. Weave in all ends. Block the scarf to smooth out the stockinette center and open up the cables.