The main problem with most cabled scarves is that the fabric isn’t generally reversible: they have a distinct right and wrong side, making the scarf more difficult to wear than you might expect. This pattern uses ribbed cables that look exactly the same on both sides to make a fully reversible piece, identical on both sides.

For ease—and, frankly—fun in knitting, the patterning is random. Once you’ve read the instructions and have got the hang of the basic cable turn—not a huge challenge—you can work this piece without needing to refer to the instructions. This makes it an ideal travel project, as you don’t have to carry the pattern with you.

It’s a straightforward rectangle worked from the short side, and it’s fairly flexible in size: if you’re short on yardage, you only need a piece about 40 inches/101.5 cm long to create a good double-wrap cowl; additional yardage would allow you to make this into a more standard scarf. The pattern includes suggestions on how to make it wider, to either accommodate a finer yarn, or to make it into a more dramatic piece.

It’s modelled with a Jul snap closure - you can seam the ends, also, or just leave it unjoined.