Olive is a big cozy scarf in a beginner-friendly, lacy faux-cable pattern, especially created with Quince & Co Puffin in mind. I first created the Big Olives On Brochettes version. I wanted to make a scarf using this stitch pattern for many months, and I made many swatches to find the perfect balance between pattern variation (I modified a classic eyelet cable pattern), space between each repeat, borders length, rib, tension, etc. I also spent a long time thinking about the perfect length and width for Olive: long enough to wrap around your neck multiple times on cold days, and narrow enough to not crease. I made both ends of the scarf in diagonal to add a visual interest, a twist on this very classic scarf. Then, probably because I really like geometrical shapes so that my mind is set to create geometrical shapes, it is not really surprising that the idea of this diagonal rapidly become the idea of many diagonals that becomes triangles! So the second version, Big Olives In Triangles was born!

Olive is offered as 2 different versions, both resulting in scarves with identical finished measurements:

Big Olives In Triangles version (sample scarf in this version) has faux cable stitch pattern positioned to create alternating triangle shapes, separated by matching rib. This version is fast and simple, but also very fun to knit because it has an interesting twist that requires a little bit of attention. The overall effect is a good balance between classic stitch pattern and clean geometrical shapes.

Big Olives On Brochettes version (no sample shown, see the drawing) has clean lines of ribbing at the ends and faux cable running through the length of the scarf. The horizontal pattern repeats are staggered at each end, creating a slight diagonal line for visual interest. This version is fast to knit and results in a timeless scarf, simple enough to be worn by both men and women.

Both versions are included in the pdf file.

The wrong side of each version looks great too; the Big Olives stitch becomes a very subtle lacy stitch on a stockinette-like background that does not roll because it is in fact, ribbing. So Olive is a completely reversible scarf!

Something else very nice with Olive is that it is a fast-to-knit scarf that requires a reasonable amount of yarn (only 3 skeins of Quince & Co Puffin), which means that your sister, your husband, your daughter, your best friend, your grandmother (and even your dog?), may expect to receive an Olive scarf for Christmas! But let’s start making one (or two?) for you! Knit Olive in a bright color, then wrap it once (or twice, or three times, or as many times as you can!) around your neck and feel confident that you will be that joyful pop of color amidst all the dull black coats this winter!

Finished measurements: 5½″/14 cm large (with selvedges rolled) and 90″/228.5 cm long.

Technical editing by Chaitanya Muralidhara