Knit Free Pattern: Mauve Cable Scarf Snowman

Knit Free Pattern: Mauve Cable Scarf Snowman

Introduction

This little snowman is made for anyone who loves a cozy, classic knit with a touch of dark academia elegance. He is worked in soft mauve velvet yarn as two simple stacked spheres, then dressed with a wide plum cable-knit scarf that wraps once around his neck. The cable panel is the star of the show, forming a repeating S-shaped braid down the length of the scarf. He stands about 10 inches tall and feels wonderfully plush and squishy in the hand, making him a sweet Thanksgiving or winter display piece.

Materials Needed

• Yarn: Worsted weight velvet yarn. Main color (MC) mauve: 150 yd. Contrast color (CC) plum: 100 yd.
• Needles: 3.75 mm (US 5) knitting needles (circular or double-pointed for working in the round), plus a cable needle.
• Notions: Stitch marker, tapestry needle, polyester fiberfill for stuffing, scissors.
• Finished size: Snowman approx 10 inches tall; scarf approx 20 inches long x 3 inches wide.

Abbreviations

• CO: cast on
• k: knit
• p: purl
• kfb: knit into the front and back of the same stitch (makes one new stitch)
• k2tog: knit two stitches together (decreases by one)
• C6F: slip 3 stitches to the cable needle and hold at the front, knit 3, then knit the 3 stitches from the cable needle
• C6B: slip 3 stitches to the cable needle and hold at the back, knit 3, then knit the 3 stitches from the cable needle
• RS: right side (the public-facing side)
• WS: wrong side
• BO: bind off
• rem: remaining
• rep: repeat
• Rnd(s): round(s)
• sts: stitches

Gauge

20 sts and 28 rows = 4 inches in stockinette. Knit a small swatch in the round or flat and measure a 4-inch section; adjust your needle size if needed so your snowman comes out at the right size.

Tips Before You Start

• Velvet yarn can shed and slip, so keep your tension even and avoid tugging the working yarn too hard.
• Use a stitch marker at the start of each round so you never lose your place while increasing and decreasing.
• Stuff the body firmly but not so tightly that the stitches stretch and show gaps; add stuffing in small handfuls.
• For the scarf, keep the cable needle close and cross the stitches gently so the velvet pile stays smooth.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Body (MC)

Using MC, CO 6 sts. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist.

Rnd 1: kfb all (12 sts).

Rnd 2: [k1, kfb] x6 (18 sts).

Rnd 3: [k2, kfb] x6 (24 sts).

Rnd 4: [k3, kfb] x6 (30 sts).

Rnd 5: [k4, kfb] x6 (36 sts).

Rnds 6-10: k all (36 sts).

Rnd 11: [k4, k2tog] x6 (30 sts).

Rnd 12: [k3, k2tog] x6 (24 sts).

Rnd 13: [k2, k2tog] x6 (18 sts).

Rnd 14: [k1, k2tog] x6 (12 sts).

Rnd 15: [k2tog] x6 (6 sts).

Break yarn, thread the tail through the remaining stitches, and pull tight. Stuff the body firmly.

Head (MC)

Using MC, CO 6 sts. Join to work in the round.

Rnd 1: kfb all (12 sts).

Rnd 2: [k1, kfb] x6 (18 sts).

Rnd 3: [k2, kfb] x6 (24 sts).

Rnds 4-8: k all (24 sts).

Rnd 9: [k2, k2tog] x6 (18 sts).

Rnd 10: [k1, k2tog] x6 (12 sts).

Rnd 11: [k2tog] x6 (6 sts).

Break yarn, thread the tail through the remaining stitches, and pull tight. Stuff the head. Sew the head to the body.

Scarf (CC)

Using CC, CO 16 sts. Work flat.

Row 1 (RS): p2, k12, p2 (16 sts).

Row 2 (WS): k2, p12, k2 (16 sts).

Row 3: p2, k2, C6F, k4, p2 (16 sts).

Row 4: k2, p12, k2 (16 sts).

Row 5: p2, k4, C6B, k2, p2 (16 sts).

Row 6: k2, p12, k2 (16 sts).

Rows 7-12: rep Rows 1-6 (16 sts).

Rep Rows 1-12 until the piece measures 20 inches, ending with Row 6. BO all sts.

Assembly and Finishing

Block the scarf lightly to settle the cables and even out the edges. Wrap the scarf around the snowman's neck once, overlapping the ends at the front, and sew the ends in place if you like. Weave in all ends on the body, head, and scarf, and add a little extra stuffing through the closing gaps if needed before you finish.

Pro Tips and Variations

• Try a deeper plum or charcoal for the scarf to lean further into the dark academia look.
• Work the scarf in a slightly larger needle size for a looser, drapier cable panel.
• Leave the scarf ends unsewn so the scarf can be removed and swapped for a different color.