Match-it cable scarf

I attempted to knit a capped beanie (warm for Aussie winter with shade protection from Aussie sun) and failed. So I purchased a knitted capped hat on eBay and then hunted around for the closest matching super bulky yarn - ended up using 3 balls of Shiver from Spotlight - and attempted to replicate the pattern. The yarn isn't an exact match for colour (50 shades of black?) but I'm happy enough with the result.

 

I can't recall what size needle I used, I think it was 6.5mm. I took inspiration from this Easy Chunky Cabled Scarf and heavily modified it to reach the following pattern:

Cast on 24
 
Knit 4 rows garter stitch
 
Rows 1, 3, 5, & : s1, (k1, p1) x3, k2, p6, k2, (p1, k1) x 3, k1
Rows 2, 4 and 6: s1, (p1, k1) x 3, p2, k6, p2, (k1, p1) x 3, k1
Row 8 (cable row): s1, (p1, k1) x 3, p2, c6, p2, (k1, p1) x 3, k1
 
Cable 6 = slip first three stitches to a cable needle, knit 3 then knit the 3 stitches from the cable knitting. Continue with pattern.
 
Repeat this 8-row pattern until desired length is reached.
 
Knit 4 rows garter stitch and bind off.

I recommend a bulky or super bulky yarn for this pattern. The ribbing on either side of the cable pulls the yarn in slightly to create quite a narrow scarf. Here is the same pattern in DK yarn.

 

Carnival Soft 8 Ply acrylic from Big W