Fascination Wrap & Cowl
Inspired by mid-century modern upholstery fabric, this scarf or cowl project takes cues from colorful, mix and match interior design trends of the ‘60s and ‘70s. Stacked stitches and chevron stripes take a pattern often seen in upholstery fabric and housewares and transforms it into a versatile knitting project with many possibilities for color, pattern, and form. Instructions are provided in written and chart form.
This pattern uses the innovative stacked stitch technique seen in the Fox Paws pattern to create the funky chevrons, but it is a less complex pattern to try out if you are a stacked stitch beginner.
Fadient Cowl
What’s a FADIENT you ask? It’s like a fade and a gradient together, and it’s the best way to slowly blend from one yarn color into to another. The magic happens when you hold multiple strands together for a stunning, painterly effect. It is also a great way to stashbust and experiment with color. The only special tool you need is a scale accurate to the gram.
You don’t need to think about picking the right colors, just find any colors you like - speckled, variegated, solid, anything - I promise they’ll blend smoothly together as you knit this cowl. The proof is in the photos. I started with one aqua skein and one neon orange/pink skein - near opposites on the color wheel. Once knit, it’s almost impossible to tell where the yarns change, it looks like a seamless fade even with these extreme colors.
Finished Size: 24” (61 cm) in circumference and 14” (36 cm) tall.
Yarn: 2 contrasting skeins of Hedgehog Fibres Skinny Singles, 400 yards (366m) per 100g skein; 100% merino.
Shown in one of a kind colors, Color A is blue, Color B is orange.
Needles: #10.5 (6.75 mm) circular needles with a 20” (50 mm) cord.
Gauge: 13 sts x 15 rows = 4 x 4” (10 x 10 cm) square in moss stitch.
Materials: Stitch marker, row counter, and a scale accurate to the gram.
Tattersall Tartan Cowl
Tattersall is a popular tartan for shirts and blankets. It is characterized by a grid of evenly spaced thin stripes, generally in two alternating colors, on a solid background. This pattern was popularized by blankets from the Tattersall Horse Market in London. Like a woven plaid, the Tattersall pattern in this cowl is created with the intersection of two yarn colors.
If you already know 2-color brioche, you may find the intarsia color changes in brioche stitch to be easier than they are in stockinette stitch! Stripes and intarsia create the intermeshed vertical and horizontal stripes of the plaid. This project is a gentle introduction to brioche intarsia in the round. At first, it’s a little tricky, but this simple plaid is easy to memorize as you focus on the new techniques. The pattern has written and charted instructions, a brioche intarsia primer with some helpful tips and a photo guide to help you get started on the first few rounds.
If you haven’t tried any brioche stitch before, you may want to try a simple project first to learn the terminology.
Finished Size: 26.5” (63 cm) in circumference, 16” (40 cm) tall.
Yarn: Harrisville Designs Shetland, 217 yards (198 m) per 50g; 100% wool.
Main Color: 2 skeins Peacock
Contrast Color 1: 1 skein Gold
Contrast Color 2: 1 skein Raspberry
Needles: Size 3 (3.25 mm) 24” circular needles or size needed to obtain gauge.
Gauge: 18 sts x 26 rows = 4 x 4” (10 x 10 cm) square in brioche stitch.
Materials: A scale accurate to the gram, stitch markers, 20 cardboard or plastic bobbins, a crochet hook, blocking mats and pins.
Color Warp Cowl
Yes, it’s intarsia, but you shouldn’t feel intimidated by all of the colorwork. The Color Warp Cowl is a hybrid technique that falls somewhere between traditional hand knitting and a commercial method called warp knitting.Each yarn makes a color stripe, zigging and zagging its way to the bottom of the cowl. The method is simple, only using knits and purls to create the zig zag effect. You don’t even have to twist the yarns together as you would in traditional intarsia.
This project was inspired by an African basket made
from repurposed telephone wire. The spiraling design changes directions abruptly creating a rainbow of lightning bolts emanating from the center. The 20g pieces of yarn in each stripe are a good way to use your scraps and it’s best to use at least five colors for this project.
Finished Size: 24.5” (62 cm) in circumference and 18” (41 cm) tall.
Needles: #7, 8, 9, 10 (4.5, 5, 5.5, 6 mm) circular needles with a 16” (40 cm) cord.
Gauge: 18 sts x 36 rows = 4 x 4” (10 x 10 cm) square in garter stitch on smallest needle.
Materials: Stitch marker, tapestry needle, and a scale accurate to the gram.
Optional Materials: 2 bobbins per stripe
Cuddle Cactus Cowl
When I teach the stacked stitch technique, students ask a lot of questions about design possibilities. The most asked question is about creating 3d fabric with this type of increase and decrease. This cowl is an answer to that question. It uses a similar motif to some of my other patterns, but without the extra shaping which keeps the fabric flat. The stitch creates something like interlocked fingers, a barrel of pickles, or maybe some cuddling cacti.
Bonfire Cowl
The Bonfire Cowl was designed as a way to use up scrap yarn. The chevron pattern was inspired by victorian era flame stitch textiles and bargello motifs. The pattern uses 2 alternating magic balls and is a great way to use up scraps. This method softens the breaks between each color and blends the hues together. It is worked circularly in 2 directions so there’s never any purling.
Candy Twist Cowl
This twisted cowl is knit flat, then seamed into a spiraling tube. It’s lightweight and airy, but long enough to slouch down into a substantial cowl. The twisted construction allows each color and texture to be seen when worn. There is a photo tutorial to help guide you with the seaming in the pattern.
Finished Size: 26˝ (66 cm) tall and 26 (30)“ (66, 76 cm) in circumference. Shown in smaller size.
Yarn: Neighborhood Fiber Co. Studio Sock, 400 yards (366 m) per 114g. 100% merino)
Color A: 1 skein in pink (approx. 40-45g used)
Color B: 1 skein in teal (approx. 35-40g used)
Color C: 1 skein in purple (approx. 35-40g used)
Needles: Size 5 (3.75 mm) needles, or size needed to obtain gauge.
Gauge: 16 sts x 28 rows = 4 x 4” (10 x 10 cm) square in stockinette stitch.
Other Materials: Tapestry needle, markers, pins, blocking wires (optional).
Petal Cowl
The Petal Cowl is designed to highlight the color shifts of a self striping yarn. The stitch shapes are inspired by flower petals, fish scales, and vintage crochet afghans. A great summer knit, or a cold weather project when made in heavy yarn. The extra long chevron motif is created using the Stacked Stitch technique which sets this cowl apart.
If you can handle various types of increases and decreases and circular knitting you can make this cowl.
I also have a YouTube playlist showing the how to do stacked stitches.
The pattern can easily be made larger, smaller, or adjusted to work with heavier yarns (I want one in Kureyon for this winter).
Candy Twist Cowl
This twisted cowl is knit flat, then seamed into a spiraling tube. It’s lightweight and airy, but long enough to slouch down into a substantial cowl. The twisted construction allows each color and texture to be seen when worn. There is a photo tutorial to help guide you with the seaming in the pattern.
Finished Size: 26˝ (66 cm) tall and 26 (30)“ (66, 76 cm) in circumference. Shown in smaller size.
Yarn: Neighborhood Fiber Co. Studio Sock, 400 yards (366 m) per 114g. 100% merino)
Color A: 1 skein in pink (approx. 40-45g used)
Color B: 1 skein in teal (approx. 35-40g used)
Color C: 1 skein in purple (approx. 35-40g used)
Needles: Size 5 (3.75 mm) needles, or size needed to obtain gauge.
Gauge: 16 sts x 28 rows = 4 x 4” (10 x 10 cm) square in stockinette stitch.
Other Materials: Tapestry needle, markers, pins, blocking wires (optional).
Fadient Cowl
What’s a FADIENT you ask? It’s like a fade and a gradient together, and it’s the best way to slowly blend from one yarn color into to another. The magic happens when you hold multiple strands together for a stunning, painterly effect. It is also a great way to stashbust and experiment with color. The only special tool you need is a scale accurate to the gram.
You don’t need to think about picking the right colors, just find any colors you like - speckled, variegated, solid, anything - I promise they’ll blend smoothly together as you knit this cowl. The proof is in the photos. I started with one aqua skein and one neon orange/pink skein - near opposites on the color wheel. Once knit, it’s almost impossible to tell where the yarns change, it looks like a seamless fade even with these extreme colors.
Finished Size: 24” (61 cm) in circumference and 14” (36 cm) tall.
Yarn: 2 contrasting skeins of Hedgehog Fibres Skinny Singles, 400 yards (366m) per 100g skein; 100% merino.
Shown in one of a kind colors, Color A is blue, Color B is orange.
Needles: #10.5 (6.75 mm) circular needles with a 20” (50 mm) cord.
Gauge: 13 sts x 15 rows = 4 x 4” (10 x 10 cm) square in moss stitch.
Materials: Stitch marker, row counter, and a scale accurate to the gram.
Amazement Cowl
Inspired by vintage wallpaper, this cowl takes cues from over-the-top colorful interior design trends of the ‘60s and ‘70s and transforms them into a luxurious neck warmer. Stacked stitches and stripes create a geometric colorwork motif to will keep you interested and amazed as the colors come together.
Ice Breaker Cowl
This project is a gentle introduction to brioche intarsia in the round. The zigzag motif in this cowl reminds me of late winter when the ice on lakes and ponds starts to thaw and crack.
The pattern uses simple brioche increases and decreases alongside the intarsia to shape the flow of color through the cowl. If you already know 2-color brioche, you may find the intarsia color changes in brioche stitch to be easier than they are in stockinette stitch! The stitch pattern is simple and easy to memorize so you can focus on the intarsia technique.
Videos of each increase and decrease used in this pattern are available on YouTube.
If you haven’t tried any brioche stitch before, you may want to try a simple project first to learn the terminology.
Finished Size: 22.5”, 26”, 30” (57, 66, 76 cm) circumference and 15” (38 cm) tall. Shown in smallest size.
Yarn: MollyGirl Yarn Rock Star DK, 270 yards (247 m) per 100g; 100% merino wool.
Light Color 1: 1 skein (55, 60, 65g used) Cold as Ice
Light Color 2: 1 skein (15, 15, 15g used) Pour Some Sugar On Me
Dark Color : 1 skein (70, 80, 90g used) Anything For You
Needles: Size 5 (3.75 mm) 20” circular needles or size needed to obtain gauge.
Gauge: 18 sts x 30 rows = 4 x 4” (10 x 10 cm) square in brioche stitch.
Materials: Stitch marker, crochet hook, steamer and a blocking surface.
Geomesh Cowl
The stitch pattern in this cowl looks like safety netting on construction sites or the fabric in sports jerseys. The pointy bandana style looks like a triangle scarf, but stays in place more easily. The point section is worked flat first, then it’s joined in the round, The top edge of the cowl is decreased to create a slight funnel shape. I’ve uploaded an image of the schematic to show the full shape and dimensions..
This pattern is suitable for knitters with knowledge of pattern reading, knitting in the round, increasing, and decreasing. There is one unusual stitch in the pattern but it has a special tutorial on YouTube. View a video tutorial for the 3⇨2 stitch decrease here.
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Finished Size: 26” (66 cm) around and 28” (71 cm) from top to point. Info on fit, pattern modifications and yarn substitution are included in the pattern document.
Yarn: Yarn Vibes Inis Sport, 328 yards (300 m) per 100g; 100% Irish wool. Shown in color Shepherd’s Delight. Yarn substitution info is on page 2.
Needles: Size 9 (5.5mm) 24”circular needles, or size needed to obtain gauge.
Gauge: 16.5 sts and 26 rounds in mesh stitch = 4 x 4” (10 x 10 cm) square after washing and blocking.
Other Materials: 1 marker, sewing needle.
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Yarn info for Substitution
This stitch looks best in natural, wooly yarns. During washing these yarns will bloom and soften. If you are wool allergic or prefer synthetic options, look for fibers with a springy texture. Drapey fibers (silk, superwash wool) may distort with time.
Color Warp Cowl
Yes, it’s intarsia, but you shouldn’t feel intimidated by all of the colorwork. The Color Warp Cowl is a hybrid technique that falls somewhere between traditional hand knitting and a commercial method called warp knitting.Each yarn makes a color stripe, zigging and zagging its way to the bottom of the cowl. The method is simple, only using knits and purls to create the zig zag effect. You don’t even have to twist the yarns together as you would in traditional intarsia.
This project was inspired by an African basket made
from repurposed telephone wire. The spiraling design changes directions abruptly creating a rainbow of lightning bolts emanating from the center. The 20g pieces of yarn in each stripe are a good way to use your scraps and it’s best to use at least five colors for this project.
Finished Size: 24.5” (62 cm) in circumference and 18” (41 cm) tall.
Needles: #7, 8, 9, 10 (4.5, 5, 5.5, 6 mm) circular needles with a 16” (40 cm) cord.
Gauge: 18 sts x 36 rows = 4 x 4” (10 x 10 cm) square in garter stitch on smallest needle.
Materials: Stitch marker, tapestry needle, and a scale accurate to the gram.
Optional Materials: 2 bobbins per stripe
Geomesh Cowl
The stitch pattern in this cowl looks like safety netting on construction sites or the fabric in sports jerseys. The pointy bandana style looks like a triangle scarf, but stays in place more easily. The point section is worked flat first, then it’s joined in the round, The top edge of the cowl is decreased to create a slight funnel shape. I’ve uploaded an image of the schematic to show the full shape and dimensions..
This pattern is suitable for knitters with knowledge of pattern reading, knitting in the round, increasing, and decreasing. There is one unusual stitch in the pattern but it has a special tutorial on YouTube. View a video tutorial for the 3⇨2 stitch decrease here.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Finished Size: 26” (66 cm) around and 28” (71 cm) from top to point. Info on fit, pattern modifications and yarn substitution are included in the pattern document.
Yarn: Yarn Vibes Inis Sport, 328 yards (300 m) per 100g; 100% Irish wool. Shown in color Shepherd’s Delight. Yarn substitution info is on page 2.
Needles: Size 9 (5.5mm) 24”circular needles, or size needed to obtain gauge.
Gauge: 16.5 sts and 26 rounds in mesh stitch = 4 x 4” (10 x 10 cm) square after washing and blocking.
Other Materials: 1 marker, sewing needle.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Yarn info for Substitution
This stitch looks best in natural, wooly yarns. During washing these yarns will bloom and soften. If you are wool allergic or prefer synthetic options, look for fibers with a springy texture. Drapey fibers (silk, superwash wool) may distort with time.
Puddle Jumping Cowl
The Puddle Jumping Cowl started as a short design challenge. Was it possible to design a simple project on a short flight to a teaching job? I didn’t have anything on my needles and had packed a single skein of self striping yarn. Three hours after boarding my flight, I landed with the first few rounds of this cowl finished.
This pattern works best with self striping yarn. The pattern is easy to memorize. It’s only 4 lines long. Markers will help you keep your place in each repeat as you work through the pattern.
This project is good for knitters who have tried increases and decreases and want to learn the Stacked Stitch technique.
These videos will help with the unfamiliar stitches in the pattern:
Stacked Increase
Stacked Decrease
Finished Size: 24, 30, 36” (61, 76, 91cm) in circumference and 14” (35cm) tall.
Yarn: 1 (2, 2) skeins of White Birch Fiber Arts self striping fingering weight yarn, 400 yards per 100g skein; 80% superwash merino, 20% nylon.
Gauge and size can be adjusted to work with any weight yarn.
Pattern contains suggestions for other yarns and weights and substitution guidance.
Needles: Size 4 and 5 (3.5 and 3.75mm) 32”circular needles, or size needed to obtain gauge.
Gauge: 2 stacks wide x 2 stacks high in patt = 3” x 2” (7.6 x 5 cm).
Other Materials: 1 stitch marker, 15+ locking stitch markers in a contrasting color, tapestry needle, pins, damp cloth, ironing board and steamer.
Cuddle Cactus Cowl
When I teach the stacked stitch technique, students ask a lot of questions about design possibilities. The most asked question is about creating 3d fabric with this type of increase and decrease. This cowl is an answer to that question. It uses a similar motif to some of my other patterns, but without the extra shaping which keeps the fabric flat. The stitch creates something like interlocked fingers, a barrel of pickles, or maybe some cuddling cacti.
Twin Peaks Cowl
At first glance, this cowl appears to have two different sets of stripes, one thick and the other thin. From far away, the thinner stripes seem to exist on top of a layer of thick stripes, almost jumping out in space. Look closer and you will see the two stripe patterns are actually intertwined. The cowl uses short rows as part of the chevron motif to change the scale of each stripe, creating the illusion of multiple patterns.
Find helpful video tutorials for this project at http://ow.ly/ZmQz30fB9mA
Ice Breaker Cowl
This project is a gentle introduction to brioche intarsia in the round. The zigzag motif in this cowl reminds me of late winter when the ice on lakes and ponds starts to thaw and crack.
The pattern uses simple brioche increases and decreases alongside the intarsia to shape the flow of color through the cowl. If you already know 2-color brioche, you may find the intarsia color changes in brioche stitch to be easier than they are in stockinette stitch! The stitch pattern is simple and easy to memorize so you can focus on the intarsia technique.
Videos of each increase and decrease used in this pattern are available on YouTube.
If you haven’t tried any brioche stitch before, you may want to try a simple project first to learn the terminology.
Finished Size: 22.5”, 26”, 30” (57, 66, 76 cm) circumference and 15” (38 cm) tall. Shown in smallest size.
Yarn: MollyGirl Yarn Rock Star DK, 270 yards (247 m) per 100g; 100% merino wool.
Light Color 1: 1 skein (55, 60, 65g used) Cold as Ice
Light Color 2: 1 skein (15, 15, 15g used) Pour Some Sugar On Me
Dark Color : 1 skein (70, 80, 90g used) Anything For You
Needles: Size 5 (3.75 mm) 20” circular needles or size needed to obtain gauge.
Gauge: 18 sts x 30 rows = 4 x 4” (10 x 10 cm) square in brioche stitch.
Materials: Stitch marker, crochet hook, steamer and a blocking surface.
Impressionism Cowl
This cowl, worked in an extreme wave pattern, gives a unique look to any self striping yarn. The tweed texture of the Noro Koromo yarn and bright colors remind me of an impressionist painting where blooming flowers are reflected in the ripples of a garden pond. The shape is slightly tapered for a better fit and can be worn up over the ears in cold weather.
The colorwork is done entirely with stacked increases and decreases, the same type of stitches used in the Fox Paws project, at an entry level of difficulty. If you are new to these techniques, you can find introductory tutorials on youtube:
Knit Tips: How to do Stacked Decreases
Knit Tips: How to Do Stacked Increases
KYOK Demo
Yarn: 2 x Noro Koromo, 137 yards (125m) per 50g. Shown in color 3.
Needles: Size 8 (5mm) 24” circular needles, or size needed to obtain gauge.
Gauge: 16 sts x 30 rows = 4 x 4” (10 x 10 cm) square in garter stitch.
Other Materials: Marker, sewing needle.
Limestone Cowl
Limestone is a cowl with a reversible slip stitch pattern that
creates a striped pattern on one side and a nearly solid color on
the other.
Yarn: 2 contrasting skeins of Manos del Uruguay Maxima (shown
in colors highlighter and foil) or another worsted weight yarn.
Needles: Size 9 (5.5 mm) circular needles 24”
Other Materials: A sewing needle, a stitch marker.
Gauge: 18 stitches and 36 rows for a 4” square of pattern stitch.
Finished Size: 44” around and 7.5” tall.
Mixed Up Mystery KAL
Skillz
This pattern contains increases, decreases, and stacked stitches suitable for intermediate and experienced knitters with a penchant for adventure. If you have never tried these stitches, it is a good idea to look at these online video tutorials:
Stacked Increase Video
Stacked Decrease Video
Some clues will have their own video guides to help you out. These will be posted as the clues are released. A help/spoilers thread will also be started for each clue as they are released so that everyone can ask questions and stay on track.
yarn
You will need fingering weight yarn in two colors. I recommend using Sophia from Ball and Skein. You can purchase directly from their website or you can find them at various fiber shows across New England. They are going to be in Vernon, CT on April 30th and I hope to see you all there.
Lime Nut Cowl
Lime Nut muffins are my favorite recipe from the Northwood Inn. They are very flavorful and rich, yet the tart citrus gives them a slightly tropical flavor that tastes like a summer vacation. The Lime Nut cowl features a unique spring stitch texture and tapered fit. A step by step spring stitch tutorial is included in the pattern and a video tutorial is available via youtube.
Finished Size: 13˝ tall (33 cm) and 26˝ tapering to 22”
(66-56 cm) in circumference
Yarn: Main Color: 1 skein Nooch Central Park Fingering, 400 yds (366 m) per 100g Shown in Brasil, Brasil.
Needles: Size 5 (3.75 mm) 24˝ circular needles,
Gauge: 22 sts x 28 rows = 4 x 4” (10 x 10 cm) square in stockinette stitch.
Other Materials: Stitch marker, tapestry needle.
Unicorn Cowl
Everyone knows that unicorns are magical, and so is brioche intarsia colorwork. The stitch patterns in this project are no harder than any other brioche project, but the bright pink pop of color turns this pony into a unicorn!
The magical part is that this intarsia is simpler and easier than plain intarsia. The yarns never have to be linked. If you are already able to work 2 color brioche stitch patterns, this is a great first pattern for the addition of intarsia.
Videos of each increase and decrease used in this pattern are available on YouTube.
If you haven’t tried any brioche stitch before, you may want to try a simple project first to learn the terminology.
Finished Size: 24” (61 cm) circumference and 13” (33 cm) tall.
Each repeat adds 3” (7.5 cm). Shown with 5 repeats of chevron
(green) brioche stitch.
Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Baby Alpaca Grande, 110 yards (101 m)
per 100g; 100% baby alpaca.
BC: 1 skein (90g used) Blue Ice Color 1285
FC 2: 1 skein (75g used) Cactus Color 3317
FC 1: 1 skein (25g used) Coral Color 6010
Needles: Size 10 (6 mm) 16” circular needles or size needed
to obtain gauge.
Gauge: 10.5 sts x 8 rows = 4 x 4” (10 x 10 cm) square in chevron
(green) brioche stitch.
Materials: Stitch marker, crochet hook, steamer, and blocking
mats.
Size Changes
Each added horizontal repeat increases the circumference of the cowl by 3” (7.5 cm). Vertical repeats are 3.5” (9 cm) tall. You’ll need additional skeins of BC and FC1 if you add repeats.
Yarn Substitutions
This pattern is fully adjustable. If you decide to use a thinner yarn, simply add more repeats and work rows 1-8 a few more times. Remember that brioche uses a slightly smaller needle than the size on the label. Fingering - #4, DK - #5, and worsted - #6.
Lime Nut Cowl
Lime Nut muffins are my favorite recipe from the Northwood Inn. They are very flavorful and rich, yet the tart citrus gives them a slightly tropical flavor that tastes like a summer vacation. The Lime Nut cowl features a unique spring stitch texture and tapered fit. A step by step spring stitch tutorial is included in the pattern and a video tutorial is available via youtube.
Finished Size: 13˝ tall (33 cm) and 26˝ tapering to 22”
(66-56 cm) in circumference
Yarn: Main Color: 1 skein Nooch Central Park Fingering, 400 yds (366 m) per 100g Shown in Brasil, Brasil.
Needles: Size 5 (3.75 mm) 24˝ circular needles,
Gauge: 22 sts x 28 rows = 4 x 4” (10 x 10 cm) square in stockinette stitch.
Other Materials: Stitch marker, tapestry needle.
Puddle Jumping Cowl
The Puddle Jumping Cowl started as a short design challenge. Was it possible to design a simple project on a short flight to a teaching job? I didn’t have anything on my needles and had packed a single skein of self striping yarn. Three hours after boarding my flight, I landed with the first few rounds of this cowl finished.
This pattern works best with self striping yarn. The pattern is easy to memorize. It’s only 4 lines long. Markers will help you keep your place in each repeat as you work through the pattern.
This project is good for knitters who have tried increases and decreases and want to learn the Stacked Stitch technique.
These videos will help with the unfamiliar stitches in the pattern:
Stacked Increase
Stacked Decrease
Finished Size: 24, 30, 36” (61, 76, 91cm) in circumference and 14” (35cm) tall.
Yarn: 1 (2, 2) skeins of White Birch Fiber Arts self striping fingering weight yarn, 400 yards per 100g skein; 80% superwash merino, 20% nylon.
Gauge and size can be adjusted to work with any weight yarn.
Pattern contains suggestions for other yarns and weights and substitution guidance.
Needles: Size 4 and 5 (3.5 and 3.75mm) 32”circular needles, or size needed to obtain gauge.
Gauge: 2 stacks wide x 2 stacks high in patt = 3” x 2” (7.6 x 5 cm).
Other Materials: 1 stitch marker, 15+ locking stitch markers in a contrasting color, tapestry needle, pins, damp cloth, ironing board and steamer.
Limestone Cowl
Limestone is a cowl with a reversible slip stitch pattern that
creates a striped pattern on one side and a nearly solid color on
the other.
Yarn: 2 contrasting skeins of Manos del Uruguay Maxima (shown
in colors highlighter and foil) or another worsted weight yarn.
Needles: Size 9 (5.5 mm) circular needles 24”
Other Materials: A sewing needle, a stitch marker.
Gauge: 18 stitches and 36 rows for a 4” square of pattern stitch.
Finished Size: 44” around and 7.5” tall.
Tattersall Tartan Cowl
Tattersall is a popular tartan for shirts and blankets. It is characterized by a grid of evenly spaced thin stripes, generally in two alternating colors, on a solid background. This pattern was popularized by blankets from the Tattersall Horse Market in London. Like a woven plaid, the Tattersall pattern in this cowl is created with the intersection of two yarn colors.
If you already know 2-color brioche, you may find the intarsia color changes in brioche stitch to be easier than they are in stockinette stitch! Stripes and intarsia create the intermeshed vertical and horizontal stripes of the plaid. This project is a gentle introduction to brioche intarsia in the round. At first, it’s a little tricky, but this simple plaid is easy to memorize as you focus on the new techniques. The pattern has written and charted instructions, a brioche intarsia primer with some helpful tips and a photo guide to help you get started on the first few rounds.
If you haven’t tried any brioche stitch before, you may want to try a simple project first to learn the terminology.
Finished Size: 26.5” (63 cm) in circumference, 16” (40 cm) tall.
Yarn: Harrisville Designs Shetland, 217 yards (198 m) per 50g; 100% wool.
Main Color: 2 skeins Peacock
Contrast Color 1: 1 skein Gold
Contrast Color 2: 1 skein Raspberry
Needles: Size 3 (3.25 mm) 24” circular needles or size needed to obtain gauge.
Gauge: 18 sts x 26 rows = 4 x 4” (10 x 10 cm) square in brioche stitch.
Materials: A scale accurate to the gram, stitch markers, 20 cardboard or plastic bobbins, a crochet hook, blocking mats and pins.
Unicorn Cowl
Everyone knows that unicorns are magical, and so is brioche intarsia colorwork. The stitch patterns in this project are no harder than any other brioche project, but the bright pink pop of color turns this pony into a unicorn!
The magical part is that this intarsia is simpler and easier than plain intarsia. The yarns never have to be linked. If you are already able to work 2 color brioche stitch patterns, this is a great first pattern for the addition of intarsia.
Videos of each increase and decrease used in this pattern are available on YouTube.
If you haven’t tried any brioche stitch before, you may want to try a simple project first to learn the terminology.
Finished Size: 24” (61 cm) circumference and 13” (33 cm) tall.
Each repeat adds 3” (7.5 cm). Shown with 5 repeats of chevron
(green) brioche stitch.
Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Baby Alpaca Grande, 110 yards (101 m)
per 100g; 100% baby alpaca.
BC: 1 skein (90g used) Blue Ice Color 1285
FC 2: 1 skein (75g used) Cactus Color 3317
FC 1: 1 skein (25g used) Coral Color 6010
Needles: Size 10 (6 mm) 16” circular needles or size needed
to obtain gauge.
Gauge: 10.5 sts x 8 rows = 4 x 4” (10 x 10 cm) square in chevron
(green) brioche stitch.
Materials: Stitch marker, crochet hook, steamer, and blocking
mats.
Size Changes
Each added horizontal repeat increases the circumference of the cowl by 3” (7.5 cm). Vertical repeats are 3.5” (9 cm) tall. You’ll need additional skeins of BC and FC1 if you add repeats.
Yarn Substitutions
This pattern is fully adjustable. If you decide to use a thinner yarn, simply add more repeats and work rows 1-8 a few more times. Remember that brioche uses a slightly smaller needle than the size on the label. Fingering - #4, DK - #5, and worsted - #6.
Velveteen Cowl
This cowl is not at all like other fade projects. The fade from one yarn to another creates an incredible textural shift in the fabric from velvety, luxurious mohair into the smooth, soft merino wool. You don’t even need to use contrasting colors to get the full effect of this cowl, making it perfect for those who like an understated look. Of course, you can get as wild as you want with the color. When picking my colors, I found inspiration in rose petals. At the edge of each red petal, there’s a sightly darker shade, making each petal look luminous. The result is a fabric that looks almost as if it is glowing.
This project is well suited for adventurous beginners who are able to knit, purl, and work in the round.There are no increases or decreases in the cowl. Its funnel like shape comes from changing yarns and needle size.
Finished Size: 24.5” (62 cm) in circumference at the top of the cowl, 40” (100 cm) in circumference at the bottom of the cowl, and 16” (41 cm) tall.
Yarn: MollyGirl Yarn Bass Line, 460 yards (421m) per 100g skein; 75% merino, 25% nylon. Shown in color Little Red Corvette.
MollyGirl Yarn Motown, 455 yards (416m) per 50g skein; 72% mohair, 28% silk. Shown in color Angie.
Needles: #8, 9, 10 (5, 5.5, 6 mm) circular needles with a 16” (40 cm) cord.
Gauge: 18 sts x 26 rows = 4 x 4” (10 x 10 cm) square in 1 x 1 rib with 2 strands of wool yarn held together on smallest needle.
Materials: Stitch marker, ball winder, row counter, steamer, tapestry needle, and a scale accurate to the gram.