Downhill Slide Cowl
Size: One Size Fits All Finished Measurement: Approximately 24" x 6". Your cowl may differ based on yarn drafting. Yarn: Approximately 1 ounce (28 grams) of silk hankies aka mawata. Gauge, needle size and finished measurement are for yarn drafted to approximately DK weight. Needle Size: NOTE: Steel needles are strongly recommended when working with silk hankies. The clinginess of the yarn causes stitches to stick to bamboo needles. US Size 10.5 on 16" cable (used to cast on) US Size 8 on 16" cable (used to knit the body of the cowl) US Size 9 (bind off needle, no cable needed) Gauge: 5 sts = 1 inch
Instructions:
Drafting instructions: There are many internet sources for instructions on drafting silk hankies into yarn. Search on "knitting with silk hankies". Knit Picks has a comprehensive video on Youtube that I recommend. It can be found at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDbdmn8yCB8 . I find it easiest to draft the hankies one-by-one. As I complete knitting one hanky, I drafted the next. They are easier to handle if hand lotion is applied prior to each drafting.
Pattern Notes:
· 3 sizes of needles are used for this project: #10.5 to cast on; #8 to knit the body; #9 to bind off. This produces a fabric where the bottom, created by #10.5 is flared a bit. #9 is used to bind off to ensure that edge does not pull in. (Silk does not stretch as wool does, so care must be taken that the bound off edge does not become tight.) If the decision is made not to use #9 needles, be certain the tension when binding off is loose. The pattern repeat for this cowl is multiples of 8 stitches plus an additional 7 stitches added one time only. You can alter the cowl by making it longer & narrower or shorter and thicker by adding/removing stitches in multiples of 8, but always add those last 7 stitches. When casting on, make note of how many hankies it took to accomplish the task. Save this same number (plus one for “insurance", if desired) and set aside in a plastic bag for binding off. The remaining hankies can be used to create your cowl.
Knitting Instructions:
Cast on 103 sts using size 10.5 needles. Join into round by passing the last stitch over the first stitch, then slipping the first stitch onto the right-hand needle. Place marker. Change to size 8 needles. Round 1: \*K5, P3, repeat from \* to the last 7 sts - K5, P2. Round 2: P1, \*K5, P3, repeat from \* to the last 6 sts - K5, P1. Round 3: P2, \*K5, P3, repeat from \* to the last 5 sts - K5. Round 4: P3, \*K5, P3, repeat from \* to the last 4 sts - K4. Round 5: K1, P3, \*K5, P3, repeat from \* to the last 3 sts - K3. Round 6: K2, P3, \*K5, P3, repeat from \* to the last 2 sts - K2. Round 7: K3, P3, \*K5, P3, repeat from \* to the last st - K1. Round 8: K4, P3, \*K5, P3, repeat from \* to the end of the row. Repeat these 8 rows until hanky supply is depleted or desired length. Bind off loosely using saved hankies and #9 needles. Work in ends. Block, if desired.
