Thorin's Hooded Cowl
Supplies: 530+ yards of a worsted weight yarn. The weight of yarn doesn't effect finished size all that much, it just results in a difference in density of the finished fabric. Size 10US 24" circular needle 1 size 10US straight needle, or DPN (if you are a tight knitter you may want an 11 or 12, this is for the bind off) 3 stitch markers tapestry needle
Fishnet Lace pattern:
Abbreviations used: As seen in Variation 4, page 5 Over an even number of stitches work as follows: YO, K2tog. k - knit p - purl YO - yarn over PM - place marker SM - slip marker As you start the next round you should have a YO as the first stitch on your needle. Gauge: Gauge really isn't a huge issue with this design, as the cowl section is very loose and drapey, and the hood is worked flat, so you can try it on as you go and see how deep you would like it to be. My samples measured at around 4.5 stitches by 5 rows per inch in the round and 4.5 stitches by 6 rows in the flat stockinette section. st on 140 stitches using your preferred CO method. I like long tail, myse There are variations for the cowl section of this pattern. You can use this pattern as written, or indulge your creativity and do any number of stitch combinations. Variations 1 - 3 in this pattern are based on Fibinocci numbers. Variation 4 is a simple 1 row lace
note: for a deeper hood you can bind off fewer stitches before you start the hood. Binding off 70 stitches gives a medium depth hood (depth meaning fabric that folds around the face). Binding off only 50 stitches you'll a even deeper hood, and binding off 90 stitches will give you a shallower hood. Fewer than 60 stitches in your hood may result in a hood that is too shallow, and will limit the increases you can make in the back of the hood. Variation 1: k 1 round p 1 round k 2 rounds p 3 rounds k 5 rounds p 8 rounds k 13 rounds p 21 rounds k 13 rounds p 8 rounds k 5 rounds p 3 rounds k 2 rounds (85 rounds worked)
Variation 2:
k 1 round p 1 round k 2 rounds p 1 round k 3 rounds p 1 round k 5 rounds p 1 round k 8 rounds p 1 round k 13 rounds p 1 round k 21 rounds p 1 round k 13 rounds p 1 round k 8 rounds p 1 round k 5 rounds p 1 round k 3 rounds p 1 round k 2 rounds (95 rounds worked)
Variation 3: p 1 round k 1 round p 2 rounds k 3 rounds p 5 rounds k 8 rounds p 13 rounds k 21 rounds p 33 rounds (85 rounds worked)
A 4th variation can be seen in the photo on page 5 of this pattern. That cowl is: 3 rounds of garter 3 rounds of stockinette 8 rounds of fishnet lace 3 rounds of stockinette 1 round of purl 6 rounds stockinette 1 round purl 3 rounds stockinette 8 rounds fishnet lace 3 rounds stockinette 3 rounds garter Repeat as many rounds as you'd like to make the cowl as deep as you like. a shorter cowl, eliminate the rounds in bold type in the variations. For a longer cowl, the formula used in variations 1 - 3 to get the row repeats are Fibonacci Numbers. Take the last two numbers in the sequence and add them together. (21 + 33=54) etc. Just remember you will need more yardage to do this. Once you have your cowl to the length you desire, knit to the beginning of round marker, knit 35, bind off 70, knit back to the marker. Remove marker and continue to the edge of the hood. This should put the beginning round to the back of the hood. From here, you'll be working flat. k 11, PM k 24, PM (this should be the center back of the hood) k 24, PM k 11 turn k 11, SM p 48, slipping center marker as needed k 11 This gives you an 11 stitch wide garter stitch edge. Feel free to use this 11 stitch border to do a simple cable repeat, as seen in the Red hood on page 3, or some other decorative stitch. This is your playground. Have fun. k 4+ inches of stockinette in the above fashion. If you have a longer neck, add more rows, for a shorter neck, do less. Begin increases: Row 1: knit to one stitch before the center stitch marker YO k 1, SM k 1 YO k remaining sts Row 2 and all remaining even rows: K11, SM, p to marker indicating the Iborder stitches, K11 Row 3: knit to one stitch before the yarn over of the previous row YO k 3, SM k3 YO k remaining sts Row 5: knit to one stitch before the yarn over of the previous row YO k 5, SM k5 YO k remaining sts Work all remaining odd rows, adding yarn over increases one stitch before the previ ous yarn over before the center marker, and one stitch after the previous rows yarn over after the center marker. This should increase the center knitted section by 2 with each pass until you reach the edge of your 11 stitch garter stitch border. At any time during these increases that you feel the hood is deep enough for you, discontinue the increase section and flip the project so the purl side is facing you. Fold your hood flap in half, right sides together, and using the straight needle or DPN do a 3 needle bind off from the front edge of the hood to the back. I pulled the extra loop of the circular needle out of the center back of the project to facilitate the 3 needle bind Off. If you know the magic of Kitchner, this is a nice seam free way to finsih off the hood. I highly recommend the tutorial from The Purl Bee (www.purlbee.com/2008/01/23/kitchener-stitch/) Three Needle Bind Off: I don't know how others do it, but this is how I do it. Holding the two halves together knit through the front loop of one stitch on each needle, knitting the two stitches together. Knit the next pair of stitches together and pass the first stitch on the straight needle or DPN over the second stitch. Continue in this fashion until you bind off all stitch pairs. Break the yarn, pull the tail through the last stitch and weave in all ends. Tassel: To get the two tone tassel I held the two colors together and wrapped them around my spread fingers about 22 times. For the single color tassel I wrapped about 44 times. I cut a length of yarn double what I wanted for the length of the tassel string. I folded it in half and tied it through the middle of the wraps of yarn on my hand to secure it. I then wrapped yarn around the upper one quarter of the tassela number of times with another length of yarn and tied it with a square knot. I used a tapestry needle to weave the ends of the wrapped bit around and through the wrapping to secure it. TIP: If you are using a slick yarn or are afraid theknot could work free, put a dab of fabric glue on the knot and allow it to dry. Clip the ends of the tassel to tidy them up. Thread one end of your long string through the tip of your hood, and the other end through a couple stitches over from the first. Turn the hood inside out and tie a knot in the ends to secure it to the hood. Again, use a dab of fabric glue to secure the knot if you sodesire. Wear and keep warm! Starbright Blessings! \~Summer Star
Notes: About the designer: Summer Star is a tattooed misfit who lives in the beautiful PNW with her Viking and a cat named Grover. She knits, spins, crochets and sews. She also loves to dabble in photography.
A heartfelt thank you goes out to Jennie for her help testing the pattern. To SquidWidget for her read through to makes sure I didn't make a fool of myself. To Jess for her help in naming this pattern, and to Ephiphonora for letting me use her photo and project for the cover of this pattern. @ StarGrrl Spinworks, Summer Star. This pattern is free to distribute, if proper credit is given.
