IT'S ONLY A MODEL
A brioche cowl pattern by Rachel Theall
Gather 5 (no, 3) colors of leftovers from other projects and mix them up to create a striped cowl that is flashy and fun. During the process you will figure out which colors look best when put out front for everyone to see and which ones are better left in the back banging on coconuts. You may not make it to Camelot, but you will look good during the journey!
Supplies:
Yarn: 5 (no, 3) colors of yarn, any weight, total yardage is less than 300. Amount of yarn needed will be less if you are using 5 colors. Needles: Use size circular or long double point needles appropriate to weight of yarn. Size 4 for sport weight, 10 for bulky. Crochet hook is needed for provisional caston. Notions: Tapestry needle, scissors, scrap yarn Gauge: Scarf is 6 inches across, with 21 stitches in bulky yarn on size 10 needles. With sport weight and 35 stitches on size 4 needles, it is 7 inches wide.
Pattern Notes:
Pattern is worked in sections. In general, the sections start with working 1 color brioche pattern for 10 rows, then 6 rows of 2 color brioche with C1 in front and C2 in back. C1 and C2 will switch places for the next 6 rows so that C2 is in front and C1 is in back. The next section is 1 color brioche with C2. The pattern will repeat from here, switching colors. The odd rows are the front. The front color is the color you start every row with on both front and back side of the work. The front side will appear to have one color fading out as the other color fades in and the back will appear striped. You can adjust the pattern to be with more or fewer colors. Pattern is written for 5 colors. Model is shown with 3 colors following a C1 (gray), C2, C1, C3 (white), C2, C3 repeat that was knit twice.
Abbreviations:
C1: Color 1, C2: Color 2, C3: Color 3, C4: Color 4, C5: Color 5 k: Knit, p: Purl, yo: yarn over from front of needle to back (counter clockwise), sl: slip sllyo: bring yarn to front, slip stitch as if to purl, wrap yarn over top of stitch brioche knit (bk): knit stitch together with its yo brioche purl(bp): purl stitch together with its yo
Cowl can be doubled or worn long
The 5 color example made of scrap yarn that is the basis for the pattern is still in progress.
Pattern:
Cast on an odd number of stitches stitches using crochet provisional cast on. 21 stitches were used for bulky weight and 35 stitches were used for sport weight. Connect C1. K all stitches. Turn. Set up row: sl1yo, [p1, sl1yo] repeat to end. Turn. The pattern for the cowl a repeat of 2 rows. Rows 1-10 are in C1 only Rows 1, 3, 5, 7, 9: bk1, [sllyo, bk1] repeat to end. Turn. Rows 2, 4, 6, 8, 10: sl1yo, [bk1, sl1yo] repeat to end. Turn. Rows 11-22 use both C1 and C2, C1 is knit on front side and C2 is knit on back side. Row 11: bk1, [sl1yo, bk1] repeat to end. DO NOT TURN. Slide work back to other end of needle. Attach C2: sllyo, [bp1, sllyo] repeat to end. Turn. Rows 12, 14, 16: C1: bp1,[sl1yo, bp1] repeat to end. Slide work back to other end of needle. C2: sllyo, [bk1, sllyo] repeat to end. Turn. Rows 13 and 15: C1: bk1, [sl1yo, bk1] repeat to end. Slide work back to other end of needle. C2: sl1yo, [bp1, sl1yo] repeat to end. Turn. For Rows 17-22, knit C2 on the front side and C1 on the back side. Rows 17, 19, 21: C2: bk1, [sl1yo, bk1] repeat to end. Slide work back to other end of needle. C1: sl1yo, [bp1, sl1yo] repeat to end. Turn. Rows 18, 20, 22: C2: bp1,[sl1yo, bp1] repeat to end. Slide work back to other end of needle. C1: sl1yo, [bk1, sllyo] repeat to end. Turn. Rows 23-44: Repeat Rows 1-22 replacing C1 with C2 and C2 with C3. Rows 45-66: Repeat Rows 1-22 replacing C1 with C3 and C2 with C4. Rows 67-88: Repeat Rows 1-22 replacing C1 with C4 and C2 with C5. Rows 89-110: Repeat Rows 1-22 replacing C1 with C5 and C2 with C1. Continue in this manner, mixing the colors as desired. When final length is achieved, remove cast on and graft ends together.
