knit. crochet. design.
No-Purl Seam-Free Garter Stitch In-the Round Cowl
(knitted neckwarmer) If you like to knit in the round, but don't like to purl, this quick and easy garter stitch cowl is just the thing. Learn to Slip-Flip-Slip-Turn and forget about the p. Knit at a loose gauge this pattern creates a light, airy, drapey cowl. Size: One, to fit most adults, but easily altered Skills: knit stitch, cast on, bind off, simple increases (kfbl and kbfl) Finished Measurements: 24 in (61 cm) neck circumference 30 in (81 cm ) shoulder circumference 15 in (38 cm) height Materials: Brooklyn Tweed Shelter, 100% American Wool, 50 gms/140 yds/128 m, Woodsmoke, 2 skeins. Sample as pictured used 1.75 skeins, 240 yds(220m). Many other yarns can be substituted, including mohairs and boucles, or do the knitting math and use whatever yarn and needles at whatever gauge you like. Size US 13/9.0mm circular needles; if you knit very loosely, you may want to use US11/ 8mm needles. Stitch markers, 4 (one of these should be of a type or color unlike the other three) Gauge: approximately 3 sts in 1 inch (2.5cm); row gauge is not important.
Notes:
If you want to knit garter stitch in the round without purling, it is necessary to use a little trick, which I did not invent, but which I call Slip-Flip-Slip-Turn so that I remember what to do. When you reach the marker which identifies the beginning of the round, slip the next stitch to the right hand needle, bring the working yarn to the front of the work, replace the slipped stitch onto the left hand needle. Then, turn your work and so that the working yarn is once again behind the work, and knit back in the direction from which you have come. Depending on the type of yarn used, there will be a slightly visible and not at all unattractive or distracting line at this junction. If you use a fuzzy mohair or a boucle, the line will be invisible. You can adjust your knitting to suit the amount of yarn you have, or the size you want, by knitting more/fewer rows or adding to/skipping the last set of increases.
| Abbreviations: |
| k =knit pm=place marker sm = slip marker st(s)= stitches kfbl = knit into front then back of the loop kbfl = knit into back and then front of the loop |
Directions:
Cast on 72 sts, pm (using the unique marker) and join to work in the round. Round 1: knit 36, pm, knit 36 Round 2: Slip 1st st after the marker to the right hand needle, bring working yarn to front of work, replace slipped stitch onto left hand needle. Turn the work so that you can knit back in the direction from which you came. Knit all stitches. Rounds 3-22: Repeat round two. Round 23: Increase round. K1, kbfl, knit to 2 sts before marker , kfbl, k1, sm, k1, kbfl, knit to 2 sts before end of round, kfbi, k1 (76 sts) Rounds 24-34: knit all stitches, slipping markers as they occur and remembering to Slip-FlipSlip-Turn at the end of each round. Round 35: Increase round. . K1, kbfl, knit to 2 sts before marker, kfbl, k1, sm, k1, kbfl, knit to 2 sts before end of round, kfbl, k1 (80 sts) Rounds 36-46: work 80 sts even in established pattern. On round 46 place remaining two markers at the midpoints between the markers already on the work, after st 20 and st 60. This will set up for working four sets of increases on the remainder of the increase rows. Round 47: Increase round. [K1, kbfl, knit to 2 sts before marker, kfbl, k1, sm] 3 times, then k1, kbfl, knit to 2 sts before end of round, kfbl, k1 (88 sts) Rounds 48-58: work even in established pattern. Round 59: Increase round. [K1, kbfl, knit to 2 sts before marker, kfbl, k1, sm] 3 times, then k1, kbfl, knit to 2 sts before end of round, kfbl, k1(96 sts) Rounds 60-62: work even in established pattern Round 63: Increase round. [K1, kbfl, knit to 2 sts before marker, kfbl, k1, sm] 3 times, then k1, kbfl, knit to 2 sts before end of round, kfbl, k1 (104 sts) Rounds 64-73: work as established, making sure to leave sufficient yarn to bind off. In other words, stop before round 73 if you need to. Bind off using a very stretchy bind-off such as Jeny's suprisingly stretchy bind off which you can find here (print tutorial) and here (video tutorial).
