For cold days
Size
Women Yarn SMC Extra Merino (50 g = 140 yds), 2 balls
Needles
16" circular needles or dpns size US 4 (3.5mm) 24" circular needles sizes US 4 and US 2 %2 (3.5mm and 3.0mm) Or adjust to match the gauge (Two size bigger needle for bind off)
Notions
5 stitch markers 4 buttons (diameter 0.05")
Gauge
Stockinette stitch: 22 sts / 4" with bigger needles Ribbing: 20 sts / 4" with bigger needles
Abbrevations
k = knit p = purl yo = yarn over m = (stitch)marker Rib stitch: 1.row and every odd round: \* k2, p2 \*, repeat \*-\* until end of the round. 2.rowand every even round: knit knitted sts and purl purled sts. Seed stitch: 1.row and every odd round: \* k1, p1 \*, repeat \*-\* until end of the round. 2.row and every even round: purl knitted sts and knit purled sts.
Pattern
Cowl is worked top down; first flat and then in the round. After ribbing begins stockinette stitch and raglan style increases. Front of the cowl is shaped with short rows and at the end seed stitch edge is worked with all stitches in the round. You can wear cowl as at the picture, buttoned or even turn it inside out purled side up; with buttons fastened and ribbing lifted up, cowl will warm up also your chin.
Ribbing
on loosely 122 stitches on the bigger 24" circular needles and begin working fla 1.row: 6 seed sts, p2, ribbing until there is 6 sts left, p1, 4 seed sts, k1. 2.row: 6 seed sts, ribbing until there is 8 sts left, k2, 6 seed sts. Repeat rows 1 and 2 thirteen more times and work buttonholes at the same time. At the beginning on the rows 4, 10, 16 and 22 work instead of seed stitch: k1, p 2 together, 1 yarn over, k 2 together, p1. At the end of the rows 5, 11, 17 and 23 work instead of seed stitch: p1, k1, (p1, k1) on st formed by yarn over, p1, k1. 29.rows: Work as the 1.row until there is 6 sts left, place m. Stitch marker marks the beginning of the round. Next join seed stitch edges and continue working in the round. Move 6 stitches that remain without knitting on to cable needle (or to some available needle). Place seed stitch edges so that stitches on the cable needle (button hole edge) is the undermost. Purl the first stitch from cable needle and from the right needle together (as in the picture at right). After that knit the second stitch from both needles together, purl third stitch from both needles together, knit the fourth ones together, purl the fifth ones together and knit the last stiches from both seed stitch edges together. After
that work the rest of the round rib stitch (begin with two purled stitches). Work next three rounds as following: 6 seed sts, rib stitch to the end of round. After that work 26 rounds rib stitch. On the next round: k26, place m, k32, place m, k26, place m, k32.
Increasing rounds
Work next two rounds ten times: 1.rnd: k2, yo, \* knit to next m, yo, slip m to right needle, k2, yo \* repeat \*-\* two more times, knit to next m, yo, slip m to right needle. 2.rnd: Knit the yarn overs through the back loops, otherwise knit the stitches. There is now 196 stitches on the round.
Short rows
Front of the cowl is formed by the 50 last knitted stitches. Continue working flat, first purl side stitches. 1.row: (ws) Slip one purlwise, p49. Turn. 2.row: (rs) Slip one knitwise, k47. Turn 3.row: (ws) Slip one purlwise, purl until there is one st left before last round's slipped stitch. Turn. 4.row: (rs) Slip one knitwise, knit until there is one st left before the last round's slipped st. Turn. Repeat rounds 3. and 4. until there is 4 sts left between the slipped sts (and next round is wrong side), work round 3. once more. Slip one knitwise, place m; here m markes the beginning of the round.
1.rnd: k1, place left needle (front to back), under the left leg of the stitch two rows below the stitch just knit (as in the picture above) and knit it through the front loop (or pick up the strand between twosti tches and knit it through the front loop), k1, continue by increasing 1 st after every slipped st and knit other sts to next m. Work as on the 1.rnd of the increasing rounds to next slipped st. Place right needle (front to back) under the right leg of the stitch one round below the next st and knit it through theback loop (or pick up the strand between two sts and knit it through the back loop), k1. Continue by increasing one st before every slipped st and knit other sts to next m (beginning of the round). 2.rnd: Change onto smaller needles. Work seed stitch; knit or purl yarn overs through the back loop depending on which one is next. Work five more rounds seed stitch.
Finishing off
Bind off sts loosely, for example by using two size bigger needle: k1, \* work 1 st (knit purled st, purl knitted st), slip the right st on the right needle over the left st \*, repeat \*\* until there is only one st remaining on the right needle. Cut the yarn and pull it through the loop. Weave in all ends, sew the buttons and steam/block lightly
