Mithril Cowl by Star Athena
Cowl Size: One Size. Measurements taken after blocking. Cowl Circumference: 28 inches (71 cm) Cowl Length: 11.5 inches (29 cm) Needles: 1 set US #3/3.25mm 24" circular needle or size to get gauge. Gauge: 22 sts/28 rows = 4" in Stockinette St. Yarn: Any Fingering-weight yarn that gives you proper gauge. Sample shown: A Verb For Keeping Warm Creating [100% merino wool; 385yd per 100gr skein]; color: Asterix: 1 skein. Notions: Stitch marker, cable needle (for complex version only), tapestry needle. Skill level: Simple version: Advanced beginner - Worked in the round with picot edges, simple lace and stockinette body. Complex version: Intermediate to advanced - Worked in the round with picot edges, complex lace and cabled stitches. Notes: Mithril is a strong but lightweight rare metal appearing in J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Gandalf even rated Bilbo's mithril coat (later inherited by Frodo) as "greater than the value of the whole Shire and everything in it." while you might not need the same protection a hobbit on a long journey would, surely a fine lace cowl will provide some beauty along your own path. This pattern has two versions: a complex lace and cabled cowl or a simpler lace and stockinette cowl. You pick! ABBREVIATIONS: BO: Bind off Cn: Cable Needle CQ: Cast on Dbl Dec: Slip first and second stitches together as if to knit, knit next stitch, pass two slipped stitches over the knit stitch. K: Knit K2toq: Knit two stitches together as one stitch LN (RN): Left (Right) Needle P: Purl Rnd: Round. Sl: Slip. As in, slip the next stitch from left to right purl-wise. Sm: Slip marker. SSK: Slip one stitch as if to knit, insert left needle into front of these two stitches and knit them together. St: Stitch Tbl: Through back loop YQ: Yarn over Cable Cast On: Place a slip knot on the left needle. Knit one st and put it on the LN. (2 sts) Insert the needle between the two sts, wrap and bring through. Transfer the newly created stitch onto the LN. Start Cowl: (both versions) Using Cable Cast On, work a picot cast on edge as follows: [CO 4 sts, BO 2 sts, sl st to LN] Rep until you have 156 sts. Place marker to indicate beginning of round. Join to begin working in the round, being careful not to twist sts when joining. Top Edging: Work rounds 1-6 of Edge Lace Chart Simple Cowl: Knit 69 rounds. Complex Cowl: Work rounds 1-69 of Mithril Lace Chart. BothCowls: Bottom Edging: Work rounds 1-6 of Edge Lace Chart. Using Cable Cast On, work a picot bind off as follows: [CO 2 sts, BO 4 sts, sl st to LN] Rep until all sts are bound off.
Finishing:
Weave in ends. Block well, opening up lace stitches.
Edge Lace
Notes:
37,39,41,43,47:At the start of these rows,slip marker off,slip on stitch from left toright nee( startofyournewround. Row 23: When making the increase at the end of the round, remove marker and replace it in between the 2nd and 3rd stitch just Created.
This pattern was test knitted and modeled by Sorren Kerr and photographed by Vivian Aubrey. Many, many thanks!
