Color Mix Cowls
What happens when you knit one skein of a solid or subtly tonal yarn and mix in one skein of a vibrant self-striping yarn? Add just a bit of alternating stitches and colors in a few rows and knit it as a Moebius or Infinity Cowl? It becomes a scrumptious, two-color cowl, mixing color and texture in an introduction to stranded knitting. If you've ever wanted to try knitting with two colors of yarn, this is a good way to begin. The self-striping yarn does all the color changes for you so there aren't any joins to worry about. The colors pop off the solid or tonal background. Knit as the Moebius, because of the twist, the stranded rounds are visible on both sides as part of the design. The pattern is also written as an Infinity Cowl, with no twist. It's a luxurious, warm cowl that is 6 1/2"wide x 56"in circumference and a very rewarding knit. This is a worsted weight project. Any worsted weight yarns may be substituted in this design. A note about changing colors: As you change colors of yarn, be sure to bring up the new color strand under the previous color strand, so the two colors are twisted at the end of the round and the beginning of the next round.
Version #1 - The Color Mix Cowl, Moebius
The Moebius has a 180-degree twist, which is created at the join of the special cast on. Rounds of knitting grow from the center of the work to the outsides. One hank of Cascade Yarns, Eco Duo. 70% Alpaca/30% Merino, Color Grey, 197 yards. This is the main color or Mc. One skein of Noro Yarn, Kuyeron. 100% Wool, Color Pinks, Purples, Magenta. 110 yards. This is the contrasting color or Cc. Size 8 circular needles in a 47" inch length. Stitch marker. Yarn needle.
Directions for the Moebius version of the Color Mix Cowl
Using the MC (Main Color), MCO (Moebius cast on per following instructions) 200 stitches, PLACE MARKER, join. Round 1 and 2: MC, Knit. : Drop the MC and begin to knit with the CC (Contrasting Color). Knit the round. Round 4: Alternate between both colors on this round, changing stitches as well. \* MC K2, CC P2\* repeat from \* to the end of the round. Round 5: MC, Knit. Round 6: CC, Purl. Round 7: CC, Knit. Round 8: MC, Purl. Round 9: MC, Knit. Round 10: CC, Purl. Round 11 and 12: MC, Knit. Round 13: CC, Knit. Round 14: Alternate between both colors on this round, changing stitches as well. \* MC K2, CC P2\* repeat from \* to the end of the round. Round 15: MC, Knit. Round 16: CC, Purl. Round 17: MC, Knit. Round 18: CC, Purl. Round 19 and 20: MC, Knit. Round 21: CC. Knit.
Round 22: Alternate between both colors on this round, changing stitches as well.\* MC K2, CC P2\* repeat from \* to the end of the round. At this point, you will be finished with the CC yarn. Round 23: MC, Knit. Round 24: MC, Purl. Round 25: MC, Knit. Round 26: MC, Purl
Moebius Bind Off
Bind off loosely using the following method to achieve more elasticity: K2, \*Slip both stitches back to the left needle, Knit them TOG through the back, K1, repeat from \*
Moebius Cast On Information
There are a number of ways to learn the moebius cast on. Illustrated step-by-step instructions are included in Cat Bordhi's ebooks, A Treasury of Magical Knitting and A Second Treasury of Magical Knitting. Both contain a wealth of information about and patterns for Moebius knitting. (She has graciously given permission to reference her ingenious Moebius cast-on technique.) Here is the link to her U-Tube Moebius cast on video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVnTda7F2V4 More information is available on her website http://www.catbordhi.com/ These are step-by-step instructions for the moebius cast on: 1. Make a slip knot and slip it to the center of the 47" cable. Hold the knot on your cable with your left hand, allowing the needles to dangle. 2. With your right hand, take the LEFT needle and bring it towards you and up to make the cable into a loop. Allow the other needle to hang down. We won't need it until all the stitches are cast on. 3. Hold the slipknot, needle and looped cable in your right hand. Hold the needle half way to the tapered tip. 4. Tension the working yarn above the cable in your left hand. Think of the cable as a stationary object you will be wrapping the yarn around. You will be holding it in both hands to begin the cast on, which is a wrapping sequence. 5. Point the needle towards you and bring it under the cable, over the working yarn, and back up above the cable. Do a yarn over. 6. Repeat this sequence to cast on the appropriate amount of stitches. Each time you perform this “under the cable, yarn over" sequence, you are generating 2 stitches. Count only the stitches on the top of your needle. 7. Once you have the appropriate number of stitches cast on, spread the stitches around the needle and cables and up onto the other needle, so they form a circle. 8. Position the needles and stitches around them so that you can knit the stitches. This will take some adjusting. 9. Set the work down on a table top and, starting with the left side, position the needle above the cable, follow the path around the cables, making sure they are parallel all the way around until you get near the right needle. 10. At this point the needle should be over the cable or the cable will be over the needle. Either way is ok. This should occur only once and willindicate the 180-degree twist. 11. PLACE MARKER. Knit into the slipknot to join the work. Pull the stitches together at the join to close gaps. Knit into the “triangle" stitches or V's as they come to you. These are very different looking stitches made by the wrapping we did to cast on. The marker is crucial in moebius knitting. On the first round, it will let you know that you have done the twist correctly as you knit and it travels the path of the stitches onto the looped cable below your needle tips. When you see the marker on the cable below the needles, this is one half of the first round of moebius knitting. Once you see the marker at this point, keep knitting until you can slip the marker from the left to right needle. This will be one complete round of moebius knitting.
Version #2 - The Color Mix Cowl, Infinity
The Infinity Cowl is knit in the round without a twist. The work grows from edge to edge.
One hank of Cascade Yarns, Eco Duo. 70% Alpaca/30% Merino, Color Grey, 197 yards. This is the main color or MC. One skein of Noro Yarn, Kuyeron. 100% Wool, Color Pinks, Purples, Magenta. 110 yards. This is the contrasting color or Cc. Size 8 circular needles in a 24 or 32" inch length Stitch marker. Yarn needle.
Directions for the Infinity version of the Color Mix Cowl
Using the long tail cast on method with the MC (Main Color), and holding BOTH needle tips together, cast on 200 stitches. Hold onto the stitches at the tips of the needles and gently slide one needle tip out. Distribute the stitches around the cable and needles, place a marker and join, being careful to avoid a twist. Round 3: Drop the MC and begin to knit with the CC (Contrasting Color). Knit the round. Round 4: Alternate between both colors on this round, changing stitches as well. \* MC K2, CC P2\* repeat from \* to the end of the round. Round 5: MC, Knit. Round 6: CC, Purl. Round 7: CC, Knit. Round 8: MC, Purl. Round 9: MC, Knit. Round 10: CC, Purl. Round 11 and 12: MC, Knit. Round 13: CC, Knit. Round 14: Alternate between both colors on this round, changing stitches as well. \* MC K2, CC P2\* repeat from \* to the end of the round. Round 15: MC, Knit. Round 16: CC, Purl. Round 17: MC, Knit. Round 18: CC, Purl. Round 19 and 20: MC, Knit. Round 21: CC, Knit. Round 22: Alternate between both colors on this round, changing stitches as well. \* MC K2, CC P2\* repeat from \* to the end of the round. At this point, you will be finished with the CC yal Round 23: MC, Knit. Round 24: MC, Purl. Round 25: MC, Knit. Rounds 26-50: Repeat Rounds 1-25 Round 51: MC, Knit. Round 52: MC, Purl. Round 53: MC, Knit.
Relaxed Bind Off
Bind off loosely using the following method to achieve more elasticity: P2, \*Slip both stitches back to the left needle, Knit them TOG through the back, P1, repeat from
Blocking
Both cowls may be blocked in the same way. Soak the cowl for fifteen minutes in tepid water with a small amount of non-rinsing wash. Squeeze out excess water. Roll it in a towel and blot out the excess water. Never wring or twist the cowl. Arrange it on a dry towel. Allow drying flat for a time. Rearrange periodically to allow air to flow through the drying cowl. When it is nearly dry, hang it on a padded hanger and shift the position occasionally until dried. Thank you for your purchase. Please free to contact me with any questions: dianelaugustin@mac.com Designed and knit by Diane L. Augustin Copyright 2013. All Rights Reserved. www.yarnhappybeadhappy.com www.yarnhappybeadhappy.etsy.com http://www.ravelry.com/designers/diane-l-augustin
