Double Up!
It's quirky. It's furry. It's really warm and snuggly, without being too HOT. It's knit withadoubledupstrand ofworstedweightyarn andtrimmedwitha doublestrand offurryfun.So,doubleupandstaywarm! The early onset of winter and frigid temperatures inspired me to knit something that would surround me with fluffy warmth and make me smile.:) It's incredibly soft andcomfortable. The moebius construction makes it ideal for adding a variety of finishing treatments to the cowl, because all of the live stitches are along the outside edges of the piece. The Moebius has a 180-degree twist, which is created at the special cast on, and join. As the rounds are knit, the work grows from the centerto the outside edges. Some ideas for finishing are: edging it with a super soft fuzzy, or faux fur yarn, adding a different color border and or texture, adding a ruffle or an i-cord bind off. It is approximately 7" deep x 30"(50") in circumference. Gauge is approximately 2 1/2 sts./in. Longer size instructions are written in parentheses.
Materials
For the body: One hank of Misti Alpaca, Qolla Worsted. (218 yards). Color #QW22 - Celia, 20% Baby Alpaca/80% Fine Merino Wool. This piece is knit double stranded. Any worsted weight yarn will work with this pattern. To prepare the yarn from one hank: Hold the inside and outside ends of the skein together, then cast on and begin knitting. Or rewind the hank into a double stranded ball, hold the double strand together, then cast on and begin knitting. For the trim: Two skeins of Caribou by HiKoo. 100% Polyamide (93 yards each). Color #78 and #79 held together. One each of two different colors or two skeins of the same color. Size 11 circular needles in a 47" inch length. Stitch marker. Yarn needle.
Directions
For the body: Moebius cast on (Mco). Holding a double strand of worsted weight yarn, MCO 60 (for smaller circumference cowl), 110 (for bigger circumference cowl that may be doubled around the neck). Round 1: Knit. Rounds 2 and 3: \*K2, P2\*, repeat from \* to the end of the round. Round 4: Remove marker, P1, replace marker, \*K2, P2\*, repeat from \* to the end of the round. Shifting the start of this round one stitch to the left creates a spiral pattern. Round 5: \*K2, P2\*, repeat from \* to the end of the round. Repeat Rounds 4 and 5, 3 times more. For the trim: Using two colors or a double strand of Caribou yarn held together. Round 1: Knit. Round 2: Purl. Round 3:Knit.
Relaxed bind off
For a flexible, relaxed edge, bind ofin this manner: P2, \* bring yarn to the back, slip both stitches back to the left needle, knit them together through the back, P1, repeat from \* To finish, go under the first bound off stitch with the right needle and pull up the working yarn, pass over the last stitch with the one just made. Cut tail and pull through the remaining stitch. Weave in tails.
Moebius Cast On Information
There are a number of ways to learn the moebius cast on. llustrated step-by-step instructions are included in Cat Bordhi's books, 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. 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 will indicate the 180-degree twist. 11. PLACE MARKER. Knit into the slipknot to join the work. Pullthe 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.
Blocking and laundering
Soak the cowl for fifteen minutes in lukewarm water with a small amount of non-rinsing wool wash. Squeeze out excess water. Lay it flat on a dry towel. Reposition the cowl often as it is drying.
Thank you for your purchase!
Please feelfree to contact me with any questions: dianelaugustin@mac.com Designed and knit by Diane L. Augustin Copyright 2014. All Rights Reserved. Yarn Happy \* Bead Happy www.yarnhappybeadhappy.com www.yarnhappybeadhappy.etsy.com http://www.ravelry.com/designers/diane-l-augustin
