Inspired by the ancient Scottish stone circle the Ring of Brodgar & the marking on the stones, this is a 2 colour cowl knitted in the round. The front is a stranded pattern with reverse stocking stitch at bottom & top, the reverse side is striped. Worked in fingering weight, the extra thickness from the stranded pattern & double thickness gives extra warmth for cold weather. It would be suitable for the intermediate knitter who has worked some stranded patterns before. Finished Measurements Width: approx. 26 - 28" / 66 - 71 cm. Depth: approx. 7-8"/ 18 - 20 cm
Materials
g weight yarn approx. MC: 290 - 330yd / 265 - 302 m; CC: 170 - 190 yd / 155 - 174 m. Shown in: Old Maiden Aunt Superwash 4ply (100% Merino; 400 yd /366 m 100 g); MC: Greige, 1 skein, CC: Regular Guy, 1 skein. Needles: Circular needles: 2 x 24" / 60 cm: US # 4 / 3.5 mm or size to achieve desired gauge & one size smaller to hold CO sts for grafting. Needle size is a recommendation only. Waste yarn (& crochet hook if required) for provisional CO; 6 stitch markers (one to mark start of round in a different colour from the rest & 5 to mark pattern repeats); tapestry needle; pins for blocking.
Gauge
4" / 10 cm, measured over stranded stocking stitch in the round with fingering weight on 3.5 mm needles: before blocking: 27 sts / 35 rounds after blocking: 25 sts / 35 rounds over stocking st worked flat before blocking: 25 sts / 35 rows after blocking: 25 sts / 35 rows
| Abbreviations | |
| CC: contrast colour | pm: place marker |
| CO:caston | rpt(s): repeat(s) |
| MC: main colour | st(s): stitch(es) |
Pattern notes
The cowl is started with a provisional CO. Worked in the round starting with reverse stocking st, the front stranded pattern is worked followed by further reverse stocking st. The reverse of the cowl is worked & finally joined to the CO sts by kitchener st. N.B. Carry unused yarn loosely to allow for give in blocking & twist at the back of work every 3 or 4 sts to prevent long loops. When carrying the yarns, always be consistent about which yarn you're bringing underneath. The yarn carried underneath will stand out more than the one on top.
Directions
Using CC, CO 168 sts with a provisional method of your choice. Join to work in the round taking care not to twist the sts, pm at start of round & after every 28 sts to mark pattern rpts. Slip markers on all following rounds. FRONT: (work from chart on page 4 & see instructions page 3) TRONT.(WoIk1o REVERSE (66 rounds): please note that the reverse will be a bit larger than the front due to differences in gauge. This will be OK when the cowl has been blocked. If you want to try jogless stripes, the method I used was to knit the first round in new colour as usual, then slip the first st purlwise on the second round of new colour. Where there is only a one round stripe, I slipped the st of the second round on changing back to MC. Continue in CC, carrying up MC as before: Rounds 1- 3: CC: PURL Break CC & fasten. Work rounds 4 - 63 inclusive in stocking st (knit) Rounds 4 - 13: MC Join in CC & carry unused yarn up following rounds loosely, twisting to avoid holes. Rounds 14 & 15:CC Rounds 16 - 18: MC Round 19: CC Rounds 20 - 23: MC Rounds 24 - 26: CC Break CC & fasten Rounds 27 - 45 (19 rounds): MC Join in CC & carry unused yarn up following rows loosely, twisting to avoid holes. Break MC & fasten & join CC Round 63: CC Rounds 64 & 65: CC: PURL Round 66: CC: KNIT (you need this knit round in order for the reverse stocking st grafting to work correctly). DO NOT CUT YARN. MEASURE WORKING YARN ABOUT 3 TIMES THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF COWL (my yarn was 72" / 183 cm long) & THEN CUT AT THAT POINT (you will be using this long length to work the grafting) Carefully remove provisional CO one st at a time and place sts onto the one size smaller circular needle. Thread the long length of yarn onto a tapestry needle and work the reversed stocking st grafting as follows. Hold work WS together with the reverse of cowl facing you (ie with working yarn still attached) & rear needle slightly above front needle in order to see the sts clearly. 1. Insert needle knitwise through first st on front needle (do not slip off) 2. Insert needle knitwise through back needle (do not slip off) rt nde tst st aga t nee, sser eserug 4. Insert needle purlwise through first st again on back needle, slip off. Insert needle knitwise through next st on back needle, do not slip off. Rpt steps 3 & 4 until all sts are grafted. The last two sts will end with insert needle purlwise & slip off. Weave yarn though sts at beginning of graft, cut yarn & secure end with a couple of sts & thread end into cowl to hide it. ibout blocking: The cowl does need to be wet blocked well to even up the front & revers.
NOTES FOR CHART ON FOLLOWING PAGE:
The repeat is shown - work 6 times around for 168 sts. Chart is read from right to left starting at the bottom with round 1. Do not break MC after round 62, but carry up following rounds loosely, twisting to avoid holes. Do not break yarn after round 66, but continue with written instructions for reverse starting page 2.
CHART FOR FRONT
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