Sirenia Coul
Design by Amy Klimt Sirenia is the taxonomic order that includes manatees and dugongs. The working title for this design was a bad pun from which I'll spare you. This entrelac cowl is neatly finished with attached i-cord. Trendsetter Tonalita is a wool blend singles yarn with mediumlength color runs perfect for entrelac on a small scale. This cowl is beautiful and designed to be practical as well. The icord edging will hold the cowl in place to cover your mouth, ears, and nose if necessary. I highly recommend learning how to work wrong-side rows without turning, aka "knitting backwards". My description of the technique is given below. I find it easiest when yarn is held in the left hand. In this pattern, instructions are given with turning points for clarity and to indicate when to change directions.
Knitting Backwards:
To work p sts, insert LH needle into back of st on RH needle from left to right. Throw yarn over the top of the LH needle from left to right clockwise. Bring LH needle forward through old st to finish forming new st and remove old st from RH needle. To p2tog, insert LH needle into back of 2 sts on RH needle from left to right. Throw yarn over the top of LH needle from left to right clockwise. Bring LH needle forward through both old sts to finish forming 1 new st and remove both old sts from RH needle. Video showina varn held in left hand http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q15Gbjz5bvcVideo showing yarn held in right handhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vT-u3MBGFtl Skill Level: Ambitious advanced beginner: Skills include knit, purl, decreases, picking up stitches. Size: One size, to fit adult. Finished measurements: ${10}^{\prime\prime}$ [25.5 cm] wide, $7^{\prime\prime}$ [18 cm] tall. Yarn: Trendsetter Tonalita ( $52\%$ wool, $48\%$ acrylic); 100 yards [91 meters]/50g): 2395 Peacock, 2 balls. Needles: Size US 8 needles $[5\mathsf{m m}].$ , or size needed to get gauge: $\mathbf{16}^{\prime\prime}$ [40cm] circular, 2 double-pointed needles (optional). Notions: Stitch marker (optional), tapestry needle. Gauge: 18 sts and 24 rows per $4^{\prime\prime}$ in stockinette stitch.
Abbreviations:
CO: cast on k: knit p: purl RS: right side WS: wrong side st: stitch rnd: round rep: repeat p2tog: purl 2 together SSK: Slip 2 stitches knitwise individually, then knit these 2 stitches together through back loop PSSO: pass slipped stitch over PU: pick up RH: right hand (as in needle) LH: left hand Design notes: The i-cord edging is less stretchy than the body of the cowl. This will keep the cowl in place if it needs to be pulled up in very cold weather. As written, the i-cord should accommodate a head up to about $22.5^{\prime\prime}$ without much difficulty. If you prefer a looser cowl, have a large head, or have a lot of hair, see note on last page for how to work a looser i-cord edging. The length of color runs in the yarn is very important for this project. When entrelac is worked in the round, the work doubles back on itself. Most of the well-known worsted weight self-striping yarns have color runs that are too long and would make the beginning of the round obvious.
Directions
CO 72 sts. on $\mathsf{16^{\prime\prime}}$ circular needle using long-tail cast on. Place marker and join to work in round, being careful not to twist.
Base Triangles
Row 1(Rs): K2, turn. Row 2: P2, turn. Row 3: K3, turn. Row 4: P3, turn. Row 5: K4, turn. Row 6: P4, turn. Row 7: K5, turn. Row 8: P5, turn. Row 9: K6.
Repeat rows 1-9 eleven more times. 12 base triangles made.
Tier 1
PU and knit 6 sts from base to tip of previous triangle or tier with RS facing. Turn. WS row: P5, p2tog, turn. RS row: K6, turn. Repeat these 2 rows 4 more times. Repeat WS row once more without turning at end of row. Remaining Blocks PU and purl 6 sts from tip to base of previous triangle or tier with WS facing. Turn. RS row: K6, turn. WS row: P5, p2tog, turn. Repeat these 2 rows 5 more times. Do not turn at end of last WS row. Repeat Remaining Blocks section 10 more times. 12 blocks made in tier 1.
Tier 2
DIULK⊥ PU and purl 6 sts from base to tip of previous tier with WS facing. Turn. RS row: K5, SSK, turn. WS row: P6, turn. Repeat these 2 rows 4 more times. Repeat RS row once more without turning at end of row. Remaining blocks PU and knit 6 sts from tip to base of previous tier with RS facing. Turn. WS row: P6, turn. RS row: K5, SSK, turn. Repeat these 2 rows 5 more times. Do not turn at end of last WS row. Repeat Remaining Blocks section 10 more times. 12 blocks made in tier 2. Tiers 3-7 Repeat Tier 1 and Tier 2 two more times. Repeat Tier 1 one more time.
Top Triangles
rirst irianyie PU and purl 6 sts from base to tip of previous tier with wS facing. Turn. Row 1 (RS): SSK, k3, SSK, turn. Row 2 (WS): P5, turn. Row 3: SSK, k2, SSK, turn. Row 4: P4, turn. Row 5: SSK, k1, SSK, turn. Row 6: P3, turn. Row 7: SSK, SSK, turn. Row 8: P2, turn. Row 9: K1, SSK, turn. Row 10: P2, turn. Row 11: Sl 1 knitwise, SSK, PSSO. Remaining Triangles PU and knit 5 sts from tip to base of previous tier with RS facing. Sl first st from adjacent block knitwise and k it tog with last PU st as if to SSK. Turn. Row 1 (WS): P6, turn. Row 2 (RS): SSK, k3, SSK, turn. Row 3: P5, turn. Row 4: SSK, k2, SSK, turn. Row 5: P4, turn. Row 6: SSK, k1, SSK, turn. Row 7: P3, turn. Row 8: SSK, SSK, turn. Row 9: P2, turn. Row 10: Sl 1 knitwise, SSK, PSSO
Applied i-cord
1 st left on RH needle. SI to LH needle. CO 3 sts using cable or knitted CO method. 4 sts total. $^{\ast}\mathsf{K}3$ , sl last st knitwise. PU front leg of st from top edge of piece with tip of LH needle. Insert tip of LH needle into last st on RH needle. Insert tip of RH needle into leg picked up on LH needle. Work together as if to SSK. Slip 4 sts on RH needle back to LH needle or slide to other end of DPN and repeat from \*. Continue around top edge of work.
Important Note: If your head is much bigger than 22" or you have a lot of hair, work as many as 1 out of every 4 rounds of i-cord without attaching as follows: Rounds 1,2,3: K3, sl last st knitwise. PU front leg of CO st from top edge of piece with tip of LH needle. Insert tip of LH needle into last st on RH needle. Insert tip of RH needle into leg picked up on LH needle. Work together as if to SSK. Slip 4 sts on RH needle back to LH needle or slide to other end of DPN Round 4: K4, slip 4 sts on RH needle back to LH needle or slide to other end of DPN. This will result in an edging more closely matched in stretchiness to the body of the work. BO sts when finished. Cut yarn and pull through remaining st. Flip work so cast-on edge of piece is on top with Rs facing. Starting at the same point along the edge as before, work icord edging on cast-on edge of piece by casting on 4 sts and repeating between \* as for top i-cord edge.
Finishing
Sew CO edge of i-cord to BO edge of i-cord using fake grafting. An illustration is under the heading "horizontal seam on stockinette stitch" on the following websitehttp://www.vogueknitting.com/pattern help/how-to/learn to knit/finishing/seaming.aspx Weave in ends. Shown unblocked in all photos. Worn with ends tucked under in cover photo.
