trata Cowl
by Elizabeth Bourne Wood, rocks, moss. Water running on stone. The lines cutting through shale. The foam left behind on a beach. These were the inspiration for the Strata Cowl. This single skein accessory depends upon the essence of a bandsome yarn to bring out its utilitarian good looks. It's ultra stretchy practically a rubberband of a knit, so be sure to follow the cast on instructions or you'll defeat the purpose of this three-way piece. Has Strata gotten stretched out? Hand wash in cold water and block it to allow the cowl to regain its shape. Wear it as a cowl, a head scarf, or a neck warmer.
Materials Needed:
1 skein Manos del Uruguay silk blend Pewter 50grams, 150 yards US size 6 20" circular needles 1 marker
Photograph by Mark Bourne 2011
Cast on 200 stitches using the Norwegian cast on. (There are many excellent tutorials on the Internet teaching this method. I recommend you check them out if you aren't familiar with this extremely stretchy cast on.) Join stitches being careful not to twist. Place marker. Knit three rounds of 1 X 1 rib as follows:
| Rnd 1: K1, P1 * to end. |
| Rnd 2: K1, P1* to end. |
| Rnd 3: K1, P1* to end. |
| Rnd 4: Purl one round. |
| Now begin your pattern. This is a double moss stitch. |
| Rnd 5: K1, P1* to end. |
| Rnd 6: P1, K1* to end. |
| Rnd 7: P1, K1* to end. |
| Rnd 8: K1, P1* to end. |
| Rnd 9: Knit one round (this provides the strata line) |
| Rnd 10: P1, K1* to end. |
| Rnd 11: K1, P1* to end. |
| Rnd 12: K1, P1* to end. |
| Rnd 13: P1, K1* to end. |
| Rnd 14: Knit one round |
You have now completed the main body of the Strata Cowl (and possibly watched TV and/or maybe a couple of movies). Repeat rounds 5 through 14 three times. Repeat rounds 5 through 9. Now begin the super easy lace work Rnd 54: Purl one round.
Photograph by Mark Bourne2011
| Rnd 48: Ktog, YO* to end. |
| Rnd 49: Knit one round. |
| Rnd 50: Purl one round. |
| Rnd 51: Knit two, Ktog, YO* to end. |
| Rnd 52: Purl one round. |
| Rnd 52: Ktog, YO* to end. |
| Rnd 53: Knit one round. |
You are ready to bind of. This decorative finish maintains stretch. The picot bind off is a little complicated because we are going to bind off in purl, but add stitches in knit. If you have never done a cable cast on, please either read up on it or look up a video on the Internet because you will need to know how to do it. It's easy once you know. Picot bind off. Bind oftwo stitches in purl. Using the cable cast on, cast on two stitches. These two stitches will form the picot "bump." Now bind off, in purl, six stitches (your two newly cast on stitches, and four more stitches). You should now be able to admire your first picot. cable cast on, cast on two stitches. In purl, bind off six\* to the end of the round Because 6 doesn't divide evenly into 200, you will need to have two picots with seven stitches instead of six stitches to end up even. No one will notice. See how stretchy this is? Like a rubberband! If you don't like the strata lines, take ^em out. My feelings won't be hurt. Just remember to add another set of moss stitch. Or knit a short neckpiece and make it double the height; otherwise knit it with two skeins instead of one to keep the length while adding height. Or use a different color of yarn. Any heathered yarn would work well. The possibilities are there for you to play with. And most of all, have fun!
Photograph byMarkBourne 2011Copyright2011ElizabethBourne
