Yarn: 2 skeins of Malabrigo Finito (183 m /200 yards in 50 gr.) or 100 gr of fingering weight yarn. The cowl pictured was knitted with Malabrigo Finito in the Mostaza colorway. You will also need 1-2 meters of yarn in a contrast color for the provisional cast On. NeedleS: size US 3 (3.25 mm) or size to get gauge. If using a circular needle, you will need another one of a similar size for the Kitchener stitch. Gauge: 24 stitches and 36 rows in 4 inches/10cm. Row gauge when streched. Getting exact gauge isn't necessary for this project, however it will affect the size of your cowl and the amount of yarn needed to complete it. Size and dimensions: One size / finished size: 35 cm/ 14" height and 28 cm / 11" wide (flat, after sewing and not stretched)) Copyright 2013 Special techniques used: provisional cast on and kitchener stitch.
Abbreviations
K: Knit P: Purl K2tog: Knit 2 stitches together YO: Yarn over st(s): stitch(es) RS: Right side of knitting WS: Wrong side of knitting
Notes
For the provisional cast on, I just do a long tail cast on with the contrast yarn. You can use the crochet chain method if you prefer or any other provisional cast on method. Provisionally cast on 85 sts. Switch to your main yarn. This is your pattern repeat. Start on Row 4. only for the first repeat. The missing rows will be added at the end of the knitting and with the Kitchener stitch row. Row 1 (RS): K Row 2 (WS): P Row 3: K Row 4: P Row 5: P Row 6: K Row 7: P Row 8: K Rows 9 - 12: Repeat rows 1-4 Rows 13 - 16: Repeat rows 5-8 Rows 17 -20: Repeat rows 1-4 Row 21: K Row 22: K Row 23: K1, \*YO, K2tog, repeat from \* to end of row Row 24: K Row 25: K Row 26: K Repeat pattern 10 times. That is, work the first repeat that starts on Row 4 and then 9 more full repeats. After the 10 repeats, work rows 1 and 2, ending to begin a right side row. Pick up the bumps of your main yarn from the provisional cast on and put them on your extra needle. Graft sts together using the Kitchener stitch. I like to use Knitty's guide for grafting: http://knitty.com/ISSUEsummer04/FEATtheresasum04.html \*Note: Depending on which provisional cast on method you use, it is possible that when you pick up the stitches, you will have 84 instead of 85 stitches on the second needle. If this happens, at the end of the grafting row, work the extra stitch together with the previous one (as you would if you were knitting two stitches together).
Modifying the pattern
I almost always make a few changes when I'm following a pattern. Here are a few ideas to make your Afrato cowl just perfect for you! - To make Afrato longer: if you want to loop it around your neck twice, work 20 pattern repeats instead of 1o. In this case, you will also need double the amount Of yarn. - If you want to use a thicker yarn, cast on fewer stitches. Just make sure it's an odd number of stitches, so you can do the eyelet row. You might also need to work fewer pattern repeats, if your yarn is a lot thicker. - I do think that making this cowl seamless makes it even more comfy to wear. However, lf you don't want to graft all those stitches together, you have two Options. Copyright 2013 You could just cast on and bind off as usual and then sew the ends together. The second option is to do a three-needle bind off at the end. In this case though, you will work with the Ws facing you, so that the seam will be on the inside. You can find a detailed photo tutorial for the three-needle bind off in another one of my free patterns, the Cell Phone Cozy, available here: http: //www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/cell-phone-cozy-14 \*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\* Don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or comments - I'd love to hear from you! You can email me at alexandraknits@gmail.com and I'm TwinkleShine on Ravelry. Read about my knitting adventures and get info about new patterns on my blog! Wool & Cotton// http://wool-and-cotton.blogspot.com
