Two by Two Cowl (I Did the Math for You) designed by Erika Flory
Have you ever seen a design that you loved, but it was for a different weight of yarn and needle size? And even though it was a simple stitch pattern, you were stumped by converting the amount of yarn, needle size, number of stitches and gauge? Be stumped no more: Two by Two is an easy cowl worked in knit 2, purl 2 ribbing written to accommodate four weights of yarn, from fingering up through worsted. The finished ribbing pulls in, but when it's vigorously blocked, it opens up into a flat fabric with a wonderful drape. Just pick your yarn, grab your needles, and cast on!
SKILL LEVEL
Advanced Beginner
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Fingering weight: approx 8.25 high and 58" circumference after blocking Sport weight: approx. 8.5" high and 53" circumference after blocking DK weight: approx. 12" high and 53" circumference after blocking Worsted weight: approx. 11" and 48" circumference after blocking
NEEDLES
US size 4 (3.5mm) 20" circular needle US size 5 (3.75mm) 20" circular needle US size 6 (4.0mm) 20" circular needle US size 7 (4.5mm) 20" circular needle
YARN
Fingering weight, approximately 430 yds Sport weight, approximately 350 yds DK weight, approximately 450 yds Worsted weight, approximately 400 yds Samples shown in: Fingering weight: Shepherd Sock by Lorna's Laces (80% Superwash Merino Wool/20% Nylon, approx. 430 yds/100g), color way Louisville (yellow), one skein Sport weight: Pashmina by madlinetosh (75% merino wool/15% silk/10% cashmere, approx. 360 yds), color way Terra (orange), one skein DK weight: Tosh DK by madelinetosh (100% superwash wool, 225 yds), color way Magnolia Leaf (brown), two skeins Worsted weight: Tosh Vintage by madelinetosh (100% superwash merino wool, 220 yds), colol way Jade (green), two skeins NOTIONS Stitch marker Tapestry needle
GAUGE
In pattern, after blocking: Fingering weight: 17 sts = 4" Sport weight: 16 sts = 4" DK weight: 14 sts = 4" Worsted weight: 13" = 4" While exact gauge is not crucial, it will affect the finished size and the amount of yarn used.
ABBREVIATIONS
Beg: beginning K: knit P: purl Rnd(s): round(s) St(s): stitch(es)
NOTES & TECHNIQUES
+ When casting on a large number of stitches using the long-tail cast on, it can be hard to estimate how much yarn you're going to need. An easy solution is to use one strand of yarn from the center and one strand from the. After you've cast on your stitches, choose which strand will be your working yarn and cut the other one. Keeping track of how many stitches you're casting on can be difficult with a large number, so place a stitch marker every 50 stitches to make it easier to count as you go. You will remove these markers on the first round, leaving one to mark the beginning of the round. To ensure that your bind off is loose enough, bind off using a needle one size larger than that used to knit the cowl.
COWL
Cast on 260 sts for fingering weight yarn 228 sts for sport weight yarn 192 sts for DK weight yarn 160 sts for worsted weight yarn Join for working in the round, taking care not to twist sts. Place marker for beg of round. Rnd 1: \*K2, p2. Rep from \* to end of rnd. Work this round until 7 yards of yarn remain for fingering weight 7 yards of yarn remain for sport weight 5 yards of yarn remain for DK weight 5 yards of yarn remain for worsted weight Bind off loosely in pattern.
FINISHING
With tapestry needle, weave in loose ends. Block to finished measurements.
