Yinzer Cowl
by Susan Dittrich for the Steel City Fiber Collective
Pittsburgh, "The Steel City" or "The City of Bridges", is the second largest city in Pennsylvania. It is located at the confluence of the Monongahela and Allegheny Rivers which form the Ohio River. Pittsburgh is home to 446 bridges, 30 skyscrapers, 2 inclines, professional sports teams, countless universities and medical centers, excellent libraries, quirky neighborhoods and friendly people. The Yinzer cowl pays homage to this beautiful city. This cowl is double knit and fully reversible, featuring the “Dahntahn" Pittsburgh skyline. PPG Place, the Gulf Tower, and Fifth Avenue Place stand next to the Roberto Clemente Sixth Street Bridge. Flying high over the city are Louie and Dori, the two peregrine falcons who roost on the Gulf Tower.
Materials:
Zen Yarn Garden Serenity 20 [70% Merino, 20% Cashmere, 10% Nylon; 400 yd/366 m per 100g skein] [MC] Midnight Blue; 1 skein [CC] Bumble Bee; 1 skein 16" US 1.5/2.5mm circular or set of double pointed needles (or size needed to obtain gauge) [If preferred, use a longer circular needle and the traveling or magic loop method] One additional US #1.5/2.5mm circular needle for grafting Tapestry needle
Gauge:
25 sts and 40 rows = 4" [10 cm] over double knit fabric
Size:
Cowl measures 7.5" deep x 24" circumference [19 cm x 61 cm] Skill Level: Intermediate
Abbreviations:
MC = main color CC = contrasting color RS = right side WS = wrong side
Double Knitting:
Double knitting produces a reversible stockinette fabric that is twice the thickness of plain knitting. The colorwork motif on the front is reversed on the back. You will be working from the chart in pairs of stitches. Each square in the chart represents a pair of stitches in the MC and CC. Sockmatician created a very helpful video which clearly illustrates how to work the cast on technique I used for this cowl. Thanks to Sockmatician for granting permission to add a link to his video. A Sockmatician Tutorial - Two-Colour Alternating Invisible Cast On for Double-Knitting in the Round https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrJFyYGoZGl
Two-color invisible cast on photo tutorial:
A.N with both yarns hel teetln er. Houd right. han of working yarn in your left hand. ya.
B. Separate the strands with your thumb and index finger, the MC in back. C. Holding onto the slip knot so it doesn't slide off the needle, swing the needle tip towards you, over and then under the front yarn [Cc]. D-E. Move the needle tip towards the back, over and then under the back yarn [Mc]. F. Pull the needle towards you under the front yarn [CC]. 2015SusanDittrich Ravelry:handknitsbysusan handknitsbysusan@gmail.com Do not copy, distribute, or resell this pattern. All Handknits by Susan patterns are copyrighted to Susan Dittrich. This cowl was designed for the Steel City Fiber Collective http:/www.steelcityfiber.com/ G. The MC now forms the first stitch on the needle. H. Now swing the needle tip towards the back, over and then under the back yarn [MC].
I-J. Move the needle tip towards the front, under and then over the front yarn [CC]. K. Pull the needle towards the back under the back yarn [MC]. L. The CC now forms the second stitch on the needle. These 2 stitches form the first pair of stitches.
Notes:
One square on the chart represents a pair of stitches. With both yarns in back, knit the first (RS) stitch in the pair with the color indicated on the chart. Next, bring both yarns to the front and purl the next (WS) stitch using the opposite color. Continue working pairs of stitches in this fashion across the round, changing colors when indicated on the chart. The Rs will show up as the inverse of the Ws.
Instructions:
Make a slip knot with both yarns held together. Using the cast on described above, cast on a total of 300 sts (150 pairs of sts not including the slip knot). Drop the slip knot off the needle and join, being careful not to twist. Work round 1 of chart (5 times), then work chart rounds 1-67, followed by round 1 (4 times).
Before grafting the top edge, work one round with CC as follows: \*Slip MC st as if to purl, p CC stitch with CC; rep from \* to end. This adds one additional CC round to the top of the cowl.
Finishing:
Cut CC leaving a 4" tail. Separate the front and back sides of the cowl onto 2 separate needles as follows: \*Slip MC st as if to purl to needle 1, slip CC as if to purl to needle 2; rep from \* to end. A helpful grafting tutorial from Knitty.com can be found here: http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEsummer04/ FEATtheresasum04.html
The Steel City Fiber Collective seeks to provide a warm, inviting, and fun space where fiber artists and crafters of all stripes can come together to enhance their knowledge and skills. We give members access to tools that are often too bulky or expensive for individuals to own. Classes and collaboration allow members to broaden their fiber craft abilities. The Steel City Fiber Collective is the creative dream of a local stitch ‘n bitch group that has been active in Pittsburgh since 2oo6. Our group members are diverse in terms of age, profession, and crafting interests. We will provide a community space for working on any and all fiber art projects in a friendly, convenient, and supportive environment. Members can gather to collaborate on projects and share their experience and passion for fiber crafts. With a goal of uniting fiber artists, we provide the tools necessary for a variety of projects including knitting, crocheting, spinning, dyeing, weaving, sewing, quilting, embroidery, and more. Members pay a monthly fee in exchange for the opportunity to use the space and equipment as well as the resources to learn how to use them effectively.
