CAMPTOWN RACES BY STAR ATHENA
Camptown Races is a three-color cowl with two different striping options. It's worked in the round as a tube. There are loops of yarn looping in rounds around a large loop.. like a racetrack. I found myself singing along all de doo-da day to this classic tune by Stephen Foster: The Camptown ladies sing this song, doo-da, doo-da, the Camptown racetrack's five miles long, oh, de doo-da day. Goin' to run all night, goin' to run all day, I bet my money on a bob-tailed nag, somebody bet on the grey.
Length, Circumference: 51 inches (129.5 cm) around. 6 inches (15 cm) wide. Length is adjustable. Yarn: Sport-weight yarn in three colors that give you proper gauge. Sample shown: The Plucky Knitter Primo Sport [75% Extra Fine ItalianMerino Wool, 20% Cashmere,5% Nylon; 275yd per 100 gram skein]; colors: MC: Medieval (grey), CC1: Edwardian (blue), CC2: Princess Phone (yellow): Less than 1 skein each. Large Chevron Cowl uses approx 594 yards and 216 grams of yarn in total. The striped version used approx 3 grams per stripe. Needles: 1 set US #4/3.5mm 32" circular needle (magic loop) OR two 24" circulars OR 8" circular needle OR double pointed needles, or size to get gauge. Notions: Stitch marker, tapestry needle. Gauge: 20 sts/32 rows = 4" in stockinette st. NOTE: Gauge is not critical. NOTES: This medium-level pattern is worked in the round with three colors. It includes stripes and/or chevrons (your choice). The cowl starts with a provisional cast on,is a knit in the round as a tube,then grafted together at the end. If you prefer, you may do a traditional cast on and sew the cowl together at the end. Yarn management: Carry unused yarn up the inside of the cowl as you knit. During sections longer than 1 inch (2.5 cm),twist unused yarn with working yarn behind work at beginning of row. To avoid puckered stitches in your knitting, do not pull stitches too tightly as you knit. Striping sequences: The chevron cowl has randomly generated stripes using the Fibonacci numbers 1,2,3,5,8,and 13. A die was rolled to determine stripes and color. The results are included to make the same pattern. Feel free to experiment with your own striping pattern. Sample shown: MC: Medieval (grey) CC1: Edwardian (blue) CC2: Princess Phone (yellow) ABBREVIATIONS: CC: Contrasting Color CO: Cast on DD: Double Decrease: Slip first and second stitches together as if to knit. Knit 1 stitch. Pass two slipped stitches over the knit stitch. K: Knit M: Marker M1L: Make one,left leaning. Bring the tip of the left-hand needle under the strand between stitches,from front to back. Knit through the back of the loop. One stitch increased. M1R: Make one, right leaning: Bring the tip of the left-hand needle under the strand between stitches, from back to front. Knit this loop. One stitch increased. MC: Main Color PM: Place Marker Rnd:Round St: stitch
Start Cowl:
Chevron Version: With MC CO 88 sts using a provisional CO of your choice. Sample cowl was constructed using a crochet chain method\*. Divide evenly between needles and join to begin working in the round, being careful not to twist sts when joining. \*See a video demonstration of the crochet chain method here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okuYEOQhtok | of round will shift one stitch to the left every other round as instructed belov
Start Cowl
Rnd 1: \*K5, m1r, k1, m11, k9, dd, k4. Rep from \* to end of rnd. K1 from next rnd, pm to indicate beginning of rnd. Rnd 3: \*K5, m1r, k1, m1l, k9,dd, k4. Rep from \* to end of rnd. Remove marker, k1,pm. Rnd 4:Knit Rep rnds 3-4 with the following striping sequence (in rounds). Alternatively generate your own random stripes or choose uniform stripes. Cowl length is adjustable; continue until desired length.
| MC: 13 CC1:2 MC: 2 CC2:8 | CC2:2 MC: 1 CC1:1 MC: 2 CC1:13 | CC1:2 CC2:3 CC1:1 MC:5 CC2:3 | CC2:5 MC:3 CC1:2 MC: 3 CC1:3 | MC: 2 CC2:5 MC:3 CC2:2 MC:3 | MC: 3 CC2:2 CC1:3 MC:3 | MC: 2 CC1: 3 MC: 1 CC2:1 |
| CC1:2 MC:3 | CC2:2 | MC: 2 | CC2:2 | CC1:2 | CC2:1 MC: 2 | CC1:2 CC2:1 |
| CC2:2 | MC: 1 CC1:1 | CC1: 8 MC: 2 | CC1:1 CC2: 8 | CC2:1 CC1:3 | CC2:5 CC1:2 | MC: 2 |
| MC: 5 | CC1:3 | MC: 2 | CC2:3 | MC: 8 | CC2:3 | |
| CC1:1 | MC: 3 CC2:5 | CC2:2 | CC1: 1 | MC: 8 | CC2:3 | MC:5 |
| CC2:2 | CC1: 2 | CC1: 1 | CC2:3 | CC1:2 | CC1:5 | CC1:8 |
| MC: 2 | MC: 8 | MC:5 | CC1: 5 | CC2:1 | MC:3 | CC2:3 |
| CC2: 1 | CC2:2 | CC2: 1 | MC: 2 | CC1:2 | CC2:2 | MC: 2 |
| MC: 5 CC1:3 | MC: 3 | CC1:2 | CC1:2 | CC2:1 | CC1:2 | CC1: 1 CC2:2 |
Rep this rnd with the following stripe sequence (in rounds). Work entire sequence three times for a smaller cowl and five times for a larger cowl.
| CC1: 5 | MC: 5 CC2:5 | MC: 5 |
| MC: 5 | CC1:5 | MC:5 CC2:5 |
| CC1:5 | MC:5 CC2:5 | MC:5 |
NOTE: Finish final MC stripe after three rounds for a seamless cowl. Smaller cowl: (28 inches - 71 cm) stop here and proceed to finishing instructions. Standard Cowl: (51 inches - 129.5 cm) stop here and proceed to finishing instructions.
Finishing:
Break all yarns except MC. Weave in ends on the inside of cowl. Graft provisional CO together with last round worked using kitchener stitch. Block well. You may block first, then graft after, if preferred. Photography by Vivian Aubrey. http://spindleshanksknits.blogspot.com/ Many thanks!
