Take it or Leaf it Cowl by Marilyn Porter - EviePants Wool.
One day, I wanted to knit a cowl as a gift for a good friend of mine. I wanted a simple but striking lace pattern with a somewhat close fitting cowl (that could perhaps double as a headband/earwarmer). The problem was, I wanted to use a specific yarn, a lovely dk weight baby alpaca. The color was perfect for my friend and the yarn itself was perfect for a cowl! But all the cowls I saw that had lace patterns I liked were for worsted weight yarn. So I pulled out my lace knitting stitchionary and found a lace pattern I thought would be perfect in a knitted cowl. From there, it was fairly simple to calculate the size I wanted and how many stitches to cast on and the pattern was born! Because I'm a generous sort, I thought I would share the pattern in case anyone else found themselves in a similar bind. And because I love options, I also included instructions for knitting this cowl with worsted weight yarn, since that is a go-to yarn weight for most people anyhow. I hope you enjoy this pattern, whether you're knitting it for yourself or for a lucky friend! Versions: DK (Worsted) (instructions for knitting the Worsted version are in parentheses) Gauge: 22sts per 4" (18sts per 4") Materials Needed: Yarn: 100 yards DK weight yarn (1oo yards Worsted weight yarn) Needles: US 6 16" (US 8 16") (or whichever needles allow you to achieve gauge) I recommend a 16" circular, but you can magic loop or use DPNs if that is what you prefer. Finished Dimensions: 22"(23") circumference Sk2p: slip one stitch knitwise, knit two together, pass the slipped stitch over the decreased stitch Cast on 120 (105) stitches onto a US 6 (US 8) 16" needle using the long-tail cast on method (or whichever method you prefer that allows for a stretchy cast-on) Knit 5 rounds of garter stitch starting with a knit round:
(pattern repeats 7(7) times each round) Round 1: \*P2,k9, k3tog, yo, k1, yo; rep from Round 2 (and alleven rounds): P2, k13 Round 3: \*P2, k7, k3tog, [k1, yo] twice; kI; rep from Round 5: \*P2, k5, k3tog, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2; rep from \* Round 7: \*P2, k3, k3tog, k3, yo, k1, yo, k3; rep from \* Round 9: \*P2, yo, k1, yo, sk2p, k9; rep from \* Round 11: \*P2, [ki, yo] twice, k1, sk2p, k7; rep from Round 13: \*P2, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, sk2p, k5; rep from \*, Round 15: \*P2, k3, yo, k1, yo, k3, sk2p, k3; rep from \* Round 16: Repeat Round 2 Tip: If you're having trouble getting your needle through all three stitches to do the k3tog, try inserting your right needle through all three stitches purlwise and give it a little jiggle. Then, remove the needle and perform the k3tog as usual. Much easier! Repeat for desired length (suggested length: 6"-6.5") End on an even round Knit 2 rounds of garter stitch starting with a purl round. BOloosely
Weave in ends and wash according to the instructions for your particular yarn. Block lightly to open up the lace pattern and wear!
