Allotrope Double Knit Cowl
by Lindsey Freeman Even if winters in Canada weren't so cold, I would love cowls. Like a soft necklace, a cowl can function as a scarf, frame the face as a collar, or be arranged under a coat. It can be slipped over the shoulders like a wrap or pulled up around the ears when hats are forgotten or are still on the needles. This particular cowl uses the technique of doubleknitting to make a fully reversible pattern. If double knitting is one of your final frontiers as a knitter, this would be a good second project, perhaps after a dishcloth. Double knit means double thick, so I would recommend wool lighter than worsted weight. Instructions are written for the shortest cowl, with instructions for the midsized and long cowls in parentheses. Further customization is easy - just cast on a multiple of 8 and adjust the number of repeats.
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS (measured flat)
Size S: (not pictured): 8" by 11" Size M: (Grey/Pink): 8" by 16.5" Size L: (Blue/Cream): 8"by 22
GUAGE
22 sts/28 rows = 4"in stockinette stitch on US #6/4.00mm needle Note that matching gauge is not critical for this project.
MATERIALS
Two colours of DK weight yarn -- the softest you can find. 2[2, 3] skeins of EACH colour. One of these will be your main coloiur [MCl and the other will
· The blue/cream cowl is knit with Mirasol Tupa [50% merino, 50% silk; 137 yd/125 m per 50g skein]; colors Azurite and Pearl White. The grey/pink cowl is knit with Sublime baby cashmere silk dk [75% extra fine merino, 20% silk, 5% cashmere; 127 yards/116 m per 50g skein]; colors 0001 and 0277. 1 32 inch US #6/4.oomm circular needle 1 32 inch US #8/5.oomm circular needle Stitch markers: 12[18, 24] Tapestry needle PATTERN NOTES If you are new to double knitting, each block represents two consecutive stitches. The first of these is a knit
in the indicated color while both strands are held to the back, and the next is a purl in the opposite color, while both strands are held to the front. Each row of the chart is read right to left, starting at the bottom right corner.
PATTERN
With the thicker needle, CO 96[144,192]stitches with the MC, placing a marker after every 8 stitches. Use a long-tail cast on or another stretchy cast on. Place a row-counter or distinctive marker to mark the beginning of the row and join for the round, being careful not to twist stitches. Set-up row: Switch to the thinner needle. In each stitch, knit with the MC and, without slipping it from the left needle, purl with the CC. This will increase your stitches to 192[288,384] stitches. Row 1-49: Slip row-counter. \*Work the first row of the chart, slip marker; Repeat from \* until row end. There will be 12[18, 24] pattern repeats per row. Row 5o: \*Knit 1, purl 1 with the MC. Repeat from \* until row end. Remove markers as you come to them. Row 51: Switch to the thicker needle. Ssk, \*ssk, then pass the previous stich over. Repeat from the \* until all stitches are bound off. Weave in ends.
FINISHING
Lightly steam and lie flat to block.
SYMBOLS USED
MC maincolour CC contrastcolour kknit ppurl ssk slip, slip knit: slip two stitches knitwise, one at a time. Transfer both back to the left needle and knit together through the back ofboth stitches.
