Arrowhead Lace Cowl

Arrowhead Lace Cowl

The idea for this cowl has been brewing for some time now, and I finally got a yarn that seemed perfect for it (also, the fact that it's basically a worsted-weight cotton makes it knit up quickly, and have a nice, cozy weight).  Basically, it's buttoned in the back, with a ribbed section to go around the neck, and then it explodes into a wide lace bit for the front.  And it's really fun to knit, if I do say so myself.

Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Sweet Caroline (100% Cotton; 76 yards [69 meters]/50 grams); #4021 White/Yellow - two skeins

Needles: One set of straight needles in size 7

Notions: Tapestry needle, 3 1/2" or 7/16" inch buttons, plus needle and thread if your yarn won't fit through the button holes

The pattern, yo.

Gauge: 20 stitches = 4 inches

So let's get started!  Cast on 21 stitches, and work the first couple of rows to include buttonholes as follows:

Row 1 (right side): * k1, p1; repeat from *

Row 2: * p1, k1 *

Row 3 (buttonhole row): k1, k2tog, yo, (p1, k1) x 3, k2tog, yo, (p1, k1) x 3, p1, yo, ssk, k1

Continue to work fabric in a k1, p1 ribbing until piece measures about 4 inches in length, and you're just about to begin a right-side row.  Now it's time to work some short rows for shaping.

Short Row 1: work 5 stitches, knitting the knit stitches and purling the purl stitches, then wrap & turn (w&t)

Short Row 2, and all even short rows: knit/purl back to beginning of row in pattern, knitting the knit stitches and purling the purl stitches

Short Row 3: work 7 stitches, knitting the knit stitches and purling the purl stitches, then w&t

Short Row 5: work 9 stitches, knitting the knit stitches and purling the purl stitches, then w&t

Short Row 7: work 11 stitches, knitting the knit stitches and purling the purl stitches, then w&t

Short Row 9: work 13 stitches, knitting the knit stitches and purling the purl stitches, then w&t

Short Row 11: work 15 stitches, knitting the knit stitches and purling the purl stitches, then w&t

Short Row 13: work 17 stitches, knitting the knit stitches and purling the purl stitches, then w&t

Short Row 15: work 19 stitches, knitting the knit stitches and purling the purl stitches, then w&t

Complete shorts rows 1 - 16.  Now it's time to move on to the transition rows, which go as follows:

Transition Row 1: purl

Transition Row 2: knit

Transition Row 3: k1, kfb every stitch to end of row (41 stitches)

And finally, it's time to start the main pattern, which is Arrowhead Lace from page 193 of Barbara G. Walter's A Treasury of Knitting Patterns, and goes as follows:

Rows 1 & 3 (wrong side): purl

Row 2: k1, * (yo, ssk) x 2, k1, (k2tog, yo) x 2, k1 *

Row 4: k2, * yo, ssk, yo, sl 2 knitwise-k1-p2sso, yo, k2tog, yo, k3 *, end last repeat k2

Knit until pieces measures roughly 15" from the beginning of the patterned section to the end and you've just knit row 1 of the pattern.  Now it's time to transition into the short row shaping, which goes as follows:

Transition Row 1 (right side): p1, * p2tog *

Transition Row 2: knit

Transition Row 3: * k1, p1 *, end k1

Transition Row 4: * p1, k1 *, end p1

And now, back to the short rows, but in reverse like so:

Short Row 1 (right side): work 19 stitches, knitting the knit stitches and purling the purl stitches, then w&t

Short Row 2, and all even short rows: knit/purl back to beginning of row in pattern, knitting the knit stitches and purling the purl stitches

Short Row 3: work 17 stitches, knitting the knit stitches and purling the purl stitches, then w&t

Short Row 5: work 15 stitches, knitting the knit stitches and purling the purl stitches, then w&t

Short Row 7: work 13 stitches, knitting the knit stitches and purling the purl stitches, then w&t

Short Row 9: work 11 stitches, knitting the knit stitches and purling the purl stitches, then w&t

Short Row 11: work 9 stitches, knitting the knit stitches and purling the purl stitches, then w&t

Short Row 13: work 7 stitches, knitting the knit stitches and purling the purl stitches, then w&t

Short Row 15: work 5 stitches, knitting the knit stitches and purling the purl stitches, then w&t

Work short rows 1 - 16, and the finish up with four more inches knit in ribbing, as you did on the other side (and omitting the buttonholes, of course, since we're going to attach buttons to this end).  Bind of loosely and tuck in ends.  Attach three buttons to end you just finished to correspond with buttonholes.  Now smile: you're done!