Bear Track Cowl

Bear Track Cowl

Okay, I bought a bunch of skeins of this yarn a loooong time ago, back when I could afford it (also, the local yarn shop was changing hands so it was on sale). And while I've knit it up a couple of different ways, I think that the bear track pattern on this one suits the yarn's variegation and thick-to-thin worsted weight well, although you should note that if you knit it with an unchanging worsted it won't have quite the same funkiness (post pictures if you do, also - I'm curious). Anyway, let's get to it!

Yarn: Misti Alpaca Baby Me Boo (50% Baby Alpaca, 30% Merino, 20% Bamboo; 174 yards [160 meters]/100 grams); #BBH07 Rosario - 1 skein (however, I've developed an uncanny knack for finishing up a skein with little to spare, so if you're a looser knitter, you may want to have two skeins on hand. On the flip side, since this pattern ends with I-cords, you could always use something like ribbon to tie up the cowl if you run out)


Needles: one set of straight needles in size 7, two double-pointed needles (dpns), also in size 7

Close-up of the pattern.
It doesn't pop too much with the
yarn's variegation, but it does add texture.

Notions: tapestry needle

Gauge: 18 stitches = 4 inches

Okay, to knit this piece we're going to start with the center bit (we'll pick up stitches along the edges to do the around-the-neck parts). So, using size 7 needles, cast on 81 stitches. The center piece will be knit in the Bear Track pattern, from page 225 of Barbara G. Walker's A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns, and goes as follows:

Row 1 (right side): k1, * yo, (k1, p1) 7 times, k1, yo, k1; rep from *

Row 2: k1, * p2, (k1, p1) 7 times, p1, k1 *

Row 3: k2, * yo, (k1, p1) 7 times, k1, yo, k3 *, end last repeat k2

Row 4: k2, * p2, (k1, p1) 7 times, p1, k3 *, end last repeat k2

Row 5: k3, * yo, (k1, p1) 7 times, k1, yo, k5 *, end last repeat k3

Row 6: k3, * p2, (k1, p1) 7 times, p1, k5 *, end last repeat k3

Row 7: k4, * yo, (k1, p1) 7 times, k1, yo, k7 *, end last repeat k4

Row 8: k4, * p2, (k1, p1) 7 times, p1, k7 *, end last repeat k4

Row 9: k5, * (ssk) 3 times, sl1-k2tog-psso, (k2tog) 3 times, k9 *, end last repeat k5

Row 10: purl

Knit rows 1 - 10 four times through. Next we'll do one iteration of the pattern which excludes the (yo)s, or in other words:

Row 1, 3, 5, & 7 (right side): k1, * (k1, p1) 7 times, k2; rep from *

Rows 2, 4, 6, & 8: k1, * p1, (k1, p1) 7 times, k1 *

Row 9: k1, * (ssk) 3 times, sl1-k2tog-psso, (k2tog) 3 times, k1 *

Row 10: bind off by purling the first stitch, and then purling 2 together for the rest of the row to gather the piece additionally 

And the center bit is done! So now that we're finished with that part, let's pick up 28 stitches along the right edge of the piece if you're looking at it from the right side of the fabric (so this will be its left side once you put it on). We're going to work in decreases as we go, so proceed as follows:

Row 1: purl

Row 2: ssk, knit across

Continue to knit rows 1 & 2 until you have 20 stitches left on your needle. Now you will start reducing a tad slower, like so:

Row 1: purl

Row 2: knit

Row 3: purl

Row 4: ssk, knit across

Knit rows 1 - 4 until you have 16 stitches left on your needle, and then go back to the previous accelerated decrease pattern. Continue in this decrease pattern until there are 5 stitches left on your needle. Now, rather than knitting the purl row, transfer stitches to a dpn and begin I-cord. Continue until I-cord measures roughly 14.5". Bind off. And now let's get started on the other side!

Pick up 28 stitches along the left edge of the piece.

Row 1: purl

Row 2: knit until final two stitches, ssk

Continue to knit rows 1 & 3 until you have 20 stitches left on your needle. Once again, you will start reducing a little slower, like so:

Row 1: purl

Row 2: knit

Row 3: purl

Row 4: knit until final two stitches, ssk

Knit rows 1 - 4 until you have 16 stitches left on your needle, and then, once again, go back to the previous accelerated decrease pattern. Continue in this decrease pattern until there are 5 stitches left on your needle. Now, rather than knitting the purl row, transfer stitches to a dpn and begin I-cord. Continue until I-cord measures roughly 14.5". Bind off. Tuck in ends, do dance of completion.