Ribbed Shell Cowl

Ribbed Shell Cowl

I've been in love with this yarn since the minute I saw it, which must have been a while ago considering it seems to be discontinued. Nevertheless, any similar-weight yarn with a decent drape to it should knit up in this pattern nicely. And this pattern also has a few nice features, like the fan-like drape of the corner of it, as well as the large ribs.

And another picture, this time from
the other side!

Yarn: Misti Alpaca Suri Silk (80% Baby Suri Alpaca, 20% Silk; 218 yards [200 meters]/100 grams); color #20 – one skein

Needles: Straight needles in size 6 (or a circular needle in size 6, but worked back and forth), cable needle (cn) or double-pointed needle for cabling

Notions: Tapestry needle

Gauge: 24 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette on size 6 needles

So let's get started! First, cast on 33 stitches loosely. And then we’ll begin the pattern, although we’ll need the following notation to continue:

bc (back cross): slide three stitches to cn and hold in back; knit three, knit three from cn

So let’s do this thing!

Rows 1 & 3 (right side): (k2, p1) 9 times, k6

Rows 2, 4, & 6: p6, (k1, p2) 9 times

Row 5: (k2, p1) 9 times, bc

Repeat rows 1 – 6 four times. Now we’re going to work some increases, which go as follows:

Add Row 1: (k2, pfb) 9 times, k6 (42 stitches)

Row 2: p6, (k2, p2) 9 times

Row 3: (k2, pfb twice) 8 times, k2, pfb, p1, k6 (59 stitches)

Row 4: p6, k3, p2, (k4, p2) 8 times

Row 5: (k2, p1, pfb, p2) 8 times, k2, p3, bc (67 stitches)

Row 6: p6, k3, p2, (k5, p2) 8 times

Work add rows 1 – 6 once. Now we’re moving on to the main body pattern, which goes as follows:

Main Pattern Row 1: (k2, p5) 8 times, k2, p3, k6

Row 2: p6, k1, k2tog, yo, p2, (yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, p2) 8 times

Row 3 (short row): (k2, p5) 8 times, k2, p1, w&t

Row 4 (short row): k1, p2, (yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, p2) 8 times

Row 5: (k2, p5) 8 times, k2, p3, k6

Row 6: p6, k1, k2tog, yo, p2, (yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, p2) 8 times

Row 7: (k2, p5) 8 times, k2, p3, bc

Row 8: p6, k1, k2tog, yo, p2, (yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, p2) 8 times

Knit rows 1 – 8 until piece measures 17.5” along cabled edge, and you've just finished row 2 of the pattern. Begin binding off loosely, knitting the knit stitches and purling the purl stitches, and continue to bind off until there are 23 stitches left on your left-hand needle, and there's one stitch on your right-hand needle. Quit binding off, and knit across the final 23 stitches.

Now that we've got 24 stitches left, we're going to work a straight knit stitch, while maintaining our cable. Or in pattern notation:

Rows 1, 3, & 5 (wrong side): purl

Row 2: k18, bc

Rows 4 & 6: knit

Continue in this pattern until knit section reaches roughly 6", or desired length, and you've just completed row 5 of the pattern. Bind off. Finally, seam piece along short ends, matching the knit stitches of the cast-on side with the knit stitches of the cast-off side (and, in effect, ignoring the purl stitches from the cast-on end in your seam). Tuck in ends.