Rustic Lace Cowl

Rustic Lace Cowl

My mom sent me a bunch of yarn for Christmas, and this one stood out to me mostly because it's so OPPOSITE the -45 degree with wind chill weather we're having right now. And yet, it's still nice and pepperminty, for the season. The only thing I should note before we get to it is that you'll probably have to block this cowl, as the scallops curl a bit. If you're as lazy as me, however, you may be able to stretch it into place instead...

Yarn: Kraemer Yarns Tatamy Tweed Worsted (40% Cotton, 60% Acrylic; 180 yards [165 meters]/100 grams); It's A Girl – one skein

The pattern. A feather lace and some
twisted stitches.

Needles: 24" circular needle in size 8

Notions: Tapestry needle, 3 stitch markers

Gauge: 18 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette 

Cast on 156 stitches loosely, place marker, and join in round. Then we'll knit a set-up row or two before we get to the main pattern, which you'll find below. Note that knitting the optional row is a pain in the butt, but creates a pretty design so it might be worth it.

Optional Set-up Row: p18, place marker, (lt, rt) 30 times (at which point there will be 18 stitches left on your needle), place marker. Purl to end.

Required Set-up Row, whether you knit the first one or not: knit

And now, the pattern, for which you'll need the following notation:

rt (right twist): knit two together, leaving stitches on left-hand needle; next, insert right-hand needle from the front between the two stitches just knitted together, and knit the first stitch again. Finally, slip both stitches from left-hand needle together

lt (left twist): with right-hand needle behind left-hand needle, skip one stitch and knit the second stitch in back loop; then insert right-hand needle into the backs of both stitches and k2tog-b (knit two together through back loops, inserting right needle from the right)

goofy left twist (don't worry, you'll only need this one once): with right-hand needle behind left-hand needle, skip one stitch and knit the next two stitches in their back loops; then insert right-hand needle into the backs of all three stitches and k3tog-b (knit three together through back loops, inserting right needle from the right)

Let's get started!

Row 1: purl until there are two stitches left before marker, then k2tog. Slip marker, k2, (rt) twice, and then knit the following pattern until you reach the next marker; * yo, ssk, k9, k2tog, yo, k2, (rt) twice; rep from *. Slip marker, ssk, and purl until the end of the row.

Row 2 and all even rows: knit

Row 3: purl until there are two stitches left before marker, then k2tog. Slip marker, k1, (rt) twice, k1, and then knit the following pattern until you reach the next marker; * yo, k1, ssk, k7, k2tog, k1, yo, k1, (rt) twice, k1 *. Slip marker, ssk, and purl until the end of the row.

Row 5: purl until there are two stitches left before marker, then k2tog. Slip marker, (rt) twice, k2, and then knit the following pattern until you reach the next marker; * yo, k2, ssk, k5, k2tog, k2, yo, (rt) twice, k2 *. Slip marker, ssk, and purl until the end of the row.

Row 7: purl until there are two stitches left before marker, then k2tog. Slip marker, (lt) twice, k2, and then knit the following pattern until you reach the next marker; * yo, k3, ssk, k3, k2tog, k3, yo, (lt) twice, k2 *. Slip marker, ssk, and purl until the end of the row.

Row 9: purl until there are two stitches left before marker, then k2tog. Slip marker, k1, (lt) twice, k1, and then knit the following pattern until you reach the next marker; * yo, k4, ssk, k1, k2tog, k4, yo, k1, (lt) twice, k1 *. Slip marker, ssk, and purl until the end of the row.

Row 11: purl until there are two stitches left before marker, then k2tog. Slip marker, k2, (lt) twice, and then knit the following pattern until you reach the next marker; * yo, k5, sl1-k2tog-psso, k5, yo, k2, (lt) twice *. Slip marker, ssk, and purl until the end of the row.

Knit rows 1 - 12 until you've worked enough decreases that there is only one stitch between each of your extra stitch markers and your row marker. This should occur at row 9 of the pattern. On row 10, remove both extra markers, and then work row 11 as follows: k2tog, k1, (lt) twice, and then knit the following pattern until you have seven stitches left on your needle; * yo, k5, sl1-k2tog-psso, k5, yo, k2, (lt) twice *. Instead of completing the final k2, (lt) twice as you normally would, k2, lt, and then do one final, goofy left twist. Knit one last row around, and then bind off. Tuck in ends and block your little scalloped edges so they quit curling.