Diagonal Weave Cowl

Diagonal Weave Cowl

So here's the deal; I was so inspired by the yarn-mixing of my Little Bowknot Hat that I finally allowed myself to buy another one of the loner skeins of clearance yarn I've been dying for (in this case, the Berroco Versa, which is a light chunky-weight cotton acrylic blend that comes in sort of a knit tube, if you're looking for something similar). And I have to admit that I've very pleased with the results of this pattern, especially considering how little yarn I used, and how fun it was to knit. Worked with an asymmetrical line of eyelets, then, the Diagonal Weave Cowl is a great opportunity to combine a couple of stash skeins into a striking project.

A close-up of the weave pattern itself.

Yarn: Schachenmayr Ragge Yarn (70% New Wool, 30% Polyamide; 87 yards [80 meters]/50 grams); #102 Cream (color A) - one skein & Berroco Versa (50% Cotton, 50% Acrylic; 81 yards [75 meters]/50 grams); #3671 Travertine (color B) - one skein

Needles: One 24" circular needle in size 8, and one 24" circular needle in size 10

Notions: Tapestry needle, two stitch markers or scraps of yarn to mark stitches

Gauge: 16 stitches = 4 inches

So let's do this! Using color A (for us, the cream) and your size 8 circular needle, cast on 100 stitches, place marker, and join in round. Knit 3 rows in a k2, p2 ribbing, placing your additional stitch marker after you've worked 49 stitches. Slip marker when you come to it during your ribbing rows, and transfer piece to your size 10 needle when you're finished with this. Knit one row around, still slipping extra marker when you come to it.

Then, once you're done with these four set-up rows, it's time to work the main pattern, which is Diagonal Weave from page 99 of Barbara G. Walker's A Treasury of Knitting Patterns, except adapted for the round. And it goes as follows:

Row 1: using color B, knit until you reach stitch marker, slip marker, k1, yo, and knit until end of row

Row 2: using color A, k1, * slip 1, k3; rep from * until you reach stitch marker, slip marker, k4, and then * slip 1, k3 * until end of round

Row 3: using color A, k1, * slip 1, k3; rep from * until you reach stitch marker, slip marker, k1, yo, k3, and then * slip 1, k3 * until end of round

Row 4: using color B, k1, * drop slipped stitch off needle, k2, then pick up slipped stitch and knit it (being careful not to twist it), k1 * until you reach marker, slip marker, k5, * drop slipped stitch off needle, k2, then pick up slipped stitch and knit it, k1 *

Row 5: using color B, knit until you reach stitch marker, slip marker, k1, yo, knit until end of row

Row 6: using color A, k5, * slip 1, k3 * until you reach stitch marker, slip marker, k6, * slip 1, k3 *

Row 7: using color A, k5, * slip 1, k3 * until you reach stitch marker, slip marker, k1, yo, k5 * slip 1, k3 *

Row 8: using color B, k3, * slip 2 stitches, drop slipped stitch from needle, slip same 2 stitches back to your left-hand needle, then pick up dropped stitch and knit it, k3 *, end k2 right before marker, slip marker, k5, * slip 2 stitches, drop slipped stitch from needle, slip same 2 stitches back to your left-hand needle, then pick up dropped stitch and knit it, k3 *, end k2 at end of row

Knit rows 1 - 8 four times, and then knit rows 1 - 4 one more time. Using color A, knit one row. Switch to your size 8 needle, and then knit 3 rows in a k2, p2 ribbing, also with color A (note: this ribbing will both begin and end with a k2, because of the stitches we've added). Using color B, bind off, knitting the knit stitches and purling the purl stitches. Tuck in ends.