Field of Tulips Cowl

Field of Tulips Cowl

I grew up near the Skagit Valley in Washington, which celebrates spring each year with a tulip festival that drives all the locals nuts with insane traffic. On the plus side, of course, is the acres and acres of tulips all blooming at once, and of which this cowl reminds me. Or in other words, I designed this in what I consider to be the spirit of spring, and in tulip-y colors. It also combines two slip stitch patterns which evoke two different plowed-fields effects.

Yarn: Cascade Yarns Sierra (80% Pima Cotton, 20% Merino Wool; 191 yards [175 meters]/100 grams); #03 Vanilla - one skein (color A), #21 Royal Blue - one skein (color B), #55 Sunset - one skein (color C)

Needles: One 24" circular needle in size 8, one 16" or 20" circular needle, also in size 8


The back; the slip stitch color pattern reminds me
of the fields.

Notions: Tapestry needle, three stitch markers

Gauge: 18 stitches = 4 inches

Using color A and your 24" needle, cast on 149 stitches, place marker, and join in round. Knit 20, place extra marker, and then knit until you're 20 stitches from the end of the round and place another marker. Knit until the end of the round. And now, let's get right to the pattern, which you'll find below. As you'll notice, you will have fewer stitches on your needle on rows 3 and 9, which you'll add back on rows 4 and 10.

Rows 1 & 2: using color B, * k2, sl2 (slip 2 with yarn in back); rep from * until you reach marker; then, slip marker, sl1, and * k3, sl1 * until you reach second marker. Slip marker, and * k2, sl2 * until the end of the round.

Row 3: using color A, knit until you have two stitches before your first marker, k2tog, and slip marker. Then, k1, and * slip 2 stitches together knitwise-k1-pass slipped stitches over, k1 * until next marker. Slip marker, ssk, and knit until end of round.

Row 4: using color B, * sl2, k2 *, ending k1 before marker; then, slip marker, sl1, and * (k1, yo, k1) into next stitch, sl1 * until you reach next marker. Slip marker, sl1, * k2, sl2 * until you're two stitches before end of round, end k2.

Row 5: using color B, * sl2, k2 *, ending k1 before marker; then, slip marker, sl1, * k3, sl1 * until you reach next marker. Slip marker, sl1, * k2, sl2 * until you're two stitches before end of round, end k2.

Row 6: using color A, knit until you have two stitches before your first marker, k2tog, and slip marker. Then, knit until next marker. Slip marker, ssk, and knit until end of round.

Rows 7 & 8: using color C, * k2, sl2 * until you're two stitches before marker, end k2; then, slip marker, sl1, and * k3, sl1 * until you reach second marker. Slip marker, sl2, and * k2, sl2 * until end of round

Row 9: using color A, knit until you have two stitches before your first marker, k2tog, and slip marker. Then, k1, and * slip 2 stitches together knitwise-k1-pass slipped stitches over, k1 * until next marker. Slip marker, ssk, and knit until end of round.

Row 10: using color C, * sl2, k2 *, until you're one stitch before marker, sl1; then, slip marker, sl1, and * (k1, yo, k1) into next stitch, sl1 * until you reach next marker. Slip marker, k1, * sl2, k2 * until end of round.

Row 11: using color C, * sl2, k2 *, until you're one stitch before marker, sl1; then, slip marker, sl1, * k3, sl1 * until you reach next marker. Slip marker, k1, * sl2, k2 * until end of round.

Row 12: using color A, knit until you have two stitches before your first marker, k2tog, and slip marker. Then, knit until next marker. Slip marker, ssk, and knit until end of round.

Knit rows 1 - 12 four times, switching to your smaller needle whenever you feel the need (I switched after about 3 times through). Using color A, bind off loosely and tuck in ends. Oh, and you'll probably need to block it, WHICH I ACTUALLY DID THIS TIME (such excitement!). My husband even took pictures, for proof.

My blocking technique. Unorthodox, perhaps, but effective.
As you can see, it's lashed to the frame with yarn, and then pinned to a towel.
Then, I dampened it with a squirt bottle.