Eiffel Tower Eyelet Cowl

Eiffel Tower Eyelet Cowl

So, there's not too much I need to explain about this cowl, except that it accomplishes the impossible; it makes me love both a purl-background fabric and the freakin' garter stitch, which I typically avoid like the plague (and yes, it's completely irrational how much I dislike garter stitch. I apologize to those of you who love it). It's also a simple enough design to look good with a variegated yarn, although I imagine it would pop even more with a single-color fiber. Anyway, let's cut the chitchat and head to the pattern instead!

A detail shot. See the tiny towers???

Yarn: Berroco Boboli Lace (42% Wool, 35% Acrylic, 23% Viscose; 350 yards [320 meters]/100 grams); #4366 Fondant - one skein

Needles: 24" circular needle in size 6, 20" circular needle in size 6

Notions: Tapestry needle, three stitch markers

Gauge: 24 stitches = 4 inches

So let's get started! First, then, using your 24" needle, cast on 192 stitches loosely, place marker, and join in round. And now, we'll work the bottom border, which is Swiss Ribbing from page 340 of Barbara G. Walker's A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns. Or in knitting terms, let's begin like so:

Rows 1 - 4: * k3, p3; rep from *

Rows 5 & 6: * k1, slip 1 with yarn in back (wyib), k1, p3 *

Row 7: * p1, k1-tbl, p4 *

Row 8: * p1, k1, p4 *

Rows 9 & 10: * p1, slip 1 wyib, p4 *

Row 11: repeat row 7

Row 12: p30, place marker, p132, place marker, purl until end of round

And now, let's begin to incorporate our main pattern, which is Eiffel Tower Eyelet from page 248 of the same volume. And we'll start like so:

Row 1: knit until first marker, slip marker, and then * p4, yo, p2tog * until second marker, slip marker, and knit until end of round

Rows 2, 4, & 6: purl until you're two stitches before first marker, p2tog, slip marker; then, * p4, k1, p1 * until second marker, slip marker, p2tog, and purl until end of round (-2 stitches)

Rows 3 & 5: knit until first marker, slip marker, and then * p4, k1, p1 * until second marker, slip marker, and knit until end of round

Row 7:  knit until first marker, slip marker, and then * p1, yo, p2tog, p3 * until second marker, slip marker, and knit until end of round

Rows 8, 10, & 12: purl until you're two stitches before first marker, p2tog, slip marker; then, * p1, k1, p4 * until second marker, slip marker, p2tog, and purl until end of round (-2 stitches)

Rows 9 & 11: knit until first marker, slip marker, and then * p1, k1, p4 * until second marker, slip marker, and knit until end of round

Knit rows 1 - 12 once, and then we'll add more decreases to the pattern. Or in knitting terms, we'll continue as follows. Oh, and remember to switch to your shorter circular needle whenever the need arises.

Row 1: knit until you're two stitches before first marker, k2tog, slip marker, and then * p4, yo, p2tog * until second marker, slip marker, ssk, and knit until end of round (-2 stitches)

Rows 2, 4, & 6: purl until you're two stitches before first marker, p2tog, slip marker; then, * p4, k1, p1 * until second marker, slip marker, p2tog, and purl until end of round (-2 stitches)

Rows 3 & 5: knit until you're two stitches before first marker, k2tog, slip marker, and then * p4, k1, p1 * until second marker, slip marker, ssk, and knit until end of round (-2 stitches)

Row 7: knit until you're two stitches before first marker, k2tog, slip marker, and then * p1, yo, p2tog, p3 * until second marker, slip marker, ssk, and knit until end of round (-2 stitches)

Rows 8, 10, & 12: purl until you're two stitches before first marker, p2tog, slip marker; then, * p1, k1, p4 * until second marker, slip marker, p2tog, and purl until end of round (-2 stitches)

Rows 9 & 11: knit until you're two stitches before first marker, k2tog, slip marker, and then * p1, k1, p4 * until second marker, slip marker, ssk, and knit until end of round (-2 stitches)

Knit rows 1 - 12 once, and then knit rows 1 - 11 again, removing your extra markers when you reach row 11. Then, you'll be knitting this alternate row in place of row 12:

Alternate Row 12: p2tog, k1, p3, * p2, k1, p3 * until you're two stitches from row marker; end p2tog

And now it's time to move on to our top edging, which goes as follows:

Edging Rows 1 & 2: * p4, k1, p1 *

Edging Rows 3 & 4: * p4, slip 1 wyib, p1 *

Edging Rows 5 - 7: * p3, k3 *

Knit these seven edging rows, and then bind off loosely in pattern. Tuck in ends. Block, if you're so inclined.