Pretty in Pink Cowl

Pretty in Pink Cowl

I've been staring at this page for a while now, trying to figure out what to say about this pattern. The problem, of course, is that I can only think of one thing - namely, that I'm super pleased by how well this little turkey turned out. It's light, it's springy, it drapes beautifully, and my baby CANNOT STOP GRABBING IT whenever I put it on (what can I say? The kid's got taste). It's also a very versatile piece, and looks good with anything from a flannel to a tank top and jeans. Just make sure to make it in a neutral-ish color, 'cause you're going to want to wear it every dang day.

Sizes: Small (Large) - fyi, the only difference in these two patterns will be the number of stitches in your cast on and the marker placement row. Also, the only reason I'm offering two sizes is based on head size - you're going to want this thing to fit snug up against your neck, and you're going to want the small if you have a smaller head, the large if you have a larger head.

Yarn: Berroco Folio (65% Superfine Alpaca, 35% Rayon; 219 yards [200 meters]/100 grams); #4524 Bailey - 1 skein

A closer pic of the lace

Needles: 16" circular needle in size US 5

Notions: Tapestry needle, five stitch markers

Gauge: 22 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette

So let's do this! First, cast on 142 (152) stitches loosely, place marker, and join in round. Then we'll knit the following marker placement row:

Marker Placement Row: k35 (k40), place marker, k19, place marker, k34, place marker, k19, place marker, knit until end of round

And once that's done, begin to incorporate Miniature Leaf Pattern from page 215 of Barbara G. Walker's A Treasury of Knitting Patterns, which goes like so:

Row 1: knit until you reach first marker, slip marker, k1, * k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1 * until you reach next marker, slip marker, ssk, knit until you're two stitches before next marker, k2tog, slip marker, k1, * k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1 * until you reach next marker, slip marker, knit until end of round

Row 2 and all even rows: knit, slipping extra markers when you reach them

Row 3: knit until you reach first marker, slip marker, k2tog, * yo, k3, yo, slip 2 together knitwise-k1-p2sso *, ending last repeat before marker with an ssk instead of the slip 2 together knitwise-k1-p2sso, slip marker, ssk, knit until you're two stitches before next marker, k2tog, slip marker, k2tog, * yo, k3, yo, slip 2 together knitwise-k1-p2sso *, ending last repeat before marker with an ssk instead of the slip 2 together knitwise-k1-p2sso, slip marker, knit until end of round

Row 5: knit until you reach first marker, slip marker, k1, * yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k1 * until you reach next marker, slip marker, ssk, knit until you're two stitches before next marker, k2tog, slip marker, k1, * yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k1 * until you reach next marker, slip marker, knit until end of round

Row 7: knit until you reach first marker, slip marker, k2, * yo, slip 2 together knitwise-k1-p2sso, yo, k3 *, ending last repeat before marker k2 instead of k3, slip marker, ssk, knit until you're two stitches before next marker, k2tog, slip marker, k2, * yo, slip 2 together knitwise-k1-p2sso, yo, k3 *, ending last repeat before marker k2 instead of k3, slip marker, knit until end of round *

Knit rows 1 - 8 four times, at which point you should have 2 stitches between your second and third extra marker. And then we'll quit doing any decreases, and continue our pattern as follows: 

Row 1: knit until you reach first marker, slip marker, k1, * k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1 * until you reach next marker, slip marker, k2, slip marker, k1, * k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1 * until you reach next marker, slip marker, knit until end of round

Row 2 and all even rows: knit, slipping extra markers when you reach them

Row 3: knit until you reach first marker, slip marker, k2tog, * yo, k3, yo, slip 2 together knitwise-k1-p2sso *, ending last repeat before marker with an ssk instead of the slip 2 together knitwise-k1-p2sso, slip marker, k2, slip marker, k2tog, * yo, k3, yo, slip 2 together knitwise-k1-p2sso *, ending last repeat before marker with an ssk instead of the slip 2 together knitwise-k1-p2sso, slip marker, knit until end of round

Row 5: knit until you reach first marker, slip marker, k1, * yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k1 * until you reach next marker, slip marker, k2, slip marker, k1, * yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k1 * until you reach next marker, slip marker, knit until end of round

Row 7: knit until you reach first marker, slip marker, k2, * yo, slip 2 together knitwise-k1-p2sso, yo, k3 *, ending last repeat before marker k2 instead of k3, slip marker, k2, slip marker, k2, * yo, slip 2 together knitwise-k1-p2sso, yo, k3 *, ending last repeat before marker k2 instead of k3, slip marker, knit until end of round *

Knit rows 1 - 8 until piece measures 9" to 10" along back seam and you've just finished row 8 of the pattern. Bind off loosely (really, you want to bind off loosely here, since this cowl may have negative ease around your noggin, and it's much prettier when you can actually get it on). Tuck in ends and block. 

* Row 7 was corrected 4/15/15