Sea & Shore Cowl

Sea & Shore Cowl

When I first started knitting this piece, it seemed very timely; the tulips were starting to bloom, and the weather was finally heating up. I even took the flannel sheets off my bed. Of course, every action has an equal and opposite reaction, so now it's freaking snowing. Before I start complaining about the cold spring, however, I should mention some important stuff - mainly, that this cowl is worked in two colors of sock weight yarn on size US 5 needles to give it extra airiness. Because the warm weather will arrive eventually, right?

Yarn: Schachenmayr Original Egypto Cotton (100% Cotton; 197 yards [180 meters]/50 grams); #00174 Leaf Green - one skein (color A) and #00166 Mint - one skein (color B)

A close up of the piece

Needles: One 24" circular needle in size US 5

Notions: Tapestry needle, three stitch markers

Gauge: 30 stitches = 4 inches on size 2 needles 

So let's do this thing! First, then, using your color A yarn, cast on 183 stitches loosely, place marker, and join in round. Then we'll knit a couple of set-up rows, as follows:

Set-up Row 1: using color A, p16, place marker, p152 (or until there are 15 stitches left in round), place marker, and purl until end of round

Set-up Row 2: using color A, knit, slipping extra markers when you reach them

And once these two set-up rows are completed, we'll proceed as follows:

Row 1: using color B, * k1, slip 1 stitch with yarn in back (wyib); rep from * until you reach first marker, slip marker, k1, * yo, k2tog * until you're 1 stitch before second marker, k1, slip marker, slip 1 wyib, * k1, slip 1 wyib * until end of round

Row 2: using color B, * k1, slip 1 wyib; rep from * until you reach first marker, slip marker, p1, * p2tog, yo * until you're 1 stitch before second marker, p1, slip marker, slip 1 wyib, * k1, slip 1 wyib * until end of round

Row 3: using color A, * slip 1 wyib, k1; rep from * until you reach first marker, slip marker, k1, * yo, k2tog * until you're 1 stitch before second marker, k1, slip marker, k1, * slip 1 wyib, k1 * until end of round

Row 4: using color A, * slip 1 wyib, k1; rep from * until you reach first marker, slip marker, p1, * p2tog, yo * until you're 1 stitch before second marker, p1, slip marker, k1 * slip 1 wyib, k1 * until end of round

Knit rows 1 - 4 until piece is roughly 7" wide in the mesh section and you've just finished row 2 of the pattern (yes, it will be much narrower in the slipped stitch portion) (oh, and yes - this would look nice wider too). Clip your color B yarn tail, since you're done with it, and then knit the following final row:

Final Row: using color A, knit, removing extra markers when you reach them

Bind off loosely, purling rather than knitting. Tuck in ends and block.