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| Bürkliplatz Cowl |
I've been in Zürich about three weeks now, which has proven to be enough time to both find my favorite grocery store (I love you Central Coop!), and buy and knit up my first Swiss yarn (fine, the yarn is actually Italian. WHAT DO YOU PEOPLE WANT FROM ME??!?!?!). And although I had a myriad of projects to choose from, I went for something that we NEED. Namely, a cowl for my poor freezing husband, since I wouldn't let him move with his last one. It's also my first project that's directly inspired by the city, and the large architectural stones that make up so many of Zürich's buildings. Indeed, that's what the name represents - Bürkliplatz is the tram stop that I got off on to take the picture below, and also near the location at which a nice young woman gave me a puzzled look when she saw me taking a picture of a wall.
Yarn: Sommer Merino 85 (100% Superwash Wool; 93 yards [85 meters]/50 grams); # 131 Charcoal (I made up that color name!) - two skeins
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| A closer view of the pattern. Blocked aggressively, the blocks would stretch into bricks and the architectural inspiration would be more defined. |
Notions: Tapestry needle, stitch marker
Gauge: 17 stitches = 4 inches
And now that we've taken care of that, let's make a cowl! First, then, cast on 90 stitches loosely, place marker, and join in round. Then we'll move right to the main pattern, which you'll find right after the wall picture that represents the look I was going for with this cowl.
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| Not quite as inspirational as a kitten hanging from a tree branch, but almost. Right? |
Anyway, to achieve this look, we'll work our pattern like so:
Rows 1 - 4: * p1, k8, p1 *
Row 5: purl
Rows 6 - 9: * k4, p2, k4 *
Row 10: purl
Knit rows 1 - 10 until piece measures desired length (I went for about 10") and you've just finished row 3 of the pattern. Bind off loosely in pattern. Tuck in ends and block more or less aggressively depending on your desired finished result (as in, block a lot if you want it less bunchy; block a little or not at all if you want it cuddly-scrunchy, like I left it). Give, keep, or wear as you see fit.
How groovy is that cowl! and what inspiration you had to
ReplyDeletepay tribute to the walls of Zurich. Just lovely. I bet your
husband sure does need that cowl right now too. Beautiful
knitting.
Cheers, Anita.
Thanks Anita!
DeleteIt was quite warm when we first got here - like high thirties and forties, but it's been snowing on and off for the last 4 or 5 days and the temperatures have finally dropped below freezing. And of course we don't have a car, so it gets a bit colder waiting for the bus. Now I have to make new cowls for the kids too!!! :)
Love this cowl. Hope that you and your special fellas are staying warm. Expecting major storm this weekend. Have a grand weekend. Susan
ReplyDeleteThank you! We are doing well, and hope you make it through the storm easily!!! Finally - have a lovely weekend yourself! :)
DeleteBeautiful. I grew up in Switzerland. I know Zürich well. It's my favorite city. My favorite restaurant in Zürich Tidbits... I wonder if you had a chance to eat there? I have to knit this scarf just for the name sake....and I love to shop at Coop!!
ReplyDeleteHi Barbara!
DeleteNo, I haven't been there, but I'll look it up. So far we haven't gone out much!!! And I am really enjoying living here in Zürich, so it's fun to hear from another fan of the city. :) Let me know if you have any questions about the pattern!
Hello! I really like your patterns and especially the name of your blog. It would be a great help to me if you would use the numbers assigned to various weights of yarn in your yarn names. I am a relatively new (and cheap) knitter and often substitute less expensive yarns as I learn and practice. For example, for the cowl for your husband, the brick wall pattern, which weight of yarn would work best on the size 8 needles? Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHello there!
DeleteI'm happy to hear that you like my patterns! :) And you can find weight information in the tags at the bottom of each post (below most of the other stuff, but above the comments). For this particular cowl, I worked with worsted weight yarn. Oh - and please let me know if you have any more questions! I'm always happy to help. :)
i love this cowl just as much as the other one you made for your husband. that is assuming youve only made the two? i think the last one was made in 2014. thanks muches
ReplyDeleteYeah I think these are the only two I've made specifically for him, although I'm sure he'll eventually ask for another! :) Right now I'm making him a hat. I'm pretty excited about how that will turn out too!!!
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