V-Neck Cowl

V-Neck Cowl

Okay, so I began this cowl with the idea that it would be more roundish, but I ended up really loving the V-shape, especially when I embellished the bottom (close-up pictures later). I also love the way this yarn knits, drapes, and feels, and this pattern ended up being a good statement piece. If, you know, you're trying to say, "I like to knit V-neck cowls."

Yarn: Cascade Yarns Ultra Pima (100% Pima Cotton; 220 yards [200 meters]/100 grams); #3705 Heathered Pansy - one skein

Needles: Straight or longish circular needle(s) in size 6 and two double-pointed needles (dpns), also in size 6 (or 5, or whatever's close that you've got hanging around).

Notions: Tapestry needle and stitch marker

Notions for optional embellishment: enough beads to do what you want to do, a needle small enough to fit through their little holes, and thread in a color that works with your piece

Gauge: 22 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette

Okay, so let's get started! First, cast on 162 stitches. Next, knit one set-up row (this will be the wrong side of your piece), placing your marker after 81 stitches. And now it's time to begin the pattern, which goes as follows:

Swiss Fan Cowl

Swiss Fan Cowl

Okay, here's another basic cowl, with a bit of added interest due to the scalloped cast-on edge (yes, it looks better upside down). And yeah, that's all I've got in the way of introduction...

Yarn: Cascade 220 Heathers (100% Peruvian Highland Wool; 220 yards [200 meters]/100 grams); #9442 Baby Rose - one skein

A close-up of the pattern.

Needles: One 24" circular needle in size 7

Notions: Tapestry needle, stitch marker or yarn scrap to mark end of round 

Gauge: 20 stitches = 4 inches on size 7 needles

Loosely cast on 126 stitches, place marker, and join in round. The design we'll be knitting is a variation of the Swiss Fan pattern, from page 324 of Barbara G. Walker's A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns, and goes as follows:

Row 1: * p1, k7, p1; rep from *

Rows 2 & 6: * p1, ssk, (yo, k1) 3 times, yo, k2tog, p1 *

Rows 3 & 7: * p1, k9, p1 *

Rows 4 & 8: * p1, ssk, k5, k2tog, p1 *

Rows 5 & 9: * p1, k7, p1 *

Rows 10 & 11: purl

Knit Rows 1 - 11 four times through, and then knit Rows 1 - 8 once more. Bind off loosely. Finally, tuck in ends, 'cause you're done.

Dewdrop Cowl

Dewdrop Cowl

If you've looked at a few of my patterns, you've probably already figured out that I love a cowl (so efficient! good for bicycling! less yarn! etc). So here's a basic but interesting design, worked with worsted weight yarn and a pattern that never gets more complicated than a sl1-k2tog-psso. Overall, I think it's a decent design for a variegated yarn, and easy to work.

Yarn: Berroco Vintage Colors (50% Acrylic, 40% Wool, 10% Nylon; 217 yards [200 meters]/100 grams); #5222 Oasis - one skein

Needles: One 24" circular needle in size 7

The pattern

Notions: Tapestry needle, stitch marker or yarn scrap to mark end of round 

Gauge: 20 stitches = 4 inches on size 7 needles

So let's get started! Cast on 138 stitches, place marker, and join in round. And now we'll proceed in Dewdrop Pattern, from page 149 of Barbara G. Walker's A Treasury of Knitting Patterns, which I've adapted for the round:

Rows 1 - 3: * k3, p3; rep from * 

Row 4: * yo, sl1-k2tog-psso, yo, k3 *

Rows 5 - 7: * p3, k3 *

Row 8: * k3, yo, sl1-k2tog-psso, yo *