Daisy Chain Cowl

Daisy Chain Cowl

Technically, the name of this cowl should have something to do with snowflakes (since the stitch pattern is the Snowflake Eyelet and all). But I'm way too tired of winter to give this lightweight cotton v-neck cowl any name that isn't cheery, especially since it's a great warmer weather piece. It's also a top-down number finished with seed stitch edgings, which means you don't even have to block it, if you don't want to!

A not-very-good close-up of the stitch pattern.
Sorry.

Yarn: Schachenmayr Down to Earth Cotton (100% Cotton; 142 yards [130 meters]/50 grams); #35 Pink Peony - two skeins

Needles: One 16" circular needle in size 4, one 24" circular needle in size 4

Notions: Tapestry needle

Gauge: 22 stitches = 4 inches

So let's do this! First, then, using your 16" needle, cast on 127 stitches, place marker, and join in round. Then, knit the following set-up rows:

Set-up Rows 1, 3 & 5: k1, * p1, k1; rep from *

Gumdrop Beanie

Gumdrop Beanie

As you can see, I'm still having fun with this yarn. But this time, I've decided to employ it for something other than fingerless gloves - a hat! And not just a hat, but a mid-weight, slouchy number with a touch of color detail for extra fun. So let's get started!

The back. Simple, but pretty.

Yarn: Schoeller + Stahl Baby Micro (51% Virgin Wool, 49% Acrylic; 106 yards [97.5 meters]/25 grams); #03 Teal - two skeins (color A) & #05 Lilac - one skein (color B)

Needles: One 16" circular needle in size 3, one 16" circular needle in size 4, one set of double pointed needles, also in size 4

Notions: Tapestry needle

Gauge: 24 stitches = 4 inches 

Using color A and your size 3 circular needle, cast on 126 stitches, place marker, and join in round. Work in a * k3, p3 * ribbing until piece measures about 1.25". Then, switch to your size 4 circular needle and begin the pattern, as follows:

Rows 1 & 2: using color A, knit

Mellow Yellow Cowl

Mellow Yellow Cowl

This is a pattern I designed for my mother, who wanted something simple enough to work effortlessly while watching plot-heavy television, but also two-color with at least a bit of interest value. So while this is a simple design, it also has a certain amount of textured charm, which you can see even more clearly in the swatch I knit up with contrasting colors. It's also extremely versatile, and could be knit with larger yarns or needles, or even a saucy novelty yarn alongside a plainer one.

A swatch with two more distinct colors.
The knit/purl design breaks up the two-row stripes for
a bit of interest.

Yarn: Bristol Yarn Gallery Somerset (85% Pima Cotton, 15% Silk; 115 yards [105 meters]/50 grams); #103 Yellow (color A) - one skein & Plymouth Yarn Sweet Caroline (100% Cotton; 76 yards [69 meters]/50 grams); #32 Pale Yellow (color B) - one skein

Needles: One 24" circular needle in size 7

Notions: Tapestry needle, three stitch markers or scraps of yarn to mark stitches

My two yarns, to give you perspective
on how similar they are.

Gauge: 18 - 20 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette (my two yarns are slightly different gauges, and I'm not at all worried about it)

So let's get started! First, using color A, cast on 120 stitches, place marker, and join in round. Then, knit 6 rows in a k1, p1 ribbing. And once that's done, let's move on to the pattern, which goes as follows:

Rows 1 & 2: using color B, * k2, p2; rep from *