cowl • The Knitting Vortex

Honeydana

Nov 112024

Deeply textured honeycomb cables decorate this seamless double layer bandana cowl. Begun flat and then joined in the round, the shawl structure shows off the beautiful stitch pattern, with all the convenience of an easy to wear cowl. Construction: Honeydana is knit seamlessly from a topdown provisional CO and begins like a triangle shawl, worked with elegant tubular edges. Once a comfortable neckline circumference is reached, stitches are joined in the round and worked like a cowl, with a honeycomb cable pattern on the body and continued shaping to create the bandana front. The lower edge is finished with a sculptural ruffle. Pull the neckpiece over your head, tuck in the top, and enjoy your comfortable, stay-in-place bandana cowl. Techniques & Skills Used: provisional CO, cable CO, knit/purl, increasing, cables, working in the round. This pattern contains fully written instructions, with a chart also provided for the cable repeat. Size: 32” circumference at bottom edge and 16” tall. Yarn: Green Mountain Spinnery Mewesic (100% fine American wool; 180 yards/165m/58g), sample shown in Purple Rain 8951; 2 skeins, or . . .

Crioh Cowl

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Jul 182022

Crioh Cowl was the October 2018 featured design in the PostStitch KnitStitch subscription club, and is now available as an indie digital pdf. One skein of luscious alpaca makes a reversible cowl featuring softly textured stitches. The three sets of buttons attached back-to-back allow you to style this versatile neckwear with either side facing out, and partly or fully buttoned. Techniques & Skills Used: Twisted German CO, Twisted Purlwise CO, knit/purl; instructions for this pattern are written only. Size: 10” tall and 18” circumference. Yarn: Oh! from HiKoo by Skacel (100% super baby alpaca; 191 yards/175m/100g); 1 skein shown in Baby, or 185 yards of alpaca bulky weight yarn. The sample as written used approximately 185 yards. Other Materials: US 10 (6mm) 24” circular needle, or size to match gauge; Markers (2); Yarn needle; six ¾” buttons; matching sewing thread and needle. Gauge: 18 st and 20 rows/4” in pattern. Gauge is not critical for this project, however a different gauge may result in a smaller or larger finished cowl, and different yardage requirements. See it on Ravelry or on Payhip, . . .

Yoli Cowl

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Dec 182014

A comfy infinity scarf with fun construction, the Yoli Cowl has garter stitch edges framing lace mesh worked with short rows. The edges grow wider and narrower, while the short rows add ease and dimension, allowing the cowl to scrunch and tuck cozily around your neck and head. Worked sideways from a provisional cast on and grafted, this extra long reversible cowl can be worn right off the needles, either as a long scarf or double-wrapped around your neck or head to keep out the chill. Construction: The Yoli Cowl is knit sideways beginning with a provisional CO which is grafted to the final row. Stitch gauge determines the height of the cowl, while row gauge determines its length; to adjust the length, work fewer or more repeats of the mesh. Techniques & Skills Used: provisional CO, knit, short rows, easy lace, grafting; links are included to my short rows and grafting tutorials. Size: 46” circumference and 12” height. Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Merino Worsted (100% merino wool, 210 yards/ 192m/100g), shown in Zinc; 3 skeins, or 525 yards of . . .

Tucked in Snug

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Feb 192014

A cozy sweater with ample tucked funnelneck, Tucked in Snug is knit in one piece from the bottom up with ergonomic shoulders. Gentle waist shaping and short dolman sleeves flatter the body, while grafted shoulders and an integrated slouchy funnelneck ensure uncomplicated seamless knitting. Short rows shape the sleeves and shoulder comfortably, eliminating excess fabric at the underarm. The substantial cowl frames the face with a series of narrowing tucks at the front neck, gently pulling down the front edge below the chin. Wear it alone in the transitional seasons, and as a Snug extra layer in the depths of winter. Techniques & Skills Used: Cable CO, knit/purl, short rows, increasing/decreasing, picking up stitches, tucks. This pattern includes written instructions, links to my short rows and grafting tutorials, as well as a photo and video tutorial for the tuck stitch. Size: 30 (32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60)” bust; shown in fourth size worn with 2” positive ease. Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Worsted (100% wool; 210 yards/192m/100g) shown in Coco; 3 . . .

Roam Cowl

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Oct 272013

Roam around in this luxury moebius cowl, featuring the reversible Roman Stripe lace stitch pattern. Using a moebius cast on, this infinity scarf is knit outward from the cast on edge, which becomes the middle of the cowl, until the outside edge is reached and bound off. Long rounds are balanced by a simple 7 row repeat that looks beautiful from both sides and lends itself to the infinity structure. Techniques & Skills Used: moebius CO, knit/purl, working in the round, easy lace; the lace stitch pattern is both written and charted. Size: 46” circumference and 10” tall. Yarn: String Theory Hand Dyed Yarn & Fiber Caper Sock (80% Merino, 10% Cashmere, 10% Nylon; 400 yards/366m/113g), sample shown in Oban; 1 skein, or 400 yards of fingering weight yarn. Other Materials: US 6 (4mm) 40” circular needle or size to match gauge; Stitch marker (1); Yarn needle. Gauge: 14 st and 35 rows/4” in Roman Stripe stitch pattern. Gauge is not critical for this project, however a different gauge may result in a smaller or larger finished cowl, and different . . .

Tartania Cowl

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Oct 022013

Hail, Tartania! Who isn’t mad for plaid? This tartan cowl uses an easy non-stranded method to produce a graphic plaid. The horizontal colors are knit as stripes using one color at a time per row in a wide rib, then the vertical stripes are added at the end with a crochet hook in the purl columns; no crochet skills are needed – it’s as simple as picking up dropped stitches. Worked in the round in your choice of three colors, the possibilities are endless for this colorful and stylish accessory. The Tartania Cowl is part of Hail, Tartania! an ebook collection which also includes a matching hat and fingerless mitts. Techniques & Skills Used: cable CO, knit/purl, knitting in the round; this pattern includes written instructions, as well as a chart and table for the plaid; a video tutorial is provided for the non-stranded plaid technique. Size: 27” circumference and 10” height. Yarn: Malabrigo Merino Worsted (100% Merino; 210 yards/192m/100g); 1 skein each MC, CC1, and CC2. Shown in MC Hollyhock, CC1 Cadmium and CC2 . . .

Zaget

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Mar 112013

Zig it … Zag it. Handpainted superbulky yarn and a simple, reversing diagonal lace pattern make a neckwarmer that curves gently around the face and closes neatly with a satin ribbon lacing or buttons. Techniques & Skills Used: cable CO, knit/purl, easy lace. Size: 10” height and 32” length, measured flat Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Rasta (100% merino wool; 90 yards/82m/150g); 1 skein, shown in Piedras. As written, this cowl uses almost every bit of one skein. Other Materials: US 17 (12mm) needle or size to match gauge; Yarn needle or K/6.5 mm crochet hook for weaving in ends; Matching .75” wide satin ribbon (2 yards); 1” buttons (3); Matching sewing thread and needle. Gauge: 6 st and 9 rows/4” in stockinette st, after blocking. Gauge is not critical for this project, however a different gauge may result in a smaller or larger finished neckwarmer, and different yardage requirements. See it on Ravelry or on Payhip, to read more or purchase the pattern.

Melony, A Very Chic Cowl

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Sep 262012

Part of the Very Chic series, Melony is a sideways-knit, cabled cowl which is made extra soft and scrunchy by dropping stitches between wide ribs. It is worked flat, with a provisional cast on which is grafted to the final row, to create a seamless circle. Fitted to hug the neck but stretchy enough to be comfortable, Melony is a chic little neckwarmer designed to keep out the chill. Techniques & Skills Used: provisional CO, knit/purl, cables, dropped stitches, grafting or optional 3-needle bind off; this pattern includes both a chart and written instructions, and a photo tutorial for grafting the cables. Size: 6” tall and 18” circumference, after gentle blocking. Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Worsted (100% Merino Wool; 210 yards/100g); 1 skein, shown in Polar Morn. Other Materials: US 9 (5.5mm) 16” circular needle; Scrap yarn for provisional CO; Stitch markers (3); Cable needle; Yarn needle; Crochet hook (any size) to help with raveling; 5 non-slippery US 9 dpns or straight needles, preferably two different colors, for grafting. Gauge: 16 st and 20 rows/4” in . . .

Laura

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Feb 242012

A close fitting cowl with alternating cables, Laura is worked seamlessly in ribbing from bottom edge to top. The clean, sculptural lines of the ribbed cables complement every style, and careful finishing makes the cowl completely reversible. Techniques & Skills Used: cable CO, knit/purl, cables, knitting in the round; the cable is both written and charted. Size: 18” circumference and 8” height. Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Merino Worsted (100% merino wool, 210 yards/100g); 1 skein, shown in Uva. The sample as written used 130 yards. Other Materials: US 9 (5.5mm) 16” circular needle, or size to match gauge; Cable needle; Stitch markers (8, one different color); Yarn needle. Gauge: 21 st and 28 rows/4” in unstretched K1P1 Rib, after blocking. See it on Ravelry or on Payhip, to read more or purchase the pattern.

Ring of Velvet – FO Friday

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Jan 062012

The Northeast has been experiencing a wave of freezing temperatures this week, and given my usual aversion to hats, I thought that a hood-esque item would be just the thing. I had picked up some Loops & Threads Cozy Wool at the big box – I freely admit that the almost irridescent purple is what drew me in – and decided that a slightly wider Ring of Sapphire, with ribbed edging to pull it in a bit, would be just the thing. The Cozy Wool is super soft, really nice to work with, and very comfortable to wear; and as a 50/50 blend has a nice wool content AND a nice price. And my head is warm. I used three skeins; two for the seed stitch, and one for the rib.

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