Thursday, March 3, 2016

Pool Party Cowl

Pool Party Cowl
Pool Party Cowl

I got the idea for this cowl from the school pool across the street; although it's painted in a sort of ugly greenish-blueish hue, the lichen that grows along the top of the building elevates the color scheme somehow, and makes the combo quite pretty. I was even going to take a picture of the building from my balcony, for proof. Then I went out there with my big lens and couldn't help but feel like a degenerate for training my camera on the elementary swimming pool, especially since I could see classes going on inside, and I chickened out. So you're just going to have to take my word for it that this cowl is pool party-tastic, and wears the same colors as the building in which my kids will soon learn the crawl stroke. Okay, almost the same colors. There's no question that the green I chose is prettier!

Yarn: Lang Yarns Seta Tweed (75% Silk, 25% Cotton; 109 yards [100 meters]/25 grams); #804.0058  - two skeins (color A), & #804.0044 - one skein (color B)

Pool Party Cowl
A closer view of the pattern.
So pool! So party!
Needles: One 16" circular needle in size US 5

Notions: Tapestry needle, stitch marker

Gauge: 20 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette

Let's make a cowl then! So, using your size US 5 circular needle and your color A yarn, cast on 110 stitches loosely, place marker, and join in round. Then we'll begin our edging pattern in one color as follows:

Edge Row 1: using color A, knit

Edge Row 2: using color A, * k1, p1; rep from *

Edge Row 3: using color A, knit

Edge Row 4: using color A, * p1, k1 *

Knit edge rows 1 - 4 three times. Then, we'll begin our main pattern, which incorporates our color B yarn. Notice that color B is woven only, never knit or purled. Also, I should mention that, while I used two skeins of my color A yarn, you could get away with just one and still have a serviceably-long cowl. :)

Rows 1 & 2: using color A, knit

Rows 3 & 4: using color B, * slip 1 with yarn in back (sl1 wyib), slip 1 with yarn in front (sl1 wyif) * 

Rows 5 & 6: using color A, knit

Rows 7 & 8: using color B, * sl1 wyif, sl1 wyib * 

Knit rows 1 - 8 until piece measures roughly 8" and you've just finished row 1 or row 5 of the pattern. Using color A, bind off loosely, tuck in ends, and block.

Pool Party Cowl

Pool Party Cowl

Pool Party Cowl

Pool Party Cowl

Pool Party Cowl

Pool Party Cowl

22 comments:

  1. I think this cowl is so pretty, and will make a very cheerful accessory to a Spring jacket. Thanks Gretchen for giving us another great pattern.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Dorothy! I like to wear cowls all year round, so I figured it was time for a lighter-weight one. Glad you like it! :)

      Delete
  2. Ooooh! Another cool lichen impression. Once again, your interpretation of nature is spot-on. Thank you for this lovely pattern — so pretty!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much! And yes, I'm obviously become obsessed with lichen. Don't worry - I'm working on it in therapy! ;)

      Delete
  3. Gretchen, I notice and admire lichen everywhere, but never attached that to my love of yarn before now. : )

    Inventive pattern, and just the thing I was looking for to use a lovely, knobbly novelty yarn I had to have. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yay! So glad to hear it!!! And I think I've gotten a little weird for lichen in the last month or so... Anyway, let me know if you have any questions! I'm always happy to help. :)

      Delete
  4. Replies
    1. Je suis heureuse! Et je n'ai pas pratiqué mon français depuis longtemps, mais je peux essayer quand même... :)

      Delete
  5. I have a ton of pink baby yarn, light weight, that I have been trying to do something with. Do you think I could double up the pink yarn and use with a white medium weight?
    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, absolutely! I think that would look great!!! Let me know if you have any other questions! :)

      Delete
  6. This is a really cool pattern! If my brain is interpreting this right, you could pretty much use any yarn for the "slip" rows, couldn't you? Or even use two different yarns, one for row 3 and one for row 4? My mind is spinning out of control with the possibilities! Am I correct that you did NOT end with the edge rows at the end? Love it! m2

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Mary! Yes, the possibilities are endless - you could also do two different weight yarns for the slip rows (I wouldn't go too crazy with that, but a subtle difference might be nice). And yes, there are only edge rows on one edge - I didn't find them necessary to prevent curling, and I preferred the look of it! :)

      Delete
  7. Hi Gretchen, This may be a dumb question, but it is my first time slipping stitches, and I'm wondering if I need to slip the yarn as if to make a purl stitch for the S1 WYIF? Thank you! Caitlin

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Caitlin!

      First off, not a dumb question. :) I've been trying to get more explicit in my posts, although I'm not always successful! And to answer your question - in general (and always on my site), you slip purlwise if nothing else is specified. This keeps the stitch oriented correctly: if slipped knitwise, it will become twisted! Let me know if you have any other questions!!!

      Delete
  8. Awesome, I'm glad I asked, because I was doing it the wrong way. Luckily I didn't get too far. Many thanks!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Am I missing something with this pattern!? How does color B get slipped if row 3 is when it's first introduced. How can you slip something that's not on the needles yet?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Selena!

      Color B doesn't get slipped in row 3; color A does, as you're working in color B. In fact, in this pattern, color B NEVER gets knit, just woven in. Let me know if you have any other questions, or if that didn't help! :)

      Delete
    2. Thank you for responding so quickly, for some reason it never alerted me that you had. I don't know why I didn't just TRY It! I can see how it wraps and how 2 rows would give the bumps, so now I am assuming that you let color A dangle while you work away and pull it up when you need it.

      Delete
    3. Hmm... maybe the email got eaten by your spam filter? And yes, it sounds like you've got it exactly right! :) Anyway, let me know if you have any other questions!!!

      Delete
    4. I still do not get this. How exactly is it woven in?

      Delete
    5. You are simply moving color B between the color A knit stitches, back to front and then front to back. So on color B rows you won't knit at all, you'll simply weave. I suggest trying it! :)

      Delete