Thursday, March 21, 2013

Tie-Closure Lace Trellis Cowl

Tie-Closure Lace Trellis Cowl

I can't help it: I'm a sucker for a cotton yarn, even though they're heavy, and have a tendency to curl.  To combat this, I've knit another one-piece, open-work cowl which can be left unblocked and still looks pretty, especially with the I-cord ties.  And again, it's another good piece for spring, what with its rakish, rustic charm and all.  Yeah, I'm done...

Yarn: Cascade Yarns Ultra Pima (100% Pima Cotton; 220 yards [200 meters]/100 grams); #3721 Ginseng - just one skein needed.

Needles: Straight or circular needle(s) in size 6, one set double pointed needles (dpn) in size 6 (I used 5's, but hey, that's what I've got!)

Notions: Tapestry needle

Gauge: 22 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette (this will have a much looser gauge)

This cowl is knit in the Vertical Lace Trellis pattern from Barbara G. Walker's A Treasury of Knitting Patterns.  However, as a note, I've written this pattern to add stitches to the work, which will change the appearance of the trellis slightly.  You will probably notice the change when you stop increasing, just fyi.  But let's get started!

Using straight or circular needles (either way you're knitting back and forth), cast on 3 stitches.
Set-up row: purl

Row 1 (right side): k1, yo, k2tog

Rows 2 & 4: pfb, purl until you have 1 stitch left in row; end pfb

Row 3: * ssk, yo; rep from *, end k1

Repeat rows 1 - 4 until there are 39 stitches on your needle.  From now on, stop increasing, or in other words, change to:

Row 1 (right side): k1, * yo, k2tog *

Rows 2 & 4: purl

Row 3: * ssk, yo; rep from *, end k1

Then, once your piece measures roughly 18" in length, it's time to begin increasing again, but a little bit less aggressively (also, if you want your piece to fit a little more loosely around the neck, here's the place to add an inch or two).  Once again, your pattern will change, this time from a lattice look to a diagonal look, like so:

The non-increasing stitches are shown on the right;
the increasing stitches on the left
Either way, you'll be knitting in this pattern now:

Row 1 (right side): k1, yo, k2tog

Row 2: pfb, p until last stitch, pfb

Row 3: * ssk, yo; rep from *, end k1

Row 4: purl

Isn't this fun?  Continue in pattern until piece measures roughly 26" (I have 65 stitches on my needle at this point).  On your next right side row, knit the decreases in the pattern while omitting the yarn over stitches in order to gather the fabric and pretty much halve the number of stitches on your needle.  Bind off on the purl row.  Tuck in ends.  Your finished piece will be kind of weird looking, but it will get a lot better once you make the ties!

 
Now that we're done with the body of the cowl, cast on 3 stitches to your double pointed needles and work 25 inches in I-cord.  Bind off, tuck in ends.  Make another I-cord just like the first.  And now the knitting part is over!

The only thing left to do is attractively position the cowl, which I did by folding the bound-off end in half and then looping one of my ties through the two corners, and the other one through the folded middle, and then looping both ties through the corresponding positions on the other end of the cowl like so:


And now you just need to tie 'er up, and you're done!


18 comments:

  1. I LOVE this. I just bought a skein of Lorna's Lace silk beautiful yarn that I wanted something special to knit- and I do believe this is IT!! Thanks for sharing it@

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    1. I hope it turns out wonderfully! Let me know if you have any questions!

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  2. I finished it and love it! I'll get it up on ravelry, maybe tomorrow. Thanks again for a great pattern!

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  3. This is a beautiful cowl. I have a question about the directions. When you do the repeats of row 1, is it k1, yo, k2tog, k across to the last stitch, or do you repeat the (yo, k2tog) across the row? Thanks. Karen

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    1. Thanks for your question! My notation is obviously wrong, so I will fix it right away. Also, to answer your question, you knit the first stitch of the row, and then repeat the (yo, k2tog) across.

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    2. I hope your piece turns out beautifully!

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  4. Hello Gretchen, I really love this cowl, thank you for sharing it. I am little bit confused by "Rows 2 & 4: pfb, p until last stitch, pfb". It says p until last stitch, but after that you have pfb again. Do you mean I should save last 2 stitches for pfb? Really appreciate you can help me on this. Thanks. Christine

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    1. Hi Christine!

      You just need one stitch for that final pfb; I'll try to clarify the language. And let me know if you have any other questions!!!

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  5. Hello Gretchen! I am enjoying your patterns (and your sense of humour)! I bought some Ultra Pina Paints yarn (on sale of course) in colour way Iris Mix so it's variegated. I like this pattern but would like to do a regular cowl rather than the ties at the end. How would you suggest I proceed? How many stitches should I cast on and how many increases should I do? I have two skeins of this yarn so hopefully won't run out. Thanks. Lynn

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    1. Hi Lynn! It really depends on which part of the cowl appeals to you. If you like the main stitch pattern and want a normal circular cowl, I would cast on 39 and then work the pattern rows after the first set of increases until you're happy with the length. You could also work the main pattern stitches, and the following increases, and then seam them together for a gathered look. :)

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    2. Thanks for your speedy reply, Gretchen! I am not experienced enough yet to design patterns and there doesn't seem to be a lot of patterns for this yarn. Now if I can master the PFB then I'll be good! Lynn

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    3. Great, let me know if you have any other questions!!! :)

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  6. Hi! I absolutely love love love this pattern! However I only have Worsted Weight yarn. I also have size 6 16” circular needles, but only US size 8 dpns. Is there any way I can do this pattern still?

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    1. Hi there! Personally, I am not at all fussy when it comes to gauge on projects like these, so if I were you, I would definitely just make it with what I've got! The worsted weight yarn may make your lace pattern appear a bit denser, but you can probably just block it to compensate. And the reason you need the dpns is to make the i-cord ties; your larger needles would probably work, or if you don't like the look of that, you can also just use your circular needle to make the i-cords instead! :)

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    2. Thank you so much!

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    3. Thank you so much :)!!!!! One more question, for the circular needles would you recommend using the size 8 or the size 6.

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    4. You know, if you have size 8 circular needles, you could use those instead, with worsted. Your cowl will be a bit wider, but the airiness would be better preserved... :)

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