Sunday, June 23, 2013

Dimpled Eyelet Cowl

Dimpled Eyelet Cowl

Okay, I hate to sound like an orange-yarn-hating jerk here, but I'm SO GLAD I FINISHED KNITTING THE TWO SKEINS OF THIS STUFF I BOUGHT (since I already knit the Feather Lace Cowl and the Gathered Mesh Cowl out of the same yarn).  Pheee-eeeew.  And now that that's off my chest, let's talk about the pattern.  At heart, this thing is based on an upside-down picot eyelet, and it's knit from the top down with stitches added every other row for shape (this also helps stagger the eyelet pattern).  It's a shape that's been brewing in my head for awhile now too, so I'm glad it's finally come to fruition.  It's also got a very lovely texture!

Yarn: Cascade Yarns Sateen (100% Acrylic; 300.7 yards [275 meters]/100 grams); #24 Orange Poppy - one skein

Ze pattern, mes amis.
Needles: One 24" circular needle in size 4

Notions: two stitch markers or scraps of yarn, tapestry needle

Gauge: 24 stitches = 4 inches

Cast on 161 stitches, place marker, join in round. 

Set-up Row 1: purl 80 stitches, place second marker, purl

Set-up Row 2: knit, slipping second marker when you come to it

And now that we're finished setting this bad boy up, let's get to the main pattern, which goes as follows:

Row 1: * k2tog, (yo) twice, ssk * until you reach marker.  Then, yo, slip marker, k1, yo again, and resume pattern (* k2tog, (yo) twice, ssk *)

Row 2: knit all except for double yo's, where you will p1 in the first loop and k1 through the back of the second loop

Row 3: knit until second marker; yo, slip marker, k1, yo, knit until end

Row 4: * k1, p2, k1 * until you are 2 stitches from second marker; k2, slip marker, k3.  Then resume pattern (* k1, p2, k1 *)

Row 5: k2, * k2tog, (yo) twice, ssk * until you reach marker.  Then, yo, slip marker, k1, yo again, and resume pattern (* k2tog, (yo) twice, ssk *).  End by knitting 2.

Row 6: knit all except for double yo's, where you will p1 in the first loop and k1 through the back of the second loop

Row 7: knit until second marker; yo, slip marker, k1, yo, knit until end

Row 8: k2, * k1, p2, k1 * until you are two stitches from second marker; k2, slip marker, k3 and then resume pattern (* k1, p2, k1 *).  End by knitting 2.

Continue in pattern until piece measures 5", or desired length (I'm gonna be honest here - I ran out of yarn on this one, although I also think it turned out to be a pretty ideal size), and you've just knit either row 3 or row 7 of the pattern.  Purl one final row and then bind off loosely.


41 comments:

  1. How cute. What are the finished measurements?

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    1. Oh geez. To be honest, I didn't take them, and I don't have the finished piece any more. The best I can do, then, is estimate. And I would say that the inner circumference (so the hole your head goes through) is around 26 - 28 inches, and that the outer circumference is more like 33 - 35". Sorry I can't be more precise!

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  2. I really like this cowl & the 1 skein idea! thanks

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    1. I'm glad you like it! I like the 1 skein idea so much that I haven't knit a scarf in years; just can't bring myself to buy all that yarn!!! Of course, now that I've said that I'll probably end up making a scarf within a week or two, just to say I did....

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  3. LOVE it!! What a great pattern & it looks good on both sides :-) can't wait to start one - you are so clever, thank you!! x

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    1. No, thank you! I'm happy to hear you like the pattern!

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  4. just started this last night in a gorgeous Riviera blue...thanks so much!!!

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    1. Sounds beautiful! And please, let me know if you have any questions!

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    2. Gretchen, I bought this yarn thinking I'd make a lace scarf but I am not sure this yarn has the body for it. Is the secret using small needles? I was going to use 6's but I see your pattern is in 4's. I like this cowl but I had my heart set on a feather and fan pattern. I bought this yarn on a whim and wish I had a better feel for yarns, alas...

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    3. Also, could you explain what "k1-back" means. I checked your abbreviations but didn't see it in the list! I feel like it means "knit one in the the back of the stich" but not sure...Thanks!

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    4. Hi Jen!

      Yes, it means knit through back loop. I realized that I had been inconsistent with my notation for this recently, but of course I couldn't remember where all I had used it. Thanks for catching it!

      As far as your other question is concerned - I definitely think this yarn would look better on small needles unless you're doing a very open mesh. It might simply look sloppy on 6's. And matching the right pattern to the right yarn is hard work, even if it took me years of knitting to figure it out! I hope you find both the pattern and the yarn you're looking for :)

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    5. Thanks for such a prompt reply! This yarn is way too floppy...I regret I didn't look at the available patterns for it before purchasing it. It wasn't terribly expensive and I find that motivates me too often and then I regret. To your credit, your dimpled cowl is the prettiest thing I have seen worked in this yarn. I believe you matched the pattern to the qualities of the yarn best. It needs small needles but who has months to work on something...So the open mesh gets you where you need to go it seems reasonably quickly...I am working it in a very bright orange!

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    6. I have the same buying issues you do... and then I get home and wonder what on earth I was thinking! And I love a good bright orange! Good luck!!!

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  5. Hi! What does the second row of instruction mean when it says "slip second marker"? Do you keep it in the same place? Thanks. Jan

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    1. Hi Jan!

      Yup, it stays in the same place. This instruction is just an acknowledgement that the marker is there, and that you're moving past it in the same way you would your row marker :)

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    2. I have knit the 2 set up rows on this cowl and then rows 1-4, every time I do row 5 it goes wrong. I have checked and re-checked row4 and it works out perfectly. I have knit 2. k2tog yo twice ssk until I reach the marker but I have 4 stitches left before the marker every time I try the row . help please.

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    3. Hi there!

      Of course it's hard to diagnose your problem without seeing your knitting, but my first thought goes as follows. Are you repeating k2, k2tog, yo twice, ssk? If so, you should be beginning with a k2, and then repeating just the (k2tog, yo twice, ssk) part. Then it should work out as desired! :) Let me know if that's not the problem and I'll try again.

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    4. I am only putting the K2 at the beginning of the line of knitting , I then k2tog yarn over (twice) ssk (5 stitches) to the marker. but every time I knit the line I an left with 4 stitches instead of the 5 to repeat the pattern correctly. I have re-checked line 4 several times and it worked out perfectly. it looks right at the second marker. From cast on to the end of line 4 my knitting is right so I cant see what is wrong and after 60 years of knitting I am stumped.

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    5. Ah ha! I think I've got it. This is actually a four stitch pattern - a k2tog, two yarn overs, and then a ssk. It sounds like you're doing this instead: k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, ssk. Hopefully that helps. Let me know if you're still having problems. :)

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  6. Could you modify this pattern for a scarf. I am not a cowl girl, but love scarves. This is such a beautiful pattern and would make a knockout scarf. Thank you, Jerree

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    1. Hi Jerree!

      What yarn size are you thinking of using, and about how wide would you like it to be? I can certainly help you modify this pattern! :)

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    2. I would like to use Caron Simply Soft. Will that work with this pattern?

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    3. Hello again!

      Yup, that will totally work. You can find my suggested pattern below! And, as always when I offer pattern suggestions that I haven't actually knit: let me know if anything looks wonky, or isn't knitting up as you would expect! Sometimes I get confused by the conversion, although I do think I've done it correctly. :)

      Using size US 8 straight needles, cast on 28 stitches (for a 6” wide scarf, roughly) or 36 stitches (for a 8” scarf, roughly). Then knit the following set-up rows:

      Row 1 (wrong side): knit

      Row 2: knit

      Row 3: knit

      And once that’s done, let’s begin the main pattern, as follows:

      Row 1 (right side): k2, * k2tog, (yo) twice, ssk * until you’re 2 stitches from end; k2

      Row 2: k2, * purl all except for double yo's, where you will k1 in the first loop and p1 through the back of the second loop * until you’re 2 stitches from end; k2

      Row 3: knit

      Row 4: k2, * p1, k2, p1* until you’re two stitches from end; k2

      Row 5: k4, * k2tog, (yo) twice, ssk * until you’re 4 stitches from end; k4

      Row 6: k2, * purl all except for double yo's, where you will k1 in the first loop and p1 through the back of the second loop * until you’re 2 stitches from end; k2

      Row 7: knit

      Row 8: k2, p2, * p1, k2, p1* until you’re four stitches from end; p2, k2

      Knit rows 1 – 8 until desired length is reached, and you’re just finished row 8 of the pattern. Then knit the following edging rows:

      Row 1: knit

      Row 2: knit

      Row 3: knit

      Bind off loosely, tuck in ends, and block.

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  7. I like this pattern & would like to try it but i dont see any abbreviations list & what does SSK stand for ??

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    1. Hi Marlene!

      In general, I try to put any terminology on my glossary page, here: http://www.ballstothewallsknits.com/p/glossary-of-knitting-terms.html. :) That being said, the ssk is the slip, slip, knit, a left-leaning decrease. You can find more detailed instructions here, if you need them: http://www.twistcollective.com/collection/component/content/article/35-features/1093-decoding-decreases.

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  8. Love your patterns!Thank you for letting us use them for free.I'm retired & a Grandma so I have many opportunities to use them.Plus I love knitting & crocheting.I have a skein of yarn made from corn,yes corn.I think this might be the perfect pattern!Thank you for your creativity!

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    1. Wow! I'm not sure I've ever heard of a corn yarn before - that sounds like fun!!! And I'm happy to hear that you appreciate my patterns. It's a labor of love, for sure. :)

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  9. Hi, I loved this pattern with the light and airy look. I live in the tropics so would not have need of a cowl. But I was wondering if this could be made flat, like for an afghan. Occasionally, it gets down to about 68 degrees, anything under 70 is frigid, at least to me, :-), and it would be nice to have a light weight afghan to snuggle under and this pattern is beautiful. Thank you for sharing.

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    1. Hi Carole!

      Yes, you could totally use this stitch pattern in an afghan! Email me at ballstothewallsknits@gmail.com and I'll help you with a pattern, if you'd like. :)

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  10. I love the look of this but I think I'm missing something. In row one it looks like you take 3 stitches and with the double yo turn it into 4 stitches. I don't see where you take it back to three stitches.

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    1. Hi there! You should be turning 4 stitches into 4 stitches - both the ssk and the k2tog are decreases. :) Let me know if you have any other questions, or if that doesn't clear it up!

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  11. Hi. I love your patterns. I've encountered a problem that nobody else has mentioned. The cast on is for 161 stitches. However, the pattern is a 4-stitch repeat. What do I do with the 161st sticth in row 1 of the pattern and in subsequent pattern rows?
    Sasha

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    1. Hi Sasha!

      This pattern includes increases, which help give it shape. So, on the first row for instance, the extra stitch is in the middle, between the two yarn overs (for reference, here's the first row with the 161st stitch identified: Row 1: * k2tog, (yo) twice, ssk * until you reach marker. Then, yo, slip marker, k1(<<--- the extra stitch!), yo again, and resume pattern (* k2tog, (yo) twice, ssk *))

      Let me know if you have any other questions! :)

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    2. Thank you. Somehow I missed the instruction to k1 after "slip marker." No wonder nobody else had a problem. Mea culpa. Thanks again.

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    3. No worries, it happens to the best of us! :)

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  12. Hi, I need some help please. On Row 4, I noticed that one of the P2 stitches, I was purling over what was previously a knit stitch. By the time I got to the end of the row, it didn't jive with the instruction. Maybe I had an extra stitch, I don't remember, or missing one! So, my question, for the YO before the stitch marker, would that be a complete wrap around the needle, and then have the yarn at front, for the next K 1. Hope this makes sense.

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    1. Hi there! Since the previous row was all knit, you are definitely going to be purling in knit stitches. My guess is that you probably just miscounted somewhere (that's my classic move at least). As far as the yarn over is concerned, if you simply bring your yarn to the front of your work (without wrapping all the way around and the coming to the front again), then you will naturally get a yarn over when you bring it to the back again to work the next stitch. Hope that helps! :)

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  13. Thank you for your reply. I'll try again. It's a pretty pattern and I'm working with some dark yarn. Love your Balls to the Walls name. Very cool!

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