Saturday, December 14, 2013

Ribbed Shell Cowl

Ribbed Shell Cowl
I've been in love with this yarn since the minute I saw it, which must have been a while ago considering it seems to be discontinued. Nevertheless, any similar-weight yarn with a decent drape to it should knit up in this pattern nicely. And this pattern also has a few nice features, like the fan-like drape of the corner of it, as well as the large ribs.
And another picture, this time from
the other side!

Yarn: Misti Alpaca Suri Silk (80% Baby Suri Alpaca, 20% Silk; 218 yards [200 meters]/100 grams); color #20 – one skein

Needles: Straight needles in size 6 (or a circular needle in size 6, but worked back and forth), cable needle (cn) or double-pointed needle for cabling

Notions: Tapestry needle

Gauge: 24 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette on size 6 needles

So let's get started! First, cast on 33 stitches loosely. And then we’ll begin the pattern, although we’ll need the following notation to continue:

bc (back cross): slide three stitches to cn and hold in back; knit three, knit three from cn

So let’s do this thing!

Rows 1 & 3 (right side): (k2, p1) 9 times, k6

Rows 2, 4, & 6: p6, (k1, p2) 9 times

Row 5: (k2, p1) 9 times, bc

Repeat rows 1 – 6 four times. Now we’re going to work some increases, which go as follows:

Add Row 1: (k2, pfb) 9 times, k6 (42 stitches)

Row 2: p6, (k2, p2) 9 times

Row 3: (k2, pfb twice) 8 times, k2, pfb, p1, k6 (59 stitches)

Row 4: p6, k3, p2, (k4, p2) 8 times

Row 5: (k2, p1, pfb, p2) 8 times, k2, p3, bc (67 stitches)

Row 6: p6, k3, p2, (k5, p2) 8 times

Work add rows 1 – 6 once. Now we’re moving on to the main body pattern, which goes as follows:

Main Pattern Row 1: (k2, p5) 8 times, k2, p3, k6

Row 2: p6, k1, k2tog, yo, p2, (yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, p2) 8 times

Row 3 (short row): (k2, p5) 8 times, k2, p1, w&t

Row 4 (short row): k1, p2, (yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, p2) 8 times

Row 5: (k2, p5) 8 times, k2, p3, k6

Row 6: p6, k1, k2tog, yo, p2, (yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, p2) 8 times

Row 7: (k2, p5) 8 times, k2, p3, bc

Row 8: p6, k1, k2tog, yo, p2, (yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, p2) 8 times

Knit rows 1 – 8 until piece measures 17.5” along cabled edge, and you've just finished row 2 of the pattern. Begin binding off loosely, knitting the knit stitches and purling the purl stitches, and continue to bind off until there are 23 stitches left on your left-hand needle, and there's one stitch on your right-hand needle. Quit binding off, and knit across the final 23 stitches.

Now that we've got 24 stitches left, we're going to work a straight knit stitch, while maintaining our cable. Or in pattern notation:

Rows 1, 3, & 5 (wrong side): purl

Row 2: k18, bc

Rows 4 & 6: knit

Continue in this pattern until knit section reaches roughly 6", or desired length, and you've just completed row 5 of the pattern. Bind off. Finally, seam piece along short ends, matching the knit stitches of the cast-on side with the knit stitches of the cast-off side (and, in effect, ignoring the purl stitches from the cast-on end in your seam). Tuck in ends.



13 comments:

  1. Tis looks so cute! What does w&t mean? Row 3, main pattern. Can't wait to get started!

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    1. Thanks Karen! And w&t means wrap & turn - it's how you prevent holes when you're knitting short rows. I haven't had the time to put much instructional stuff up on my site, but here's a link to an article about it:

      http://knitting.about.com/od/knittingskills/ss/Short-Row-Wrap-And-Turn.htm

      There are also plenty of videos out there if you Google the phrase. And please, let me know if you have any more questions!

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  2. Gretchen, Just found your pattern, thank you so much for sharing it, will be making a few for special friends for next Christmas. It is so lovely, will try different colors and solids and hand dyes.... Kudos to you. Anne N Stoddard

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    1. Thanks Anne! I'm glad to hear you like my pattern - I love coming up with them, so I'm happy I can share. And you're so ambitious - I don't usually get started on my Christmas knitting until way too late, and then I don't get half of it done!!!

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  3. Lovely cowl! I think I have the perfect yarn for it in my stash...which will delight my husband, if I start a new project without buying new yarn. ;-)

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    1. My husband would like that too! But I've totally convinced him to let me buy some more today anyway.... Oops!

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  4. I absolutely love this pattern and just started it with this lovely colourful yarn!! I have a question though, towards the end, when i'm binding off and leaving a total of 24 stitches and seam it with the beginning, is it normal that we have less stitches than the cast on?

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    1. Hi there!

      Glad to hear you like the pattern. :) And yes, you should have fewer stitches on the cast-off edge than the cast-on; when seaming, you'll basically just ignore the purled stitches from the cast-on edge, and seam the stockinette of the cast-off side to the knit stitches from the cast-on. Let me know if you have any other questions!

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  5. How do you do the stitch pfb, I don't see the instructions here?

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    1. Hi there! :) The pfb is the purl front and back of stitch; here's a link to a video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=555jLdgrADk

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  6. This is such a fun knit project and it’s so pretty when finished. Instead of stitching the two ends together, I’m going to make four button holes and buttons, I think it will be a little easier to put on and gives you an option of pulling it over the head or wrapping it around the neck and buttoning. I made this for a friend and plan to make one for myself. Thank you for sharing!!

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    Replies
    1. So glad to hear you liked the pattern! I'm sure your buttons will be lovely. :)

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