Saturday, February 15, 2014

Stripe and Spot Cowl

Stripe and Spot Cowl

At some point, I think I made an unconscious decision to knit something for everyone who works at my kids' preschool. And this particular piece is intended for a certain Miss Mary, who requested something a little bit warm and a little bit fun. So here's what I came up with - a nice weight for our frosty spring!

Yarn: Patons Classic Wool Worsted (100% Pure New Wool; 210 yards [192 meters]/100 grams); #202 Aran – one skein (color A), Cascade 220 Superwash (100% Superwash Wool; 220 yards [200 meters]/100 grams) #1942 Mint - one skein (color B), and #1960 Pacific - one skein (color C)

Needles: One 24" circular needle in size 7

Notions: Tapestry needle, 3 stitch markers

Gauge: 20 stitches = 4 inches

Using color A, cast on 120 stitches, place marker, and join in round. Knit one row in a * k1, p1 * pattern, placing one extra marker after working 57 stitches, and another extra marker 5 stitches away from that (so the first marker should be 57 stitches from the beginning of the round and the second marker should be 58 stitches from the end of the round). On your next row, use a * p1, k1 * pattern, slipping extra markers when you reach them, and then knit one more row like your first, also slipping the markers (so you'll have three rows of seed stitch). Then we'll switch to our pattern, which is a total bastardization of Stripe and Spot Pattern from page 56 of Barbara G. Walker's A Treasury of Knitting Patterns.

Row 1: using color A, knit until first marker, slip marker, k1, yo, knit until you're one stitch before second marker, yo, k1, slip marker, knit until end of round

Row 2: using color A, k1, * k2tog, (yo) twice, ssk; rep from * until you reach first marker, slip marker, knit until you reach next marker, and slip marker; then * k2tog, (yo) twice, ssk * until you're two stitches before end of round; end k2

Row 3: using color A, k1, * k1, (k1, p1) in double yo, k1 * until you reach first marker; slip marker, k1, yo, knit until you're one stitch before second marker, yo, k1, slip marker, and then * k1, (k1, p1) into double yo, k1 * until you're two stitches before end of round; end k2

Row 4: using color A, knit, slipping extra markers when you come to them

Row 5: using color B, knit, slipping extra markers when you come to them

Row 6: using color B, purl, slipping extra markers when you come to them

Row 7: using color C, * slip 1 with yarn in back, k1 * until end of round, slipping extra markers when you come to them

Row 8: using color C, * slip 1 with yarn in back, p1 * until end of round, slipping extra markers when you come to them

Row 9: using color B, knit, slipping extra markers when you come to them

Row 10: using color B, purl, slipping extra markers when you come to them

Rows 11 & 12: using color A, * k1, slip 1 with yarn in back * until end of round, slipping extra markers when you come to them

Knit rows 1 - 12 five times through, and then knit rows 1 - 4 once more (and yes, you can clip the tails for your accent colors and remove your extra stitch markers now). Complete three rows in seed stitch, as you did for the first three rows of the piece. Bind off loosely in pattern, and tuck in ends.







19 comments:

  1. I love this cowl! Thank you so much for the pattern!

    Linda in VA

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    1. I'm glad to hear you like it! And please, if you knit it, let me know if you need any help!

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  2. Love this thank and you for sharing! I think after reading the pattern over and over I feel like I just might be able to tackle this. I'm a beginner but ready for a challenge :)

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    1. The biggest hint I can offer is that it's virtually impossible to make the yarn behind your slipped stitches too loose (and much, much easier to pull things too tight, which will bunch up your piece). Luckily, you're only slipping one stitch at a time with this pattern, which makes it a good choice if you don't have much experience with the technique. And also, if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask!

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  3. Can this be made without the slipped stitches for a solid pattern? (no holes in the white section) Would I change rows 1,2,3 ? Any suggestions on what pattern to substitute? and would i need to adjust number of stitches?..lol As you can guess i am new to knitting.. love the stripe..I like it as is..but my daughter doesn't want the holes in it...help!

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    1. Hi there!

      The slipped stitches don't create the holes in the pattern - they create the color work (the holes are double eyelets). However, you could easily omit the eyelets and replace them with a plain stockinette, if you wanted. This particular pattern also has shaping - it gets bigger as you knit away from the neck. Is this a feature you'd like to keep? If not, and if you'd rather just knit a tube with stripes (for lack of a more appealing way to phrase it), the pattern will definitely simplify. Let me know the gauge of the yarn you're working with, the size of the cowl you'd like, and whether you'd like to keep or get rid of the shaping and I'll help you adapt the pattern. :)

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    2. OMG..Bless you..I just want to let you know how very special you are! Just in case nobody has told you lately!! And where do you find the time..3 boys..and you offer complete strangers your precious time..yikes! Thank you! I am using 5 (bulky), no shaping, she wants it more like a scarf (infinity?). She is only 5' 2" so I was going to increase to maybe 140sts? but with bulky im totally lost! and I was planing on only 3 stripes..Thank You, Thank You, Thank You.. Oh and i have been using my stashes for boot toppers(cuffs)

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    3. Well, my three-year-old just told me I was mean for trying to feed him lunch, so I appreciate the positive feedback! And you can find the revised pattern and notes below. :)

      So first let’s talk about length! Since you’re using a bulky yarn, you’ll probably be getting about 12 to 15 stitches per inch on size US 9 to US 11 needles. Therefore, you’ll want to calculate how many stitches you need in order to get it the length you want – if you cast on 140, as you suggested, your piece will probably be somewhere between 37 and 46 inches long. Anyway, as long as you have an even number of stitches, you should be good. And then you’ll work like so:

      Cast on desired number of stitches in your color A yarn, place marker, and join in round. Then knit the following edging rows:

      Edging Row 1: using color A, * k1, p1; rep from *

      Edging Row 2: using color A, * p1, k1 *

      Edging Row 3: using color A,* k1, p1 *

      Knit edging rows 1 – 3 and then it’s time to begin the main pattern, as follows:

      Rows 1 - 4: using color A, knit

      Rows 5 & 6: using color B, knit

      Row 7: using color C, * slip 1 with yarn in back, k1 *

      Row 8: using color C, * slip 1 with yarn in back, p1 *

      Row 9: using color B, knit

      Row 10: using color B, purl

      Rows 11 & 12: using color A, * k1, slip 1 with yarn in back *

      Knit rows 1 – 12 three times, and then knit rows 1 – 4 again. Then finish by knitting your edging rows again, bind off in pattern, and tuck in ends.

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  4. I am not understandiing row 7. It looks like a cross stitch. could you further explain? clerkathome@q.com
    I would love to make this.

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    1. Hi Rose!

      This row just uses a basic slipped stitch. Here is a youtube video I found that demonstrates it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sjB5Bdxn2M :)

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  5. A tutorial would be nice
    clerkathome@q.com

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  6. I watched you tube and it isn't showing how you get the stretched stitches inside the cowl. I think something is left out of instructions. I need a tutorial.

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    1. Hi Rose! I promise you, if you simply slip the stitches as is show in the youtube video you will get this result. :) And I would love to help you with a tutorial, but I am in the middle of an international move right now and I won't have the time until the new year! If you're anxious, I suggest trying the directions as written. I have seen completed projects for this cowl, so I'm confident it's possible with the instructions provided! :)

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  7. HI Gretchen! Thanks for all of your great patterns....just a quick question. This looks like a great stash buster. Do you have an estimate concerning the yardage actually used of colors B & C?

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    1. Oh man, that's a good question... I would say roughly 20 yards for color B and 10 for color C? Probably less than that, but that's my best guess!

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  8. row 2.... *knit 2 together, y o twice, slip slip knit* row 3.... *knit 1, knit/purl in yo, knit 1* These do not add up, there is 1 knit stitch left before you can knit/purl into double y o

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  9. Hi there! The knit two together turns two stitches into one so this should all line up.... But let me know if you're still having trouble! :)

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  10. I love this pattern. I'm glad to see it again. I remember making a hat with the pattern. Rose

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