“THE DESIGN for this cowl is the result of playing with mirror images,” says Barb Brown. “Not only are the colours reversed on each side, some of the colours in the rounds are reversed as well. Wear it as a scarf, button it up for a cowl, or give it a half-twist before buttoning for a moebius look.” Barb has used two shades of Excelana 4 Ply for her cowl. This pure British wool, which comes in a palette of vintage -inspired colours, blooms beautifully after washing.
SIZE: 211/2cm (81/2in) by 117cm (46in)
YARN: Excelana 4 Ply (4ply weight; 100% wool; 159m/174yds per 50g ball)
A Powdered Egg; 2 x 50g balls
B Persian Grey; 2 x 50g balls
NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES
1 set 3.25mm (UK 10/US 3) circular needles, 40cm long
3 x 25mm buttons
2 stitch markers
TENSION
28 sts and 26 rows to 10cm over patt using
3.25mm needles
COWL
With yarn A, and using a provisional cast-on method, cast on 114 sts. Join in round, being careful not to twist sts. Place marker for beg of round, and after 57 sts to mark second side of cowl.
Knit 2 rounds.
Join yarn B.
Round 1: K1 A, rep chart A to marker, slm, K1B, rep chart B to end.
Work 25 repeats of design chart as set, using chart A on the first half of the sts, and chart B on the second half, and working the single sts of yarn A and B before beginning chart repeats.
Knit 2 rounds in yarn B.
Place first 57 sts on one needle. Place next 57 sts on a second needle. With right sides facing and yarn B, hold both pieces in left hand. Using third needle in right hand, knit together first stitch of each needle. Continue across. 57 sts.
Working back and forth, with yarn double, and same needle size, work as follows:
Row 1: Sl 1, knit to end. Continue to work in garter stitch, slipping the first stitch of every row, until there are 10 garter ridges.
Sew in any ends at this time, as the tube will be closed by the cast-off.
Cast off as follows:
Sl 1, SSK, psso. Use a standard cast-off to last 3 sts. Knit the next 2 sts tog, and continue to cast off as before to the end of the row. (The decrease give a nice square corner.) Remove the provisional cast-on yarn from other end and pick up 57 sts on one needle, and 57 sts on another. Work as for other end, using yarn A, except work buttonholes as follows:
Row 11: Sl 1, K5, cast off 4 sts, (K17, cast off 4) twice, K to end.
Row 12: Knit to cast off sts, cast on 4 sts. Repeat to end of row. Sew in any ends, and block gently, following any instructions on the ball band.
Sew buttons on buttonband to match position of buttonholes.
