Zignificant Cowl

This fun stranded colorwork cowl is designed to show off changing contrast colors. A gender-neutral piece, the cowl is warm without being heavy thanks to the sport-weight or light DK-weight yarn.

With only two colors used per row, it’s easy enough for knitters who are new to stranded colorwork, while more advanced knitters can relax and enjoy the shifting colors. The order of the contrast colors in the body can be changed - use what you have and make it your own!

Basic Skills Needed / Notes:

Cast on, join and work in the round, knit, purl, work with two colors of yarn at a time in stranded knitting, change needles between rounds, knit decreases, and sew in ends. These and all other techniques used are explained in the pattern or through online tutorials.

• The entire pattern is written out. A chart is provided for the zig-zag section.
• Estimated level: Adventurous Beginner - Intermediate.
• Knit in the round from the bottom up, one color stays the same throughout the body’s zigzag rows, which reduces the number of ends to weave in while finishing. The larger needles are used for the bottom ribbing to provide a slightly looser fit at the lower neck. The top ribbing uses smaller needles to keep that ribbing snug.

Finished Dimensions:

28.75” circumference × 9.25” height, after blocking.

Yarn:

Sample shown in Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Sport (100% Highland Wool; 137 yds (125 m)/50 g; ball band gauge 24 sts/4 in (10cm) on US 3 - 5 (3.25 - 3.75 mm).

Colors shown: MC Midnight Heather 25661, C1 Baltic Heather 25655, C2 Wonderland Heather 25287, C3 Haze Heather 25657, 1 skein each. Note: Cowl uses full skeins of MC and CC1, so a second skein of each is advisable.

For more yarn suggestions, see the YarnSub.com KP Wool of the Andes page.

Yarn Amount Estimates

• Main color and Contrast Color 1: approx 145 - 150 yds (133 - 137 m)
• Contrast Colors 2 and 3: each approx each approx 50 yds (46 m)

Needles and Notions:

• Preferred needle(s) for knitting in the round: US size 4 (3.5mm), or size to obtain gauge; and US size 3 (3.25mm), or one size smaller than size used to obtain gauge.
• Stitch marker.
• Tapestry needle.

Gauge:

In Stranded Stockinette Stitch, knit in the round with larger (US size 4 (3.5mm)) needle(s): 25 stitches and 30 rounds = 4” / 10 cm, after blocking. Please take time to save time and check your gauge.

Other Notes:

This pattern has been test knit and professionally tech edited. However, humans were involved, and an error still might have slipped by us. If you should find one, please let me know.