I'm Still Stranding

Yarn: Fingering or light fingering weight in two colors, approximately 425 yds./389 m of main color and

240 yds./219.5 m of contrast color

Shown in Marianated Yarns Practicality 75/25 (75% superwash merino/25% nylon; 463 yds./423 m per 3.5 oz./100 g skein) in Indigo Bunting [MC] and Geektastic Fibers Superhero Sock (75% superwash merino/25% nylon; 437 yds./400 m per 3.5 oz./100 g skein) in Dolly [CC]; sample used 394 yds./360 m of MC and 219 yds./200 m of CC

Needles: US 4 (3.5 mm), two 16 in./40 cm circular needles

Note: You will use the second set of needles only for grafting the ends of the tube.

Gauge: 30 stitches & 31 rounds = 4 in./10 cm in stranded colorwork in the round, after blocking

Note: Gauge is not critical in this pattern, but even slight difference in gauge can impact the amount of yarn used. If working to a different gauge, be sure you have enough yarn to complete your project.

Do you have a healthy sock yarn stash but need a change from knitting socks? Are you a beginner at stranded colorwork who wants a project to practice your technique and improve your two-color tension? Or do you just want a fun way to show off two colors of yarn that doesn’t involve hiding your FO in your shoes? If any of these sounds like you, then I’m Still Stranding will be right up your alley.

Using a straightforward geometric motif that requires no long floats and worked entirely in the round, this cowl packs a punch and makes a strong impression without too much effort on your part. Just find two skeins of yarn that have enough contrast for your taste and get going. Using a self-striping yarn for the contrast color makes it look like you’ve taken on a much more complicated design and doesn’t add any extra ends to weave in. A half twist and a grafted join creates a continuous tube that sits perfectly on your shoulders.

To knit this pattern, you need to know how to:

• knit in the round using two colors,
• read and work from a colorwork chart,
• do a provisional cast on, and
• graft live stitches.

In addition to your yarn, you will need two sets of 16 in./40 cm circular needles, one stitch marker, a yarn needle, and waste yarn to complete this pattern.

This pattern has been professionally tech edited.