Follow The Leader Cowl

I designed the Follow the Leader Cowl to teach Fusion Knitting. Practice each new skill over a few rounds before learning a new one, learn to read your knitting, and quickly identify mistakes by checking that your contrast colour design follows the main colour design.

With Fusion Knitting, you alternate between your two colours on each round of the project to create a motif that is the same on each side of the fabric. The main colour yarn is worked first and leads all cable movements. The contrast colour must follow the main colour’s lead. 

Knit the cowl from any two yarns of similar weight. Smooth yarns with a good twist will make your cables pop. Solid/tonal colours are recommended.

The pattern includes instructions for making the DK or Worsted weight cowl. The DK weight cowl is longer and can be worn wrapped twice around your neck. The Worsted weight version just slips on! You can also just the circumference.

MATERIALS

DK Weight Version

Yarn: Symfonie Hand Dyed Yarns Viva 240 yd/ 100g (220 m/ 3.5 oz), 100% Superwash Merino; Wedding Rose (MC), Pink Guava (CC); 1 skein each

Needles: 3.75 mm/ US #5

Gauge: 23 sts and 48 rounds to 4 in/10 cm in purlwise garter worked flat

Finished Size: 6 in/ 15 cm height; 43 in/ 109 cm circumference; adjustable.

Notions: cable needle, tapestry needle, 8 repeat markers, 1 end of the round marker.

Yarn Used: 200 yd/ 183 m of each colour.

Worsted Weight Version

Yarn: Symfonie Hand Dyed Yarns Bella 180 yd/ 100g (165 m/ 3.5 oz), 100% Superwash Merino; Spicy Mustard (MC), Mirror (CC); 1 skein each

Needles: 4.5 mm/ US #7 circular needles 20 in/ 50 cm

Gauge: 19 sts and 44 rounds to 4 in/10 cm in purlwise garter worked flat

Finished Size: 6.75 in/ 17 cm height; 22 in/ 56 cm circumference; adjustable.

Notions: cable needle, tapestry needle, 3 repeat markers, 1 end of the round marker.

Yarn Used: 110 yd/ 100 m of each colour.

Resources: Fusion Knitting Resources

Photography: Julie Crawford

Tech editor: Joanna Fromstein

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