Light Reel Cowl

The light reel is the first dance learned after the dancer is, more or less, familiar with their 3s and 7s (3s and 7s are the Irish dancing equivalent to knits and purls for knitters). The light reel is danced in softshoes, aka ghillies (gill-eez). The time signature is 4/4, and that is the same as the st to row ratio of the rope cables used in this piece. The chart is worked 7 times around in honor of the 7s that move the dancer from side to side on the stage or studio floor.


The Light Reel Cowl is knit in the round.

There are two pdfs included with your purchase. The first includes both written line by line instructions and a chart so the knitter can use whichever suits them best. The second pdf is a combination file that is both low vision and screen reader accessible. This file includes only the fully written line by line instructions presented in 24 point san serif font (Verdana) all-black text that has been completely left justified. There are no italics in this file; all emphasis has been done with bold type. Screen reader accessibilty has been tested using VoiceOver ie the included voice accessibility tool on  iPhones and iPads.

Measurements: 8 inches/20cm high & 25 ½ inches/ 65cm circumference

Gauge: In Moss* stitch, 28 sts & 32 rnds = 4 inches/10cm
*Moss stitch over an even number of sts in the rnd:
Rnd 1: (K1, P1); rep to end of section
Rnd 2: (K1, P1); rep to end of section
Rnd 3: (P1, K1); rep to end of section
Rnd 4: (P1, K1); rep to end of section

Materials:

• 240 yds/219 m of worsted weight yarn 

Look for a smooth yarn in a solid color to show the cables and texture at their best. This pattern works well in animal fibers and blends of them, and works equally nicely in 100% acrylic. The sample pictured was knit using Knit Picks Wool of the Andes (100% wool; 110 yds/101 m = 50g) in ”Currant”

• size 4.5mm/US 7 24 inch/60cm circular needle, or size needed to obtain gauge
• st marker(s) (1 is needed for the beginning of the round; 6 more if you want to mark each chart repeat)
• cable needle
• tapestry needle

Skills/Techniques Used: 

• knitting in the round
• cable knitting

Won't you dance with me?