FIRST: HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
Starting this year, I’ll be doing regular direct postings on the naturallycaron.com blog. I’ll be posting patterns and/or techniques – I might even try my hand at uploading a technique video. I’ll be blogging to share with you new stitch and design ideas, post super-easy patterns, talk about what’s happening at Caron, review events and activities related to knitting and crochet – and inviting you to join me. The unofficial name of this new blog is “What If?” What if I changed the yarn and color? What if I changed needle size? What if I added beads? What if I combined knit and crochet? Call it “Options” if you like, but it’s “What if…?” that sticks for me.
First way to wear
COWLS, ETERNITY SCARVES, SNOODS AND WIMPLES
Sounds like a whole new language – but, ya’ gotta get used to it. I’ve loved cowls for years and am SO glad they’re “officially” back even when they’re called something else. While cowls have been around for a few seasons now, they are taking on a whole new dimension for 2010, so be prepared. Cowls flatter the face, dress up an otherwise plain sweater or top, can be made to fit anyone, are great stash-busters and great new-yarn testers. You can make them loose or tight, thick or thin or wide or narrow – and gauge isn’t that important.
I wanted a long cowl that could be worn just put over the head but also be wrapped twice around the neck. I wanted one that could be folded or twisted, plain or pinned. I call this the “Deep River Cowl” (aka Cowl A in the pattern) because of the color mix: Spruce, Peacock and Black. (All 3 cowls are knit holding 3 strands of yarn together.) (You can find the pattern for all 3 cowls at the end of this posting.) I used a 24” long size 17 circular needle which gave me a cowl that is 35” in circumference.
Here are a few of the wearing options I came up with.
Worn full length, crossed and pinned
Worn doubled
Worn as hood
Worn with pin - version 2
Worn with pin, version 1
Worn as shoulder "cowl"
Winter Spice Cowl - folded
Winter Spice Cowl worn casually
And I also wanted a more traditional-length cowl, which is 24” in circumference. I used a size 15 needle, but cast on just 58 stitches for the Signs of Spring cowl. This is about the minimum number of stitches to use on a 24” long circular.
Signs of Spring Cowl worn folded
One of the other “what if’s” for this project is what if I changed around all the colors? I’d get three totally different looks, of course. I also found that it’s important to keep the mixes to colors that have similar “values” or color depths – unless you wanted stark contrast, of course. But perhaps that will be your signature style!
TRIO OF COWLS – aka INFINITY SCARVES
designed by Cari Clement
SIZES: One size
KNITTED MEASUREMENTS:
Cowl A, Deep River: approx 35” circumference
Cowl B, Winter Spice: approx 31” circumference
Cowl C, Signs of Spring: approx 25” circumference
YARN
Caron International’s Naturally Caron “Country”
(75% Microdenier Acrylic/25% Merino Wool)
Cowl A: 3 oz each: Color #0013 Spruce, #0021 Peacock, #0024 Black
Cowl B: 3 oz each: Color #0019 Vicuna, #0023 Chocolate Truffle, #0016 Charcoal
Cowl C: 2 oz each: Color #0006 Berry Frappe, #0005 Ocean Spray, #0008 Silver Service
NEEDLES
Cowl A: One 24” long circular needle size US 17 (12.75 mm), or size to obtain gauge
Cowls B: One 24” long circular needle size US 15 (10 mm)
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS
Tapestry needle (tn)
Stitch marker
GAUGE: Cowl A: with 3 str yarn held tog, in Pat St, 8 sts and 17 rows = 4″/10 cm; Cowl B: with 3 str held tog, in St St, 9 sts and 19 rows = 4”/10 cm. Gauge is not important for this project.
Pat St:
Rounds 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13-17: knit
Rounds 2, 4, 8, 10, 12: purl
Round 18 (folding round): purl
Rounds 19-23, 25, 27, 29, 30, 31, 33, 35: knit
Rounds 24, 26, 28, 32, 34: purl
Bind off loosely around.
COWL A:
With larger needles and 1 str of each color held tog, cast on 70 sts. Place marker. Join into circle, taking care not to twist stitches. Work Pat St.
COWL B:
With smaller needles and 1 str of each color held tog, cast on 70 sts. Work as for Cowl A.
COWL C:
With smaller needles and 1 str of each color held tog, cast on 58 sts. Work as for Cowl A.
FINISHING:
Catch ends, weave in – and wear!
