The Caron Notebook

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!