Another Feather & Fan Cowl (free knitting pattern)

By Grace Gooding (goodnessgracious on Ravelry, goodnessgraciouswv on Etsy)

http://goodnessgraciouswv.wordpress.com

 

 

I knitted this cowl (turtleneck thing) with about 140 yards of 2-ply handspun (close to fingering weight) Optim yarn.  Optim is mechanically stretched merino wool that has silklike properties and is machine washable.  What I used in spinning were several samples from Chameleon Colorworks, in pistachio, polar, and Atlantis colorways (I traded other goodies for other people’s samples).  I am very lazy about lace—this has a short pattern repeat and there are only 4 rows for the pattern—only one of them is anything “special” and lacey that requires counting.  It was helpful for me to place markers every 6 stitches.

 

Yarn:  140 yards handspun (about fingering/sock weight) Optim yarn

Needle:  16 inch #3 circular

 

Cast on (I used 136 stitches, it has to be big enough to go around your head and be a multiple of 18), placing a marker every 6 stitches.  Join into circle, being careful not to twist.  Place a (special) marker at the beginning of your round.

 

Round 1:  knit all stitches

Round 2 :  knit all stitches

Round 3:  *[k2tog] 3 times, [yo, k1] 6 times, [k2tog] 3 times* {repeat 8 times per round, if you used 136 stitches}

Round 4:  purl all stitches

 

Repeat rounds 1-4 until you are ALMOST out of yarn or cowl is the size you want and then cast-off.  I blocked mine out LONGER, because I thought it was a little “fatter” than necessary—I have a small head.  You could use one or two fewer repeats and make it longer and block it wider.