Knitting

Quick and Easy Cowl

Winter isn’t over yet!  Our weather hasn’t been too bad this year but who knows what the next two months will bring.  I like winter, not for the cold but for the lovely, squishy and warm knits that it lets us work up.

Cowl-in-Garter-Stitch-Repaired

I have made many cowls or short infinity scarfs using this very easy garter stitch pattern that came about by casting on and starting to knit.  Knit on big needles and using the popular chunky yarns, it is an inexpensive and quick knit that lets you be cozy and warm when the weather is cold.  This is a great quick gift for those knitworthy friends and family members.

Cowl-in-Garter-Stitch-Cropped

Cowl or Infinity Scarf:

Tools: 12 to 15mm single point pair of needles or a circular needle of the same diameter.  The needle size is not crucial but will affect the depth of the garter stitch.  Use what you have; if the largest that you have is 6mm, work the cowl in dropped garter stitch with one yarn over wrap to make the stitch size close to what a larger needle produces.  There are great videos online that show how to make this easy stitch.

Materials: 90m chunky yarn or use two ends of worsted weight in the same or contrasting colours to make your own chunky weight.  I have mixed a textured and smooth yarn in the same colour or close to make a fabulous look.  Use up those this is too beautiful to resist sequin, loopy or what have you yarns that are hiding in your stash. Consult your great imagination and have fun!

Cast on 22 stitches with 12mm needles or 18 stitches with 15mm needles.

Knitting all rows, work 36 ridges (72 rows) with the 12mm needles and 30 ridges (60 rows) with the 15mm needles.

Join with cast off by picking up a loop at each live stitch (as you work the last row) from your cast on and three needle bind off with your live stitches.  If you don’t want to do this, cast off and neatly sew the two ends together to form a tube.  Lightly Block with steam to stretch your new lovely cowl out slightly and to soften the yarn a little.

If you want a longer cowl and, don’t forget you will need more yarn, keep knitting until you get to the length that you like when wrapped around your neck then finish there.

Easy, right?  Now you can go out and face winter in fashion and stay warm at the same time.