I don’t know what it is like where you live but here in Alberta where we are normally starting to think about fall, it is hot, hot, hot! We have had a record heat wave this summer with little or no rain and none in sight. I am not complaining, only commenting on the unseasonal weather. Sorry, that’s what Canadians do isn’t it, comment on the weather in every conversation?
Even though it is hot, I always find time to knit or crochet and I have made a neck warmer or cowl to match the cable hat of two weeks ago. I like the look of a matching set but mostly I wanted to use up the last bit of the self striping yarn that I had. I still have a bit left so maybe some mittens will be forthcoming or maybe not. Maybe I will liberate myself and throw that last bit of perfectly good yarn away and move on to something new!
I am still finishing the UFO pile with only, I think, four or five left. My problem is that I keep starting new things so that resolution to finish it all never gets fulfilled. I am sticking to working only from my stash though so one resolution is still working for me. I am going on a yarn shop day in a couple of weeks so that will be the ultimate test of my will power. I hear that Vegas is taking bets at 10 to 1.
Anyhow, I will keep plugging along and here, without further rambling is my neck warmer aka cowl pattern. It is close to the neck to keep you warm and buttons to keep your hair tidy.
Cable Neck Warmer
This neck warmer is designed to match my Cable Hat and use up the remainder of the skein of self striping chunky yarn that I used for the hat band. It can easily be made larger by increasing the number of cable sections and/or knitting more rows. It can also be knit in the round if you prefer. I made mine to button as I hate to pull anything over my head except a hat when I am on the way out the door. I also like my cowls or neck warmers to be close to my neck but easily removed when indoors, think overheated shopping malls. I also used a larger needle than I used on the matching hat to give a little more drape to the fabric.
Materials: Chunky yarn, 40m or 44 yds for the ribbing and 80m or 88 yds for the body. I used Sirdar Crofter Chunky self striping for the band and Bernat Softee Chunky for the crown because that is what I had in my stash.
Tools: 6.5mm or US 10.5 needles, stitch markers to separate cable sections if you need to.
Abbreviations:
K = knit
P = purl
C4F = slip the next two stitches to a cable needle, hold it in front of your work and knit the next two stitches on the left needle. Knit the two stitches from the cable needle.
K2tog = knit two stitches together
YO = yarn over
Ribbed Edge: Using the self striping yarn, cast on 80 stitches, don’t join if you are using a circular needle.
Row 1: (K2, P1) to last two stitches, K2.
Row 2: (P2, K1) to last two stitches, P2.
Row 3: Repeat Row 1.
Cut yarn leaving a tail to weave in
Cable Section: You will start on the wrong side of your piece. Join contrast yarn.
Row 1: P1, (K1, P4, K1, P6), repeat six times, K1, P4, K1, P1.
Row 2: K1, (P1, C4F, P1, K6), repeat six times, P1, C4F, P1, K1.
Row 3: Repeat Row 1.
Row 4: K1, (P1, K4, P1, K6), repeat six times, P1, K4, P1, K1.
Rows 5 to 20: Repeat Rows 1 to 4 four more times.
Row 21: Repeat Row 1.
Cut yarn leaving a tail to weave in.
Ribbed Edge: You will start on the right side of your piece. Join in self striping yarn.
Row 1: (K2, P1) to last two stitches, K2.
Row 2: (P2, K1) to last two stitches, P2.
Row 3: Repeat Row 1.
Cast off loosely knitwise on the wrong side.
Ribbed Ends:
Button hole side:
With self striping yarn, pick up and knit 20 stitches along one end with the right side facing you.
Row 1: wrong side, (P2, K1) six times, P2.
Row 2: K2, P1, (YO, K2tog, P1, K2, P1) twice, YO, K2tog, P1, K2. Three buttonholes made.
Row 3: Repeat Row 1.
Row 4: (K2, P1), six times, K2.
Row 5: Repeat Row 1.
Cast off purlwise.
Plain Side:
With self striping yarn, pick up and knit 20 stitches along one end with the right side facing you.
Row 1: wrong side, (P2, K1) six times, P2.
Row 2: (K2, P1), six times, K2.
Repeat Rows 1 and two once more and then Row 1 again. Cast off purlwise.
Block your neck warmer and weave in the ends. Sew buttons on the plain side to line up with the buttonholes on the other side. I sewed a couple of buttons on the hat band to match the neck warmer making a set.
