Magical Spirals Cowl

Spirals are magical.  They move and manage to somehow stay the same and change at the same time.  They lead you in and send you out . . . more than one magical journey has begun with a spiral.

Size

Finished Size 21.3” [54.1 cm] circumference, 7.5” [19.1 cm] depth.

Yarn

Knit Picks Bare Wool of the Andes Superwash Worsted (100% Wool; 220 yards [201 meters]/100 grams): Bare (MC), 1 ball

Lion Brand Fun Fur Prints (100% Polyester; 57 yards [52 meters]/40 grams): 208 Tropical (CC), 1 ball

Needles

Size US 8 (5 mm) 18-22” [45-55 cm] circular

Notions

Size H/8 (5 mm) crochet hook, or size to match needles; stitch marker; cable needle; tapestry needle; small dpn (size US 00 or 0/1.75-2mm) (optional)

Gauge

20 sts and 25 rows = 4” [10 cm] in St st, unblocked

30 sts and 30 rows = 4” [10 cm] in cable pattern, unblocked.

Abbreviations

Please see our standard abbreviations.

2/2lc        Place next 2 sts on cn and hold to front; k2 from left needle; k2 from cn

2/2lpc       Place next 2 sts on cn and hold to front; p2 from left needle; k2 from cn

2/2lc-ls     K2 from cn

2/2lc-rs     Place next 2 sts on cn and hold to front; remove marker; k2 from left needle; pm

2/2lpc-rs   Place next 2 sts on cn and hold to front; remove marker; p2 from left needle; pm

Pattern Notes

The cowl is knit entirely in the MC, with the CC embellishment crocheted on.

This pattern includes a photo-tutorial for adding the crocheted embellishment.

This cowl has all-over cables that occasionally cross the end of the round. You’re strongly encouraged to read through the whole pattern first.

This pattern results in a very stretchy fabric, even after adding the crocheted embellishment.  To make it larger or smaller, add or subtract a multiple of 20 sts (equal to about 2.7” or 6.9cm).  You can add an odd multiple of 10 sts, but then you would need to change the placement of the embellishments.

Because of the way the cables spiral around the cowl, it is strongly recommended that the beginning of round is marked, even if you normally do not do this.

This pattern is good for using up scraps of Fun Fur.  The cowl uses about 2 yards [1.8 meters] of CC per cable, or 16 yards [15 meters].

The cowl as written used almost an entire skein of the MC. You may need to rip out your gauge swatch to finish.

Between the ribbing and the cables, this fabric is very dense.  It may take longer to make this than other similar items.

For the first several rounds, the fabric may seem looser than it should be.  Persevere!  After ten rounds or so, the fabric should start to pull together, thanks to the cables.  I started the sample of the cowl comfortably on 32” (80 cm) needles, and had to change to a shorter cable to finish it.  (I actually used travelling loop, rather than a physically shorter cable.)

This cowl was not blocked.  Superwash yarn behaves differently from untreated wool.  If you use superwash, machine wash and dry your cowl as needed, turned inside out, instead of blocking. If you don’t want to use a dryer, allow the cowl to lie flat to dry, and do not stretch it out.

The sample for this pattern was started with the Chinese Waitress Cast-On (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ragBNdHwjg8), and used Oftroy’s Double Chain Bind Off (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrzxurTX7Y0) to match.

Cowl

CO 160 sts with MC on circular needles.  Join to work in the rnd, pm at beginning of rnd.

Setup Rnds 1-2:  *K4, p2, k2, p2, rep from * to end

Cable Pattern

Rnd 1: *2/2lc, p2, k2, p2, rep from * to end; 160 sts.

Rnd 2: *K4, p2, k2, p2, rep from * to end.

Rnd 3: *K2, 2/2lpc, k2, p2, rep from * to end.

Rnd 4: *K2, p2, k4, p2, rep from * to end.

Rnd 5: *K2, p2, 2/2lc, p2, rep from * to end.

Rnd 6: *K2, p2, k4, p2, rep from * to end.

Rnd 7: *K2, p2, k2, 2/2lpc, rep from * to end.

Rnd 8: *K2, p2, k2, p2, k2, rep from * until 10 sts rem, k2, p2, k2, p2, 2/2lc-rs.

Rnd 9: 2/2lc-ls, *p2, k2, p2, 2/2lc, rep from * until 8 sts rem, p2, k2, p2, k2.

Rnd 10: *K2, p2, rep from * to end, k4, *P2, k2, rep from * to end.

Rnd 11: *2/2lpc, k2, p2, k2, rep from * to end.

Rnd 12: *P2, k4, p2, k2, rep from * to end.

Rnd 13: *P2, 2/2lc, p2, k2, rep from * to end.

Rnd 14: *P2, k4, p2, k2, rep from * to end.

Rnd 15: *P2, k2, 2/2lpc, k2, rep from * to end.

Rnd 16: *P2, k2, p2, k4, rep from * to end.

Rnd 17: *P2, k2, p2, 2/2 LC, rep from * to end.

Rnd 18: *P2, k2, p2, k4, rep from * until 10 sts rem, p2, k2, p2, k2, 2/2lpc-rs.

Rnd 19: 2/2lc-ls, *k2, p2, k2, 2/2lpc, rep from * until 8 sts rem, k2, p2, k2, p2.

Rnd 20: *K4, p2, k2, p2, rep from * to end.

Repeat rnds 1-20 two and a half times (52 rnds total including setup) or until cowl is desired height.  Bind off with a stretchy bind-off.

Finishing

Step 1:  Starting at the bottom of a cable, slide the small dpn under the bars between the two cable sts.  (In the picture, a larger needle is used on the cable to the left, for better detail.)  You will not get all of the stitches on there.  Only do as many rounds as you feel are workable.  When you’ve worked all of the bars on the dpn, take it out and slide it under more bars.  (This step is optional.  If you feel comfortable finding the bars without the needle under them, you do not need it.)

Step 2:  With CC, make a slipknot and place on crochet hook.

Step 3:  Slide hook under first bar and back up.

Step 4:  Bring working yarn down over the hook and catch a loop of it.  Pull loop under bar, and through loop on hook.

Repeat steps 3 and 4 to the top of the cable.

 

Step 5:  Cut yarn, leaving a 3” (7.6cm) tail.  Pull tail through last loop and tighten.

Repeat on every other cable (8 cables total).

 

Step 6:  Weave the CC ends into the backs of the cables.  Weave in MC ends.  Block as desired.