Blue Sky Fibers Circle Pines Cowl Knitting Pattern

Blue Sky Fibers Circle Pines Cowl

What is Being Made

The Circle Pines Cowl is a seamless, tubular neck accessory designed by Sylvia Hager as part of Blue Sky Fibers' The Traveler Series. This cowl features a finished circumference of 25 inches and a height of 13 inches, making it a versatile piece that can be worn in multiple ways. The design showcases a beautiful blend of softness and texture through the combination of ribbed stitch patterns and cable details, allowing the wearer to choose between displaying the front or back as the focal point.

Techniques Used

This intermediate-level project employs several key knitting techniques:

• Worked in the Round: The cowl is knitted seamlessly using circular needles, eliminating the need for seaming and creating a continuous tubular construction.
• Bottom-Up Construction: The piece is worked from the cast-on edge upward to the final bind-off, allowing for easy length adjustments if desired.
• Cable Work: The pattern features 4/4 Rib LC (left cross) cable crosses that are strategically placed on two opposite sides of the cowl, creating visual interest and textural depth.
• Seamless Knitting: By working in the round with stitch markers to define pattern sections, the cowl maintains a polished, professional finish without any seams to weave together.

Stitches Used

The Circle Pines Cowl incorporates a limited but effective stitch palette:

• Stockinette Stitch: Used as the base fabric for gauge measurement and as the primary stitch for the back panel of the cowl.
• Ribbed Stitches: Both 1x1 ribbing (alternating knit and purl stitches) and reversed ribbing (purl and knit) create the elastic, textured sections on the front and sides of the cowl.
• Cable Stitches: The 4/4 Rib LC cable cross involves slipping 4 stitches to a cable needle, holding to the front, working a 1x1 rib sequence, then working the held stitches in rib, creating a twisted cable effect that appears on alternating rounds.

Materials and Specifications

The Circle Pines Cowl is worked with Blue Sky Fibers Eco-Cashmere, a luxurious blend consisting of 50% recycled cashmere and 50% virgin cashmere. This sustainable fiber choice provides exceptional softness and warmth. The project requires 2 hanks of Eco-Cashmere, with each hank containing 50 grams and yielding 164 yards of yarn.

Construction requires a Size 7 (4.5 mm) circular needle measuring 24 inches, or the size necessary to achieve the specified gauge. Additional notions include stitch markers for tracking pattern sections and a tapestry needle for weaving in ends during finishing.

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern is designed to one size with finished measurements of 25 inches in circumference and 13 inches in height. Gauge is worked in stockinette stitch at 18 stitches and 34 rounds over 4 inches. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the correct finished dimensions and ensuring the cowl drapes appropriately around the neck.

Pattern Structure

The Circle Pines Cowl is constructed over an 8-round repeat pattern that is worked until the piece measures 13 inches in length. The pattern divides the 124 cast-on stitches into distinct sections marked by stitch markers: ribbed sections on the front and sides alternate with a stockinette section on the back, and cable crosses are worked on two opposite sides. This strategic placement of different stitch patterns creates a reversible design where either side can serve as the primary visual focus.

Finishing and Care

Once knitting is complete, the cowl requires minimal finishing. Ends are woven in using a tapestry needle, and the piece can be blocked as desired to enhance drape and even out stitches. Due to the delicate nature of cashmere, care instructions recommend hand washing in tepid water with mild soap or professional dry cleaning. The cowl should not be twisted during washing and should be shaped and dried flat on a towel to maintain its dimensions and prevent stretching.