Classic Elite Yarns Viewpoints Artistic Differences Knitting

Classic Elite Yarns Viewpoints Artistic Differences - Cade Cowls

What is Being Made

Cade features two distinct cowl designs created by designer Talitha Kuomi, originally published in Artistic Differences in collaboration with Classic Elite Yarns. Both versions are texturally striped cowls with hemmed edges, offering versatile styling options. The Boho version is wider at both ends with closer textural stripes, measuring 26" at the top circumference, 36" at the bottom circumference, and 17¼" in length. The Rocker version is slightly longer with wider Stockinette stitch sections between each textural stripe, measuring 22" at the top circumference, 32½" at the bottom circumference, and 19¼" in length.

Techniques Used

Both cowls are constructed using seamless, worked-in-the-round knitting techniques, making them ideal projects for intermediate-level knitters. The pattern is designed with beginner accessibility in mind—the hemmed edges can be simplified by working garter stitch edging instead of the more complicated folded hems. This simplified method involves knitting one round and purling one round four times at each end, creating an eight-round garter stitch border. The seamless construction eliminates the need for seaming, resulting in smooth, continuous cowls.

Stitches Used

The primary stitches featured in the Cade pattern include:

• Stockinette Stitch (St st) – Knitting all stitches every round to create smooth, V-textured fabric sections
• Narrow Textural Stripe – A repeating 7-round pattern combining knit rounds with decrease and increase rounds (P2tog and Kfb) to create textural variation
• Wide Textural Stripe – A repeating 11-round pattern with the same decrease and increase techniques but over a longer sequence, producing wider sections of texture
• Garter Stitch – Optional simplified edging created by alternating knit and purl rounds

Materials and Tools

The Cade cowls are worked in Chateau by Classic Elite Yarns, a luxurious blend of 70% baby alpaca and 30% bamboo. Each hank yields 98 yards and weighs 50 grams. The Boho version requires 5 hanks in colorway 1456 Amethyst, while the Rocker version requires 5 hanks in colorway 1449 Denim.

Needles and notions include:

• Circular knitting needles in US sizes 10½ and 11 (6.5 and 8 mm) or size to obtain gauge, 24" or shorter in length
• Spare circular knitting needle in US size 5 (3.75 mm) or smaller for the hemmed edge technique
• Stitch markers to track pattern repeats and round beginnings

Gauge and Pattern Notes

Achieving proper gauge is essential for the finished measurements. The pattern specifies 16 stitches and 21½ rounds equal 4 inches in the Narrow Textural Stripe using the larger needle, and 16 stitches and 23 rounds equal 4 inches in the Wide Textural Stripe using the larger needle. Knitters are encouraged to take time to check gauge before beginning, as this ensures the cowls will fit as intended and display the textural patterns correctly.