Olgajazzy Suke Suke Cowl Knitting Pattern

Olgajazzy Suke Suke Cowl

What is Being Made

The Suke Suke Cowl is a reversible knitted cowl accessory featuring highly textured patterning on both sides. The name "Suke Suke" (スケスケ) is a Japanese term meaning revealing, allowing the other side and inside to show through. This design is created by olga buraya-kefelian and is available in two finished circumference sizes: 24 inches and 45 inches, with a height of approximately 8.25 inches.

Techniques Used

This cowl is worked using several advanced knitting techniques that create its distinctive appearance and structure:

• Bottom-up construction: The cowl is knitted from the bottom edge upward, beginning with a hemmed edge created using the crochet provisional cast-on method.
• Seamless, worked in the round: The entire cowl is worked continuously in the round using circular needles, eliminating the need for seaming.
• Crochet provisional cast-on: Using waste yarn and a crochet hook, live stitches are created on the knitting needle. This temporary cast-on is later unraveled and the live stitches are joined to the body of the cowl with a hemmed edge.
• Horizontal pleats with twisted stitches: A continuous chess board pattern of horizontal pleats is worked throughout the cowl. Twisting of the stitches helps protect their structural integrity and definition.
• Dropped stitch columns: Stitches are intentionally dropped between the pleated columns to create a unique draped look and allow the yarn to bloom, adding width and texture to the finished piece.
• Blocking for reversibility: After blocking, the cowl becomes fully reversible with each side displaying highly textured patterning that is distinctly different from the other side.

Stitches Used

The Suke Suke Cowl employs fundamental knitting stitches combined with shaping techniques:

• Knit stitch: Used for the foundation rows and the main body of the cowl.
• Knit two together (K2tog): A right-leaning decrease used in the decrease round to shape the cowl.
• Slip, slip, knit (ssk): A left-leaning decrease used in the decrease round for balanced shaping.
• Yarn over (yo): Creates eyelet holes in the decrease round, contributing to the textured appearance.
• Stitch markers: Used to mark the beginning of rounds and track pattern repeats throughout the cowl.

One motif repeat consists of 5 stitches plus 1 dropped-stitch column, measuring approximately 1.5 inches wide and 2.25 inches tall when stitches are dropped and the swatch is washed and blocked.

Materials

Yarn: The Plucky Knitter "Primo Aran" in Narragansett Grey. This yarn is composed of 75% merino, 20% cashmere, and 5% nylon, providing a blend of softness, warmth, and durability. The yardage is 200 yards per 183 meters with a weight of 105–108 grams per skein. Two skeins are required for either size of the cowl.

Needles: US 6 (4 mm) circular needles, 24 inches long, are used for working the cowl in the round.

Additional notions: A spare circular needle is needed to hold live stitches during the hemmed edge joining round. A crochet hook is used for the provisional cast-on method. Stitch markers are used to track the beginning of rounds and pattern repeats.

Skill Level

This cowl is rated as an intermediate-level knitting project, suitable for knitters with experience in basic techniques who are ready to explore more complex stitch manipulation and shaping methods.