Slipt Stitch Cowl in Plymouth Yarn Arequipa Worsted & Boucle

Slipt Stitch Cowl in Plymouth Yarn Arequipa Worsted & Boucle

What is Being Made

This is a double-thick cowl neck accessory worked in the round using Plymouth Yarn Arequipa yarns. The finished cowl measures approximately 24 inches in circumference and 12 inches in length, making it a versatile layering piece suitable for various necklines and seasons. The construction creates a reversible, insulated cowl through a unique two-layer technique where the front and lining are worked separately and then sewn together at the edges.

Techniques Used

The cowl employs circular knitting worked in the round, which creates seamless fabric and eliminates the need for seaming along the body. The two-layer construction technique is a key design feature: the front is knitted with Arequipa Worsted, while the lining uses either Arequipa Boucle or Arequipa Fur for added texture and warmth. The cast-on and bind-off edges are sewn together to complete the double-thick structure, creating a professional finished edge.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch pattern is Slip Stitch, which is a textured colorwork technique that creates visual interest without the complexity of traditional stranded colorwork. The slip stitch pattern repeats over 16 rounds and uses a multiple of 8 stitches. The pattern alternates between Black and Putty colors from the Arequipa Worsted, with slipped stitches worked knitwise and yarn held in back throughout. The lining sections are worked in stockinette stitch using the Boucle or Fur yarn on larger needles, creating a smooth, textured backing layer.

The slip stitch pattern sequence includes various combinations of knit stitches and slipped stitches arranged across each round. For example, early rounds feature patterns such as "K2, sl 1, k3, sl 2" and "(K1, sl 1) 3 times, k2," while later rounds progress through patterns like "Sl 1, k2, sl 2, k3" and "K2, sl 2, k2, sl 1, k1." This varied stitch arrangement creates a sophisticated, all-over textured design.

Materials

The cowl requires Plymouth Yarn Arequipa Worsted for the front layer: one 100-gram ball each of color 500 (Black) and color 301 (Putty). For the lining, crafters choose between two options: Plymouth Yarn Arequipa Boucle (2 balls of 100 grams each in color 102 Taupe) or Plymouth Yarn Arequipa Fur (2 balls of 50 grams each in color 202 Taupe).

The pattern requires two circular knitting needles: US Size 8 (5mm) for working the Arequipa Worsted front with a gauge of 20 stitches over 4 inches in the slip stitch pattern after blocking, and US Size 11 (8mm) for working the lining in stockinette stitch with a gauge of 10 stitches over 4 inches after blocking. Additional notions include one stitch marker and a tapestry needle for seaming the edges together.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as intermediate, suitable for knitters with experience in circular knitting and colorwork techniques. The slip stitch pattern requires attention to detail and understanding of yarn positioning, while the two-layer construction and seaming add complexity beyond beginner projects.