Stacy Charles Fine Yarns Excelsior Colorblock Cowl Knitting

Stacy Charles Fine Yarns Excelsior Colorblock Cowl

What Is Being Made

The Excelsior Colorblock Cowl is a knitted cowl designed by Sesia Design Studio, featuring a striking two-color colorblock pattern. This one-size cowl measures 44 inches (112 cm) in circumference and 16½ inches (42 cm) in width, making it a versatile neckwear piece suitable for layering and styling.

Techniques Used

This cowl is constructed using several key knitting techniques that create both structural integrity and design flexibility:

• Bottom-Up Construction: The cowl is worked from the cast-on edge upward, allowing knitters to easily adjust length if desired
• Worked Flat: Rather than in-the-round, the pattern is worked flat on straight needles, which is then seamed to create the circular cowl shape
• Seamed Construction: The cast-on and bind-off edges are sewn together to form the finished cowl, with optional grafting or alternative joining methods available for a more seamless appearance
• Optional Provisional Cast-On: A crochet chain provisional cast-on technique is provided as an option, allowing knitters to pick up stitches from the cast-on edge for alternative finishing methods such as grafting
• 3-Needle Bind-Off: An optional finishing technique is available for those preferring this joining method

Stitches Used

Stockinette Stitch forms the primary fabric of this cowl. Stockinette stitch, created by alternating knit rows on the right side with purl rows on the wrong side, produces the smooth, classic knit fabric that showcases the colorblock pattern beautifully. The gauge for this pattern is 18 stitches and 22 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) in Stockinette stitch, worked on size 7 (4.5mm) needles.

Materials and Yarn

The Excelsior Colorblock Cowl is designed to showcase the luxurious qualities of premium yarn. The pattern calls for Stacy Charles Fine Yarns "S LINE" IMPERIAL, a sophisticated blend composed of 50% superfine merino wool, 30% silk, and 20% cashmere. This fiber combination provides exceptional softness, subtle sheen, and temperature-regulating properties ideal for a cowl worn close to the skin.

The pattern uses one ball each of two coordinating colorways: color #5393 salmon (A) and color #561 plum (B). Each ball contains 0.88 ounces (25 grams) and yields 300 yards (275 meters) of yarn, providing ample yardage for the complete cowl in both colors.

Tools and Notions

To complete this project, knitters will need one pair of size 7 (4.5mm) straight needles for the main construction. Additionally, a size 7 (4.5mm) crochet hook is recommended for executing the optional provisional cast-on technique. An extra size 7 (4.5mm) needle is useful for those choosing the 3-needle bind-off finishing method. A yarn needle is essential for seaming the cowl edges together and weaving in ends.

Finishing

The cowl is finished by seaming the cast-on and bind-off edges together to form the circular shape. Knitters have flexibility in their joining method, with options including traditional seaming, grafting (also called Kitchener stitch), or other preferred joining techniques. The finished piece should be blocked to measurements if necessary to ensure proper drape and dimensions, then all yarn ends are woven in for a polished final appearance.