Universal Yarn Morning Tracks Cowl Knitting Pattern

Universal Yarn Morning Tracks: Knit Sweater and Cowl Combo

Project Overview

Morning Tracks is a coordinated knitting project combining a fitted sweater and matching cowl, designed by Amy Gunderson and featured in the Universal Yarn Fall 2018 eBook. This pattern offers knitters the opportunity to create a complete, cohesive accessory set using a single yarn in a neutral colorway. The design emphasizes individual creativity and the ability to craft unique, handmade pieces that stand out from mass-produced alternatives.

What Is Being Made

The Morning Tracks pattern includes two complementary pieces:

• Sweater: A pullover sweater available in eight sizes ranging from Extra Small to 4X, with finished bust measurements from 32 inches to 60 inches. The sweater is designed to be worn with approximately 4 inches of positive ease for a comfortable, relaxed fit.
• Cowl: A matching neck cowl with a finished circumference of 25 inches and a height of 12 inches, designed to coordinate with the sweater as a complete set.

Knitting Techniques

Morning Tracks employs several advanced knitting techniques to create its distinctive structure and shaping:

• Modular Construction: The sweater is worked in separate modules rather than as a single continuous piece, allowing for strategic shaping and construction flexibility.
• Short-Row Shaping: The pattern uses wrap-and-turn (W&T) short-row techniques to create shaped sections. This method involves wrapping stitches on both right-side and wrong-side rows to prevent holes while building contoured shaping. On RS rows, yarn is brought to the front, the next stitch is slipped purlwise to the right needle, yarn is taken to the back, and the stitch is slipped back to the left needle before turning. On WS rows, the process reverses with yarn positioning adjusted accordingly.
• Flat and Circular Knitting: Different sections are worked using both flat knitting (back and forth) and circular knitting methods. Front and Back Hems are knit sideways and shaped with short-rows, while the body is joined and worked in the round to the underarms.
• Picked-Up Stitches: Stitches are strategically picked up along edges—one side of the Hem for the Body and around armholes for the sleeves—allowing seamless integration of different pattern sections.
• Grafting: The cabled cuff is grafted together on the right side, eliminating the need for traditional seaming and creating a polished finish.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

• Stockinette Stitch: The primary stitch pattern, worked at a gauge of 20 stitches by 27 rows over 4 inches.
• Cable Stitches: Cables are incorporated into the design, including a cabled cuff detail that is grafted together. A cable needle is required to work these twisted stitch patterns.
• Lace Stitches: The pattern includes lace elements, adding visual interest and texture variation to the finished pieces.

Materials and Tools

Yarn: Universal Yarn Uptown DK, a 100% anti-pilling acrylic yarn available in the colorway Latte. Each skein contains 100 grams and 273 yards. The pattern requires 6 to 11 skeins depending on size, with sufficient yardage to complete both the cowl and sweater as a coordinated set. The cowl alone requires approximately 120 grams of yarn.

Needles: The pattern calls for US Size 6 (4 mm) circular needles in 32-inch length, as well as a set of double-pointed needles (dpns) in the same size for working smaller circumferences. A US Size 4 (3.5 mm) 16-inch circular needle is used exclusively for the neck edging. Needle size may be adjusted to achieve the specified gauge.

Notions and Accessories: Additional supplies include stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and construction points, a tapestry needle for grafting and weaving in ends, stitch holders for temporarily securing stitches, and a cable needle for working cable stitches.

Pattern Considerations

Knitters are advised to check gauge before beginning, as accurate gauge is essential for achieving the correct finished measurements. The modular construction and short-row shaping techniques require careful attention to pattern instructions