Wonderland Yarns Diminishing Colors Cowl Knitting Pattern

Diminishing Colors Cowl by Stephanie Shiman

What Is Being Made

The Diminishing Colors Cowl is a versatile knitted cowl featuring a striking visual effect created by contrasting stripes that grow and shrink in alternating proportions. Designed by Stephanie Shiman, this cowl measures 19 inches tall and 30 inches around when blocked, making it large enough to wear as a traditional cowl, hood, or layered wrap for warmth on cold days. The pattern uses two contrasting colors to create maximum visual impact through its unique striping sequence.

Techniques Used

This cowl is worked bottom-up and seamless, constructed entirely in the round on circular needles. The pattern incorporates several key techniques:

• Worked in the round: The entire cowl is knitted circularly, eliminating the need for seaming
• Stripes: The design features a diminishing stripe pattern where one color's stripe width increases while the other decreases, creating a dynamic visual progression
• Color work: Two contrasting colors are carried up the inside of the work as you change colors between rounds, maintaining neat transitions
• Jogless jog technique: The pattern recommends using a jogless jog or similar technique to keep the color changes clean and minimize the visible step that typically occurs when changing colors in circular knitting
• Edge options: Knitters can choose between a basic turned edge, a picot edge created with yarn overs and decreases, or a seamless edge where the 13th round is knitted together with the cast-on edge

Stitches Used

The Diminishing Colors Cowl uses fundamental knitting stitches suitable for creating smooth, elegant fabric:

• Knit (K): The primary stitch, worked every round in stockinette stitch to create a smooth, flat fabric
• Knit two together (K2tog): A right-leaning decrease used in the picot edge option
• Yarn over (YO): Used in the picot edge to create decorative eyelets
• Purl: Used for the turned edge option to create a fold line

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Diminishing Colors Cowl pattern calls for specific materials to achieve the intended gauge and drape:

• Yarn: Wonderland Yarns Mary Ann in sock or fingering weight, requiring 2 skeins of contrasting colors. Each skein contains 420 yards and weighs 4 ounces. The yarn composition is 85% fine superwash merino and 15% nylon, providing durability and easy care. The sample shown uses "Ink" and "Aquamarine" colorways
• Needles: US size 5 circular needles, 24 inches long, or the size needed to achieve proper gauge
• Additional notions: A yarn needle for weaving in ends and a stitch marker for marking the beginning of rounds

Gauge and Finished Measurements

Achieving the correct gauge is essential for this pattern. The pattern specifies a gauge of 24 stitches and 32 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch. The finished cowl, when blocked, measures 19 inches in height and 30 inches in circumference, providing ample fabric for versatile styling options.