I do elaborate things with my head. This cowl has a nice, deep hood to cover hair without crushing it. It loops around to keep everything in place, and to tuck nicely into your coat. The stitch pattern is fun to work, and attractive from both sides. This is a quick project, suitable for both the enthusiastic neophyte and the experienced knitter.
Materials:
Aran weight wool, about 475yds; I used 3 skeins of Cascade Yarns Cloud.
24" US #10.5 circular needle.
Small amount of waste yarn for provisional cast on and holding live stitches.
Extra needles for working 3 needle bind off (I used a #8 to hold live stitches and a #13 for binding off).
Tension:
This springy lace stitch make gauge highly variable. I had about 5.5sts over 1" before blocking, and 4sts over 1" after aggressive blocking.
You can find instructions for my favorite provisional cast on here.
Cowl:
Provisionally CO 39sts. Set up row: K3, p33, k3.
R1 (RS): P3, (k1, yo, ssk) to last 3sts, p3.
R2 (WS): K3, (p1, yo, p2tog) to last 3sts, k3.
Repeat R1-2 until cowl measures about 58". Do not bind off, but cut yarn. Place live stitches on a piece of waste yarn. Block severely.
When fully dry, remove provisional CO and waste yarn, so that you have two sets of live stitches. Fold cowl in half with RS facing, and join with a 3 needle bind off, keeping your bind off loose.
Hood:
Starting at seam, and with WS facing you, pick up and knit 45sts from cowl edge. Turn, p3, k42, pick up and purl 45sts from cowl edge. I picked up 3sts for every 4 rows.
Set up row (WS): K3, (p1, yo, p2tog) to last 3sts, k3.
R1 (RS): P3, (k1, yo, ssk) to last 3sts, p3.
R2 (WS): K3, (p1, yo, p2tog) to last 3sts, k3.
Repeat R1-2 until hood measures 10" from pick up.
Shape crown:
Dividing row: P3, (k1, yo, ssk) 13x, bind off 6sts, yo, ssk, (k1, yo, ssk) 12x, p3.
You will now be working back and forth over only one half of your stitches.
R1 and all following WS rows: K3, (p1, yo, p2tog) to end.
R2, 6, 10, & 14: (K1, yo, ssk) to last 3sts, p3.
R4, 8, 12, &16: BO 3sts, yo, ssk, (k1, yo, ssk) to last 3sts, p3.
R18: K27, p3. Do not bind off. Cut yarn, place live stitches on waste yarn.
Rejoin yarn at center back with WS facing, (p1, yo, p2tog) to last 3sts, k3.
R1 and all following RS rows: (K1, yo, ssk) to last 3sts, p3.
R2, 6, 10, & 14: BO 3sts, yo, p2tog, (p1, yo, p2tog) to last 3sts, k3.
R4, 8, & 12: (P1, yo, p2tog) to last 3sts, k3.
R15: P3, knit to end. Do not bind off. Cut yarn, place live stitches on waste yarn.
Block hood rigorously. When dry, place stitches on needles. Fold in half with RS facing, and join with a 3 needle bind off. Sew remaining seam shut.
Weave in ends. You can steam the seams lightly if you want them to lay nice and flat.
R1 and all following RS rows: (K1, yo, ssk) to last 3sts, p3.
R2, 6, 10, & 14: BO 3sts, yo, p2tog, (p1, yo, p2tog) to last 3sts, k3.
R4, 8, & 12: (P1, yo, p2tog) to last 3sts, k3.
R15: P3, knit to end. Do not bind off. Cut yarn, place live stitches on waste yarn.
Block hood rigorously. When dry, place stitches on needles. Fold in half with RS facing, and join with a 3 needle bind off. Sew remaining seam shut.
Weave in ends. You can steam the seams lightly if you want them to lay nice and flat.
