MALLOW COWL
Ever wanted to knit a cabled-looking piece that doesn’t actually involve knitting cables? Then Mallow Cowl featuring travelling stitches - a combination of increases and decreases that has an appearance of cables without adding bulk to the fabric - is here for you.
Gentle mallow flowers symbolise health and protection - two things a lot of us are wishing for these days both for our loved ones and ourselves. Inspired by the shape and special meaning of the mallow, this piece is ready to shield off if not the hardships of life, then at least cold and unpleasant weather. This design combines a look of a triangular shawl with an effortless styling and coziness of a cowl. Interesting shaping cuts off the bulk of the fabric at the back neck making it easy to wear under jackets and coats.
The project explores different techniques of Japanese knitting, including two types of wrapped stitches. The main panels feature a cable-looking design that is composed of travelling stitches. Both the charts and written row-by-row instructions provided.
YARN
440yds / 400m of worsted weight yarn, preferably in a solid or slightly tonal colorway
Sample cowl: Swish Worsted from Knit Picks (100% superwash merino; 1.75oz / 50g, 110yds / 120m), 4 balls, color Haze Heather
NEEDLES
US 6 / 4mm needles (straight or on a long cable) or the size needed to obtain gauge
Cable needle or a dpn of a matching size for wrapped stitches
GAUGE
24 sts and 36 rows in 4” / 10cm in Diagonal Rib Stitch, unblocked
21 sts and 34 rows in 4” / 10cm in Diagonal Rib Stitch, blocked
Note that difference in gauge will affect the required yardage and the finished size of the cowl
NOTIONS
Tapestry needle
Stitch markers
Small stitch holders or safety pins
Blocking mats and pins
FINISHED SIZE
Depth at the deepest point 23” / 58cm
Circumference at the midneck 24” / 61cm