Reversible Cowl
Here’s how I battle arctic winds and wintry mixes: two supremely cozy layers of Purl Soho’s Line Weight merino around my neck! It’s a toasty solution, as well as a beautiful one. Our Reversible Cowl is a conspiracy of a few thoughtful details, elegant simplicity and two gorgeous colors.
The gorgeous colors in this case are the mysterious and sultry Black Green paired with its inner wild child, Green Turquoise. Green Turquoise is an incredibly saturated gemstone of a color, a wonderful secret to have tucked inside on serious days and, flipped to the outside, a bold pop of color to let loose on not-so-serious days!
Our Reversible Cowl was inspired by our Reversible Hat and is constructed in much the same way: You knit a gently shaped tube with one color, continue on with the second color (reversing the shaping), fold the second color inside the first and graft their ends together. Simple! Choose your favorite two-color combo of Purl Soho’s Line Weight and cast on! -Whitney
Update: New Colors!
September 30, 2016
We’ve given our Reversible Cowl a color update! Dipping into this season’s Line Weight palette, these favorite old projects have brand new personalities: natural and woodsy, timeless and beautiful.
Materials
- Color A: 1 skein of Purl Soho’s Line Weight, 100% merino. We used Black Green.
- Color B: 1 skein Line Weight. We used Green Turquoise.
- US 4, 16 or 20-inch circular needles
For the Provisional Cast On you will also need…
- A few yards of smooth scrap yarn
- A crochet hook to fit the size of the scrap yarn
- A spare circular needle, US 3 or smaller, 16 inches or longer
Gauge
28 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette stitch, blocked
Size
Finished circumference at top: 20 inches
Finished circumference at bottom: 22 1/4 inches
Finished height: 12 1/2 inches
Pattern
Begin at Bottom
With Color B, use a Provisional Cast On to cast 156 stitches onto the US 4, 16 or 20-inch circular needle.
Place a marker and join for working in the round, being careful to not twist the stitches.
Knit until piece measures 1/2 inch from cast on edge.
Purl 1 round.
Knit 1 round.
Cut Color B and join Color A.
Knit until piece measures 2 1/2 inches from purl round.
Decrease to Top
Decrease Round 1: [K37, k2tog] 4 times. [152 stitches]
Knit until piece measures 5 inches from purl round.
Decrease Round 2: [K36, k2tog] 4 times. [148 stitches]
Knit until piece measures 7 1/2 inches from purl round.
Decrease Round 3: [K35, k2tog] 4 times. [144 stitches]
Knit until piece measures 10 inches from purl round.
Decrease Round 4: [K34, k2tog] 4 times. [140 stitches]
Knit until piece measures 12 1/2 inches from purl round.
Cut Color A and join Color B.
Knit 1 round.
Purl 1 round.
Increase Back to Bottom
Knit until piece measures 2 1/2 inches from second purl round.
Increase Round 1: [K35, make 1 right (m1R)] 4 times. [144 stitches]
Knit until piece measures 5 inches from second purl round.
Increase Round 1: [K36, m1R] 4 times. [148 stitches]
Knit until piece measures 7 1/2 inches from second purl round.
Increase Round 1: [K37, m1R] 4 times. [152 stitches]
Knit until piece measures 10 inches from second purl round.
Increase Round 1: [K38, m1R] 4 times. [156 stitches]
Knit until piece measures 12 inches from second purl round.
Cut Color B, leaving a 42-inch tail.
Finish
First, weave in all the ends, except the 42-inch tail.
Now, removing the scrap yarn, slip the live stitches of the Provisional Cast On onto the spare needle.
Bring the Color B section inside the Color A tube so that their purl sides are facing each other.
Thread the 42-inch tail onto a tapestry needle and holding the working needle and the spare needle parallel, use the Kitchener Stitch to graft the edges together.
Weave in this final end. Since only the right side is accessible at this point, simply sew the tail diagonally under the knit stitches, come back the other way and trim.
Block your cowl and when it’s dry, enjoy it!
