Easy One-Skein Cowl
Cowls
The first time I saw a cowl, I was at Isadora Popper. “What’s this?” I asked. “It’s a cowl,” Dana said. “Oh.” I replied.
Lucky for me (because she runs into so many dolts) she picked it up and put it over her head and modeled it for me. “Ah,” I said.
“No worries,” she said. “I have had people ask me if it’s a tube top.”
Gulp. (I could see that, but I didn’t say so.)
So, cowls. Circular scarves. Long. Short. Short ones you just pull on and and they keep your neck warm. Wear longer ones draped or wear them doubled around your neck. They’re hard to lose because your head is stuck through them. I’m a fan.
My Cowls
I probably should have started with this project. At this point, I have made (I think) four of these because they knit up so quickly, are pretty, fun to wear, and fun to make.
This project is also a great way to develop some beginner skills and feel accomplished pretty quickly, so I recommend it if you are a beginner like me!
The skills you will need to know or learn to make this cowl are:
1. Casting on
2. Counting stitches
3. Joining stitches in the round
4. Knitting
5. Purling
6. Casting off using a stretchy cast off
I’ll show you all the videos I used to learn how to do this. You can download the pattern for the cowl at Ravelry.
This one I made with two strands of wool held together. Purdue colors!
This is the first cowl I made. I made it with a single strand of bulky wool yarn that I bought because I loved the color and the texture. It is a gift for my daughter. Kinda Clemson colors…
Baby Cowl. This one is for my granddaughter, who is five, so it is child-sized. I used a single strand of wool-acrylic blend (a Macchiato Cake, I think) that I bought at Michael’s.
This one I made for myself using the same acrylic-wool blend I used in the baby cowl, but this time, I held it together with a strand of gray mohair. It is warm and soft and fun to wear. I even wear it with my pajamas sometimes when I’m chilly!
Building Knitting Skills with this Cowl
It has taken time and practice to get to the point where anything I learn in the process of knitting a project becomes something I can remember and can do without having to look up a video and watch it again! For example, after casting on at least 25 times, I am now able to cast on without the help of a video (or my friend Kate)!
I have gathered together for you learners and tryers the videos I used to learn. I hope they help you on your knitting journey to cowldom…or wherever you go.