Honey Chocolate Cowl

Hello everyone! It's very fun making a simple and quick-to-knit project using leftover yarn from previous projects. The challenge is creating a design that uses just what's left without having to go and purchase more of it -because you overshot- which beats the purpose (I'm obviously speaking from experience, haha!). Sometimes though, you have just enough material left to come up with a beautiful piece that complements the main one. For example, one of my favorite works, the Hashtag Jacket, the leftovers of which I turned into a Slouchy and Mittens matching set. Now, I've made many cowls from bulky yarn in the past, because I think it keeps the neck especially cozy during really cold days. This Nako Spaghetti Effect yarn (left unused from my Scalloped Chocolate Shawlette and Hat) is so easy to knit using 8 mm to 10 mm needles, and looks so stunning even with a simple garter pattern. I found that garter stitch and lace pattern worked in stripes of two colors gave the cowl the wavy shape I was aiming for. I hope you like it and enjoy making it.

Skill level: Easy

Materials:

• Yarn: Nako, Spaghetti Effect, 25% wool, 75% premium acrylic, 100 g/ 3.53 oz, 60 m/ 65.6 yards. Color: 75533: 1 skein, color: 7511: 1 skein.
• Circular knitting needles 60 cm/ 24" long, size US 11 (8 mm).
• Tapestry needle.
• Ring stitch marker.

Measurements: 

• Height: 8" (20 cm), approx.
• Diameter: Upper: 25" (64 cm), lower: 33" (84 cm).

Yardage: 116-118 yards (106-108 m) approx.

Gauge: 10 sts x 17 rows = 4"x 4" (10 cm x 10 cm) in garter pattern.

Knitting Terms: 

• st: stitch.
• sts: stitches.
• k: knit.
• p: purl.
• k2tog: knit 2 sts together.
• ssk: slip, slip, knit the 2 sts together through back loops.

Instructions:

With dark brown, cast on 72 sts, join in the round. Don't know how to join in the round? here is a short tutorial on how to do it (from 0:26 - 1:15 min): 

  Put the ring stitch marker at the beginning of rounds. work as follows:

Round 1: k all sts.

Round 2: p all sts.

General Pattern:

Round 1: (k2tog, yo) three times, k 6, repeat to end.

Round 2: k 6, p 6, repeat to end.

Repeat rounds 1 and 2 three times.

Bind light brown yarn (don't cut dark brown yarn), work as follows;

Round 3: k 6, (yo, ssk) three times, repeat to end.

Round 4: p 6, k 6, repeat to end.

Repeat rounds 3 and 4 three times.

Repeat the general pattern once more, then repeat the first six rounds with the dark brown yarn, p one round.

Stretchy bind off row: k 2, slip the 2 sts back to left needle, k2tog, *k 1, slip the 2 sts back to left needle, k2tog, repeat from * to end. You can watch my tutorial video for the stretchy bind off method here: 

Weave in loose ends.

Lastly, feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions or find something confusing in the pattern.

Happy crocheting/knitting! follow me on Instagram @wiams_crafts and Twitter @wiamscrafts to see my upcoming projects.