Monday, October 29, 2012

Catch A Wave Drop-Stitch Cowl

Here is a new pattern I designed which uses a "Magic Ball" of yarn made up of different colors and textures of yarn cut into 5 - 8 yard lengths tied together and wound into a ball.




This cowl is knit in a wavy drop stitch pattern to showcase the various yarns that make up the Magic Ball being used. The yarn connections in the Magic Ball were untied for this pattern, and the ends were woven in at the end. Any weight yarn and correspondingly sized needles may be used; the sample cowl for this pattern contained mostly worsted and aran weight yarns. The width of scarf may be adjusted by adding or subtracting sets of 10 stitches for the pattern repeat.


Finished size: 39” x 9”
Gauge: 4 sts & 4 rows = 1” in garter stitch (Approximate – gauge will depend on the yarns and size of needles used)
Supplies needed: 
170 – 200 yards miscellaneous yarns from stash or Magic Ball.
US 9 needles
Size G, H or I crochet hook
Tapestry needle
4 x 7/8” buttons
Needle and thread for sewing on buttons

Pattern stitch: 
Rows 1 & 2: Knit
Row 3: *K6, yo 2 loops, K1, yo 3 loops, K1, yo 4 loops, K1,yo 3 loops, K1, yo 2 loops, rep from * to last 6 sts, K6.
Row 4: Knit, dropping the yo loops. After finishing the row, pull down gently to even out the dropped stitch wave sections.
Row 5: Knit
Row 6: Purl
Row 7 & 8: Knit
Row 9: K1, *yo 2 loops, K1, yo 3 loops, K1, yo 4 loops, K1, yo 3 loops, K1, yo 2 loops K6* to last 5 sts, yo 2 loops, K1, yo 3 loops, K1, yo 4 loops, K1, yo 3 loops, K1, yo 2 loops, K1.
Row 10: Repeat Row 4.
Row 11: Knit
Row 12: Purl
Repeat Rows 1 – 12 until yarn has almost run out, or until cowl is desired length ending on Row 2 or Row 8.

Directions:
CO 36 sts.
Knit 4 rows of GS.
Begin Pattern Stitch, and continue until cowl is at desired length or yarn is close to running out.
Knit 6 rows of GS.
BO.

Finishing:
With tapestry needle, weave in loose ends.
Choose on which end to sew button loops. In chosen end with crochet hook and leftover yarn, sc 2, ch 3-5 (depending on yarn and button size,) skip 3 stitches, sc 8, ch 3-5, skip 3 sts, sc 8, skip 3 stitches , ch 3-5, skip 3 stitches, sc 2.
Block cowl to open up the wavy drop=stitch sections.
Sew on the 4 buttons on the other end opposite button loops.




Abbreviations:
K = Knit     
P = Purl                                  
  yo = yarn over                         
st /sts = stitch / stitches         
CO = cast on                             
GS = Garter Stitch (knit every row)

SC = single crochet  

ch = chain                    
BO = bind off     

(c) Lisa Stanton, Pumpkinbaby Designs 2012