Saturday, June 20, 2009

Calming Waves Cowl Pattern




I created this pattern as a birthday gift for a friend who lives by the sea and has been hit by and unusual number of waves in the last year. I just wanted her to remember that waves can also be gentle and soothing too.
From a technical stand-point almost all of the cowls that I have seen are knit in the round, so that the knitting goes up the neck, but I wanted my knitting to wrap around the neck. So, I started with a provisional cast-on and then knit until it was 24 inches, then used the Kitchener stitch to to close them up.
I am very pleased with how it turned out. Both edges at the top and bottom curl under just a bit in a way that I think is flattering, but does not eat up too much of the knitting. So, here is my first knitting pattern published on my blog. If you have any questions or corrections please let me know.


Calming Waves Cowl

Finished Size: 9 inches x 12 inches (this is a folded size after doing the Kitchener stitch)

Gauge: 20 stitches = 4inches in the wave pattern

Needle Size: 9 (US) or 5.5mm, cable needle and one other needle.

Yarn used: Blue Sky Worsted, Hand Dyes 50% Alpaca/50% Merino, in color 2007

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Wave Pattern:
Row 1--- Knit all the way across
Row 2---Purl all the way across
Row 3---* Knit 2, place 2 stitches on the cable needle to the back of your knitting, knit 2, knit stitches from cable needle* repeat these six stitches until the end of the row
Row 4---Purl all the way across
Row 5---Knit all the way across
Row 6---Purl all the way across
Row 7---*Place 2 stitches on cable needle to the front of the knitting, knit 2, knit stitches from the cable needle, knit 2* repeat these six stitches until the end of the row
Row 8-- Purl all the way across

Repeat these 8 rows.

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Cast on 50 stitches using a provisional cast on. (I will be posting a tutorial on doing a provisional cast on in my next blog post)


Begin working in the wave pattern pattern until your piece measures about 23 inches (less it you want it to be a snugger fit).

At this point you will want to knit rows 1-7 of the wave pattern, leaving your live stitches on the needle.

Now carefully remove the waste yarn and place the cast on stitches on a second needle.


At this point you should have live stitches on both the top and bottom of your knitting. Lay your knitting right-side-down in front of you and fold both ends up so that they line up.

Use the Kitchener stitch to attach the two sets of live stitches and weave in the loose ends and you are done.


Here is a link to the pattern on Ravelry if you are a member of that group.

Copyright Suzette Silberman, May 2009.

Editied 9/6/09 to correct a mistake in row 7

3 comments:

amy @ Life in Pink Hi-Tops said...

That is way cool!

suburban farm said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anaira said...

Hi ~
Found your pattern on Ravelry and giving it a try right now.

Did you mean for the 1st and last stitch of each row to be a selvage stitch?

8 rows in and I'm finding that the last 2 stitches (on the right side) aren't being worked in the cable pattern...
Thanks ~