Category Archives: cowl

11th Hour Gift Knitspiration



Non-Felted Slippers













Marshmallow Fluff






Really Big Cowls


A knitterly friend was recently in Paris and said that while waiting in line at an art show she noticed that all the women were swaddled in huge, double wrapped cowls. 



Fluted Cowl




I love the texture on this cowl, it’s so simple yet so effective. I just made it for the store, check out oout front window! I used 15mm-32″ circular needles (but it’s big, you can go longer) and 2 skeins of Cascade Magnum (I used every inch, see my notes on Ravelry). 



I love this pattern, it is simple enough for beginners, and stylish enough for Martha Stewart. You only need to knit with 1 strand using this yarn, so ignore the pattern’s directions to triple it. 



This pattern calls for a 9mm needles, but I think it would be nice knit a bit looser on a 10mm needle, with a natural fibre that creates a bit of a halo. 



This pattern is not a true mobius, but it’s easy and a good pattern for beginners. 



It’s hard to see in the picture, but this cowl is knit on the diagonal. I think it would look super cool using a self striping yarn, like a Noro.


Quick One Skein Holiday Gifts



It’s time for gift knitting! This year feels like getting down to basics, simple, fast little knits that friends and family treasure because you made them. 




















Easy, Fast Projects for Novices & Gifts


Fall has landed and knitting season is in full gear. Welcome back to all of our established stick-handlers, and a hearty welcome to the newcomers. Gift season is coming up in a few months, and we believe that even the greenest knitter can combine hobby and holiday budgets – you just need a little inspiration and guidance.

To get you started …

  • Your new best friend is a website for knitters & crocheters, Ravelry.com. Ravelry is knitters’ Mecca and most of our links go there.  It is free to join Ravelry, and you don’t have to give them any information you don’t want to. They won’t spam you or sell your e-mail address, but if you are concerned feel free to use a ‘junk’ or spare e-mail address to sign up (ie. gmail, yahoo or hotmail).  
  • There is a TON of free technical support on the internet. Knittinghelp.com is an excellent place for novices to start, and Knitting Daily has an excellent glossary of terms. There are many good videos on Youtube from Knit Picks and Berroco. Techknitting is the place for those more experienced who want a detailed explanation.
  • When seaming use Mattress Stitch for a pretty finish.
  • Leave about 5 to 6 inch tails (ends), to make weaving in easier. 
  • Knitting and crochet patterns are a bit like Recipes. They give you your ingredients first, and then directions, often written with standardized abbreviations. An explanation of the abbreviations used, or glossary, is usually included, or you can look them up on the internet. For more on how to read patterns there are some good instruction via the Craft Yarn Council.
  • Knitting needles come in a variety of sizing systems: Metric is the standard in Canada, Europe, Australia & New Zealand. The US has it’s own system, as do the Japanese. If you have old needles that came from Canada or the UK, they might be sized in the older UK system. See this chart for details. Contemporary patterns will give you a needle size based on the country in which it was published.  Vintage patterns often give sizes in the old UK system. The easiest way to find out what size your needle is to buy an affordable (approx $3.50 to $4) little gadget called a Needle Gauge, which measures the circumference of your needle and tells you what it is in the various sizes.  


Dobbs Ferry Cowl
  • Skill Level: Beginner (after Scarves)
  • Free from Martha Stewart Living
  • Yarn: 2 skeins Cascade Magnum
  • Needles: 15mm-32″ circular 
  • Skills: knit, purl, cast on, cast off, knit in the round, weave in ends.
  • Notes: knit with a single strand (pattern uses 3 held together)



Wham Bam Thank You Lamb Neckwarmer



Super Simple Fingerless Mitts
  • Skill Level: Absolute Beginner!
  • Free from Ravelry
  • Yarn: 1 skein Malabrigo Worsted
  • Needles: 4.5mm straight needles
  • Skills: cast on, cast off, knit, seam, weave in ends. 



City Gauntlets
  • Skill Level: Beginner (after scarves)
  • Free: from Lionbrand
  • Yarn: 2 to 4 skeins Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran, or 1 to 2 skeins 1 skein Malabrigo Worsted
  • Needles: 5mm needles
  • Skills: cast on, cast off, knit, purl, increase (knit into the front then the back of the stitch), seam, weave in ends. 


New Free Pattern: Easy Loose Cabled Cowl


This pattern is a simple, straightforward, easy project great for new knitters (great way to learn cables). It knits up fast on thick yarn and BIG needles (12mm).  It’s easy, is a satisfying quickie, and looks impressive to non-knitters (hint: it’s very giftable).

It is made with one skein of Brown Sheep Company Burly Spun (not bad at $20.97 per skein),  but it would also make an excellent excuse to buy a couple of skeins of Malabrigo Rasta (especially in their luminescent semi-solid colours). 

Read more about it on Ravelry
Download for FREE at knitomatic.com

As always, you can find us at Knitomatic.com!


New Free Patterns for Simple Cowls

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Brand spankin’ new from us, 2 patterns for simple, easy, elegant cowls using Berroco Boboli, a new yarn for Fall 2011. The yarn is beautiful, prismatic, and does most of the work for you. The rest of the pattern is in the beginner skill spectrum. It’s also a non-thinker, a great project for those times when brain no work good. And of course, both patterns are Free!

This sweet little thing is the Boboli Cowl Worsted Version. It’s a beautiful weight for fall, moving into  winter, and early spring. It’s a straightforward knit and made with 2 skeins of Boboli and 4.5mm circular needles. The yarn knits quickly, and you’ll be done before you know it! I made this version second and had no idea I would love it’s delicate drape so much!

Here’s the Boboli Cowl Bulky Version.  It’s made on larger, 7mm needles, holding 2 strands together. Besides creating  a faster knit, it’s also a thicker fabric, perfect for when the weather starts getting chill and carrying you into real winter.  It also has more body than the worsted version, and the colour takes on a tweedy quality that transcends the yarn’s inherent variegation.


By the way, don’t forget to follow the instructions and block your cowl in a bath of white vinegar and Eucalan – it softens up beautifully!



As always, you can find us at knitomatic.com!  

New Pattern for Thirty Minute Cowl

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Download a new, Free cowl pattern from Knit-O-Matic, the Thirty Minute Cowl!  It is knit up with one skein of new Berroco Link, and 25mm needles – and it flies!  Above is colour 3241 (Superb Starling). 


As always, you can find us at Knitomatic.com!

New Free Pattern: Spring Mobius Cowl

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Many of the links posted here are from Ravelry.com, a free website for knitters and crocheters. If you don’t have your own account you can use ours: login: knitomatic2, password: knitomatic. But you should get your own account fast, ’cause you’re going to LOVE it!

Spring Mobius Cowl
By Haley Wacberg

This is an easy and satisfying project for a simple, spring cowl. It’s really a no-brainer, the yarn’s self-striping colour and soft texture do most of the work. The pattern uses a Mobius Cast On, which is easy to learn.
To learn this easy new skill you can watch Cat Bohrdi’s great Intro to Mobius Knitting tutorial on you tube. Cat’s instructions are clear and easy to follow and you’ll be an expert in no time!
NOTE: You can not substitute a normal cast on using circular needles to create a mobius – it doesn’t work. By twisting the stitches, you’ll end up with a full twist in your knitting, and you only want a half twist (the mobius).
The yarn used has a very high cotton and silk content, both of which tend to stretch and grow. If you think your cowl is too small, don’t worry, it’ll loosen up.
Size 
Length: 25” 
Width: 8”
Materials 
2 skeins Noro Taiyo, 100g/200m, colour 1 
5mm/36” circular needles 
1 Stitch Marker
Gauge 
15 sts & 30 rows = 4” in K6 P6 ribs
Techniques 
Intro to Mobius Knitting tutorial by Cat Bohrdi on youtube: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVnTda7F2V4
Cost
Free

Download HERE

As always, you can find us at knitomatic.com!



New Pattern: Travelling Ribs Cowl

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Many of the links posted here are from Ravelry.com, a free website for knitters and crocheters. If you don’t have your own account you can use ours: login: knitomatic2, password: knitomatic. But you should get your own account fast, ’cause you’re going to LOVE it!

Pattern by Liane Schwarz for Knit-O-Matic

This cowl is a fast and simple way to get acquantied with cables. It is made with super bulky yarn for maximum satisfaction and minimal effort. It makes a quick & easy gift, or keep it for yourself and bask in your friends’ envy.
Size
A. Standard: 11” long and 15” wide (or 30” in c ircumference)
B. Longer: 18” long and 15” wide (or 30” in circumference)
C. Looser: 11” long, but will vary in accordance with the number of sts you choose.
D. Very Loose: unfathomable
Materials
  • 1(1, 1, 2) skeins Cascade Magnum or Brown Sheep Burly Spun (120m of super bulky yarn)
  • 12mm-24” circular needles
  • 1 large cable needle
  • 1 stitch marker
Gauge
Approx 1.5 to 2 sts = 1 inch

Cost
$5

As always, you can find us at knitomatic.com!

New FREE Knitting Pattern – Bulky Mobius Cowl!

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We’ve written up the free knitting pattern for one of our latest store samples, the Bulky Mobius Cowl in Malabrigo Rasta!
Bulky Mobius Cowl
Free pattern by Haley Waxberg

The pattern is very simple, fast, and satisfying for time when you just need to produce something FAST. It is knit in the round using a really long circular needle and a nifty little cast on just for mobius knitting. To learn this easy new skill you can watch Cat Bohrdi’s great Intro to Mobius Knitting tutorial on you tube. Cat’s instructions are clear and easy to follow and you’ll be an expert in no time!
Size 
S/M(M/L) 
tighter (looser) 
6.5” high unstretched 
Approx 13(14) inches long at bottom, lying flat
Materials 
1 skeins Malabrigo Rasta, 150g-82m, colour 853 
Abril 
10mm/36” circular needles 
1 Stitch Marker
Gauge 
8 sts & 21 rows = 4”/10cm in K3 rows, P3 rows rib
Techniques 
Intro to Mobius Knitting tutorial by Cat Bohrdi on you tube: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVnTda7F2V4