Book Review: 60 Quick Cowls

In a knitting group that I belong to on Facebook, someone recently asked what the big deal is about cowls. Why would someone knit a cowl instead of a scarf, she wondered.

Personally, I like the fact that all your knitting effort goes where you need it most, around your neck rather than hanging down your body.

Cowls also tend to be quicker projects because there is usually less knitting involved than in a 6-foot-long scarf, and people can see most of your knitting handiwork even when you’ve got a coat on (where a scarf might be tucked into your coat).

If all those reasons aren’t enough to get you interested in cowls, maybe the book 60 Quick Cowls: Luxurious Projects to Knit in Cloud and Duo Yarns from Cascade Yarns will pique your interest.

Another in the 60 Quick series published by Sixth & Spring Books, this one uses two Cascade yarns that combine merino wool and baby alpaca in different weights.

The book opens with a little information about the alpaca, which is nice I guess if you’ve never knit with or heard of alpacas before, but doesn’t really affect your understanding of or appreciation for the fiber if you’ve worked with it before.

It goes on to include 60 cowl patterns — the vast majority rated easy or intermediate, with none for beginners and only two for experts — covering a range of embellishment options and styles, from ponchos to loose loops and short cowls that hang close to the neck.

Many knitting techniques are represented here including textured stitches, stranded knitting, slip stitches, stripes, intarsia, cables, bobbles, lace and entrelac. One project is mostly crochet — granny squares with a knit edging.

There’s so much variety here (check out all the patterns on Ravelry) that there’s likely to be something to suit just about everyone. Some of my favorites include a chunky Fisherman’s Rib cowl in a solid color, a sweet little monochrome project using welts, a zig-zag combo of lace and textured stitches and a brightly colored, stripes and chevron number that slides down over the shoulders.

Book specifications: 156 pages, paperback with interior flaps, 60 patterns. Sixth & Spring Books, published November 2015. Suggested retail $17.95

Next Pattern:

I’m trying to include more knits for kids in my posts because I know a lot of people do a lot of their knitting for the little ones in their lives.

This child’s striped vest from Lion Brand Yarn is not only cute and great for kids who might find a full sweater too hot, it’s also an easy project if you’ve never knit a garment before.

Lion Brand rates it as level 2 easy/beginner +, probably just because there’s a little shaping and seaming invovled, but it’s nothing you can’t handle.

The pattern comes in three sizes that are meant to be for ages 6, 8 and 10. The finished chest measurement is 30, 31.5 or 33 inches, which is 76, 80 and 84 cm respectively. This makes the vest a little roomy and makes it easy to slip on over a T-shirt or other top.

It’s worked in two pieces from the bottom up, with the neckband and armhole bands worked in the round after the body pieces are sewn together. One benefit of knitting stripes on a project like this is that it’s easier to make sure your pieces are the same length because you can just count the stripes (it’s also a little easier to seam because you’re always lining up the stripes).

If you’re knitting the smallest size, you only need one skein each of the two colors you choose, and for the larger sizes you will only need two, making this project a pretty good value. The suggested yarn is Color Theory, a worsted weight acrylic yarn that comes in 18 relatively muted colors. Of course you can use any worsted weight yarn you like. Keep it acrylic for easy washing or use wool to make this a warmer garment for kids who live in cooler climates.

You can grab the pattern for free from the Lion Brand website, or get a kit that includes the yarn you need (and needles if you don’t have them already). I think this would be a great basic to knit a kid for back to school in their school colors, or make it holiday with red and green, or whatever colors the child likes.

[Photo: Lion Brand Yarn]

Next Pattern:

Have you read?