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Free Pattern for a Giant Seed Stitch Cowl

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seed stitch cowlThis one is an actual free pattern, but it’s as much an idea as anything. After a season of knitting for others and probably rushing through projects (that wasn’t just me, was it?), it’s time to take it slow, to knit something for ourselves and to just enjoy the process with a project that isn’t that difficult but that will wrap us in warmth for seasons to come.

Classic Elite designer Annissa George has just the thing with her Coors Cowl (download PDF at link). Worked in five colors of a bulky alpaca/bamboo blend, it’s just wide stripes of seed stitch worked in a big loop. That doesn’t mean the result isn’t pretty, just that this is easy, satisfying knitting that will take some time but also be relaxing and enjoyable. Just the thing we all need right around now.

Bonus: you might be able to make this a stash-busting project if you have enough yarns of similar weight. Or use whatever weight you have to make a big loopy cowl in whatever stitch you like. See: a great idea. Or several.

[Photo via Classic Elite Yarns.]

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Comments

  1. I have actually made another similar scarf with bigger yarn and larger needles. I didn’t use a pattern. What I am trying to figure out is how long to make the infinity scarf. I didn’t make it with circular needles, but the other way around and it’s almost finished. How long would you make it?

  2. I would probably make it about as long as you’d make a scarf, then just sew the ends together. That way you have something you can wrap around a couple of times if you like or wear as one long loop.

  4. Thanks so much for some nice ideas. I have so much leftover yarn to use up and need to find quick ideas

Have you read?

A Blanket Knitting Pattern Where Yarn Selection is Everything

Many times when I write these posts I will say something like “you can use any yarn you want” or “this would be a great stash-busting project.” That’s just how my mind works. And my stash, too, since I probably have sweater quantity of two or three yarns at most, but tons of singles and odd balls and leftovers.

Blankets are generally a really good way to use up those bits, but in this case, I think you’re going to want to plan it out a bit better.

Looking at photos of the Color Study Blanket from Purl Soho, it looks like it’s made with two yarns held together, and that block in the center is worked with one of each color from the adjoining sides to make a mixed up color.

But that’s not actually how it’s done. This is three separate colors (four, really, with the neutrals in the corners) chosen form a yarn with an expansive palette so they play off each other. The project calls for a worsted weight superwash wool, which is a great choice for a blanket that’s both warm and washable.

This pattern was originally designed by Laura Ferguson and was updated by Hiromi Glover. It is worked in one piece in garter stitch intarsia, which is a great way to learn the intarsia technique if you don’t already know it. It comes in crib or throw sizes.

Despite the introduction to this post, I am going to go ahead and say that, yes, of course you could do this blanket with scraps or odd balls or even just choose five colors that don’t blend together so easily. But I really do love the look of the color play, and I think it would be worth your time to find colors that play well together to get a similar effect.

This pattern is available for free from Purl Soho.

[Photo: Purl Soho]