An Easy Knitted Cowl (Link to free Pattern)
In today’s blog post, I am sharing a link to a free pattern that I used to knit a modified Copycat Cowl.
I have not been sewing as much recently—I will share why in the personal update at the end of blog post—but I have been knitting more. I recently finished this knitted cowl, and I like it so much that I wanted to share it with you!
Copycat Cowl
Yarn used: Malabrigo Rios
I started by trying a new technique called Moebius knitting. I had heard of it many years ago from the woman who taught me how to knit, but I hadn’t ever given it another thought until I was considering making this cowl. I found a video on YouTube, which showed me how to cast on: Intro to Moebius Knitting Video
I cast on and started knitting. All was going well, I thought.
I decided to add a ruffled edge because I wanted something very feminine and pretty. As I was binding off, I was excited to see the edges waving just as I had envisioned.
But once I had the entire cowl off the needles, I was very disappointed with the result:
1) It was too large. I wanted something that fit closer around my neck, and
2) I had made it too ruffled. I had increased three times with one row of yarn overs at various intervals and two rows of K1, M1.
It looked like a knitted lei necklace, which was not at all what I wanted.
So, I ripped it all out!
And, I started over. But I quickly realized that I could not accomplish the look I was going for with a Moebius cast on because the number of stitches I wanted did not work with the length of circular needles required.
I searched for a knitted cowl that was more of the style I wanted and found a free pattern called Copycat Cowl Pattern. I modified the pattern to have a ruffled edge by knitting the last few rows instead of purling and making a row of K1, M1 before binding off.
And, I am happy with the result! I do plan to make more; however, I will probably modify it even more by casting on fewer stitches. I love how warm it keeps my neck, yet I don’t have to worry about keeping it on my shoulders like a shawl or scarf, and it is a great accessory to my wardrobe.
If you knit one, let me know how you like it!
New Business Update:
Brookeneil and I are planning a couple of Community Sewing Gatherings to take place in March and April on Saturdays. Stay tuned for details.
Personal update:
Why am I sewing less, you wonder?
First reason: Well, in the middle of December our entire family got sick with COVID. Ryan and Ellie got it first, then I did. While it wasn’t a horrible case for any of us, we felt very much like we had the flu and it sent us to bed for days. It took me longer to recover than the others (thanks, weak immune system), and I ended up missing Christmas with my family because I was still testing positive. I had no energy to sew during those weeks.
Second reason: Due to economic circumstances, I am returning to work as a certified public accountant (CPA). I put my license on an “inactive” status when Ellie was born so that I would not have to take 40 hours of continuing education (CPE) every year. I continued to pay the annual fee to keep my license, though, because I never want to sit through that exam again! However, to reactivate my license now, I need to makeup 120 CPE hours, yes 120! I am sitting through webinars and working on self-study CPE for about 20 hours a week now, and I will begin to work as an accountant for a public accounting firm on March 1, if all goes as planned.
I will still sew and knit and share with you here, but it will continue to be infrequent, and will probably be focused on clothing and quilts.
The first order of business (sewing-wise) is completing commissioned scrap quilts. Then I will get back to sewing other projects.
At my doctor’s appointment in November, he told me that I have to DECREASE STRESS in my life if I want to get better. As I am adding activities to my schedule, I am learning to take breaks and slow down between tasks to give my brain and my body some rest. This past Saturday, I took a few minutes to read in the morning before starting with the day’s activities. It was lovely!
