The Closing Time Cowl is part of the Countdown to 2021 event with Erin Lane Bags and Destination Yarns. This mystery make along is a fun way to ring in the new year.
I designed this to be a pleasant and intriguing project. I do hope you enjoy knitting it with me.
CLOSING TIME COWL KNITTING
MEASUREMENTS
Finished Measurements: TO BE ADDED AT THE END
Gauge: 7 sts per 1 inch (2.54 cm) in stockinette stitch
MATERIALS
Yarn:
- 1 MAIN COLOR (MC or Color A)- 50g / 219 yards fingering weight yarn (sample uses Silver Shiney)
- 4 COMPLEMENTARY COLORS (Color B, C, D, E)- 20g / 92 yards fingering weight yarn (sample uses Postcard)
Needles: 3.75mm [US 5] 24″ (61 cm)
Notions: Stitch Marker (make your own), Tapestry needle to bury the ends (learn how here)
SPECIAL STITCHES / ABBREVIATIONS
BRK = brioche knit, also known as a bark. Knit the stitch that was slipped in the previous row together with its yarn over.
BRP = brioche purl, also known as a burp. Purl the stitch that was slipped in the previous row together with its yarn over.
SL = slip
YF SL1YO = yarn forward, slip 1, yarn over. Bring the working between the needles to the front of the work, slip the next stitch purlwise, then bring the yarn over the needle (and over the slipped stitch) to the back, in position to work the following stitch. This slipped stitch/yarn over is considered 1 stitch.
NOTES
If you want to be sure you have a safety net as you knit, adding a lifeline to your project every so often will be helpful. Just to make sure you have a point to rip back to if something goes wrong. (video help)
The pattern will indicate when to cut or carry the yarn to change colors. When the color is cut, leave a nice tail so you can weave in or bury your ends.
All slipped stitches are slipped purlwise unless otherwise stated.
When working brioche, two rounds count as 1 round of work.
PATTERN
Day 1
Using MC, CO 3 sts. K3, *sl3 sts onto left needle, k3; repeat from * until the i-cord measures approximately 30″ (76 cm).
Day 2
Bind off 3 sts of I-cord. 1 stitch on right hand needle.
Note: the entire i-cord will be used for the next round. There should be no extra. Make sure the last stitch worked is at the end of the cord.
(RS): Working alongside the I-cord, pick up and knit 179 stitches. Place a marker on needle and join to work in the round — 180 sts.
Set-up Round: *yf sl1yo, k1; rep from * around.
Round 1: *brp1, yfsl1yo; rep from * around.
Round 2: *yfsl1yo, brk1; rep from * around.
Repeat rounds 1 and 2 until piece measures 2” (5 cm) ending after a round 1.
Day 3
Note: The last stitch on the needle after day 2 is a sl1yo in the MC. You do NOT want to lose that yo. Therefore, do not cut the MC until the first round with color B is complete and the brk1 in that stitch has been completed. Then cut the MC.
With color B
Round 1: *yfsl1yo, brk1; rep from * around.
Round 2: *brp1, yf sl1yo; rep from * around.
Repeat rounds 1 and 2 until this section has the same number of “v” stitches in a column as there were with the MC on day 2.
Note: For day 3, you want to have the same number of “v” stitches in a column in color B as you did in the MC from day 2. Each section of this cowl will have the same number of repeats.
Count the number of “v” stitches you have in a column after day 2. That is the number is equal to 2 rounds of work because it takes 2 rounds to complete 1 full pass of brioche stitch. For example: my sample has 10 “v” stitches in a column.
This section should NOT use all of color B. You will have remaining yarn but we are using that later.
Day 4
When I set out to design something for this countdown to 2021 event I knew I wanted something rather simple yet interesting enough to keep your interest. Hopefully you are feeling comfortable, relaxed, and have found a rhythm with the simple one color brioche stitch in the round by this point. I know it feels like a lot of brioche but I promise there it will be worth it! Expect an unexpected twist tomorrow!
Keep it up, you are doing great!
Note: The last stitch on the needle after day 3 is a sl1yo in color B. You do NOT want to lose that yo. Therefore, do not cut color B until the first round with color C is complete and the brk1 in that stitch has been completed. Then cut the color B.
With color C
Round 1: *yfsl1yo, brk1; rep from * around.
Round 2: *brp1, yf sl1yo; rep from * around.
Repeat rounds 1 and 2 until this section has the same number of “v” stitches in a column as there were on day 3.
Day 5
As we set forth with more brioche, it is time to begin preparation for the twist I mentioned yesterday. You will need some scrap yarn for this part so just grab a ball of anything that won’t bleed on your work. I used some RHSS for mine in the picture below.
It is worth mentioning, keep it up, you are doing great!
Note: The last stitch on the needle after day 4 is a sl1yo in color C. You do NOT want to lose that yo. Therefore, do not cut color C until the first round with color D is complete and the brk1 in that stitch has been completed. Then cut the color C.
With color D
Round 1: *yfsl1yo, brk1; rep from * around.
Round 2: *brp1, yf sl1yo; rep from * around.
Repeat rounds 1 and 2 until this section has the same number of “v” stitches in a column as there were on day 4.
First Finishing
Note: obviously we are not to the end of the cowl yet, but this preparation will get you started for when we reach the end of the cowl tomorrow. Work the instructions below through the MC, color B, color C, and color D so far. Tomorrow, you will continue working the instructions below through color E and MC.
Also, I got my colors mixed up when I was making my sample which is why my colors are out of order compared to yours. No big deal as you’ve seen all these colors now and so I can show you my sample thus far 😉
Lay the cowl down on a flat surface with the beginning of the round to the right.
Looking at the knit “v” columns, count over 2 columns to the left of the beginning.
Thread scrap yarn onto a tapestry needle and working through the 3rd “v” of the column, run the yarn through a total of 26 “v’s”. Cut the scrap yarn and leave a long tail.
*Thread another piece of scrap yarn on to a tapestry needle. Starting at the same column as before, 5 “v’s” above the “v” of the previous thread, run the yarn through a total of 26 “v’s”. Cut the yarn and leave a long tail. Repeat from * to the end of the cowl.
Day 6
We are coming to an end of an incredibly challenging year and (hopefully) an incredibly relaxing project.
In day 5 we did some first finishing prep-work and you will continue that today after all the brioche is complete and before you start the second finishing.
Today, you now can see all 5 colors of this fun countdown to 2021 box. Aren’t they stunning?
I designed the piece to have colorblock stripes that begin and end with a section of the MC. You will finish off with an applied i-cord to mimic the i-cord we began with using the MC.
After the body of the cowl is complete, you have an option to add a little something different to a portion of your cowl. But we will talk about that when we get to the second finishing.
You are doing great! Keep it up, we are so close to the end I can taste it!
Note: The last stitch on the needle after day 5 is a sl1yo in color D. You do NOT want to lose that yo. Therefore, do not cut color D until the first round with color E is complete and the brk1 in that stitch has been completed. Then cut the color D.
With color E
Round 1: *yfsl1yo, brk1; rep from * around.
Round 2: *brp1, yf sl1yo; rep from * around.
Repeat rounds 1 and 2 until this section has the same number of “v” stitches in a column as there were on day 5.
Note: The last stitch on the needle is a sl1yo in color E. You do NOT want to lose that yo. Therefore, do not cut color E until the first round with color MC is complete and the brk1 in that stitch has been completed. Then cut the color E.
With MC
Round 1: *yfsl1yo, brk1; rep from * around.
Round 2: *brp1, yf sl1yo; rep from * around.
Repeat rounds 1 and 2 until this section has the same number of “v” stitches in a column as there were with color E.
Knit 1 round.
Cut MC leaving a long tail.
Note: we will use the MC for the next section but I find it better to start the applied i-cord without the yarn already attached to the cowl.
Applied i-cord
With MC, cast on 3 stitches and slip them to the left hand needle [this will place the working yarn 3 stitches away from the tip of the needle]. Knit 2 sts, k2tog (1 cast on stitch and 1 from the cowl) — 1 stitch bound off.
*Slip 3 stitches to the left hand needle [this will place the working yarn 3 stitches away from the tip of the needle]. Knit 2 sts, k2tog (1 of the original 3 stitches and 1 from the cowl — 1 stitch bound off.
Repeat the from * until all the stitches have been worked off the cowl.
Bind off the 3 i-cord. Fasten off.
Seam the icord beginning to the end with the tail.
Continue First Finishing
Note: it is time to continue to finish the first finishing now that the cowl is complete.
Picking up where you left off on day 5
*Thread another piece of scrap yarn on to a tapestry needle. Starting at the same column as before, 5 “v’s” above the “v” of the previous thread, run the yarn through a total of 26 “v’s”. Cut the yarn and leave a long tail. Repeat from * to the end of the cowl.
Second Finishing
Many of you have wondered what it is we were prepping for with the first finishing. The time has come for you to know 😉
We will add smocking to a select section of the cowl. This adds a bit of extra interest to a simple cowl and will allow the colors to really meld together. Plus, it gives more texture to the piece.
When working the smocking, use any color you wish for the wraps. Keep it all one color or make it many colors, the choice is yours. I loved the idea of having the wraps all in the MC since we began and ended with that color; but I also love the look of having each of the 5 colors used as wraps to give it a really unique look.
Note: the smocked section is not reversible. If you are wanting the cowl to be reversible then you might want to skip the smocking all together.
- Each section of scrap yarn used in the first finishing is where the smocking will take place. The scrap yarn is your guide.
- For the wraps, cut a length of the yarn color you plan on using that is 3 times the width of the section that will be smocked.
- Each row of smocking is worked with one string of yarn so do not cut until you have reached the end of the row.
First Row: Thread that length of yarn on a tapestry needle, working from right to left and using the scrap yarn as your guide, begin with the 1st and 2nd columns of “v” stitch and work a double backstitch pulling those two columns together.
Do not cut the yarn, the thread the needle behind the next brp [this will leave a float along the ws of the cowl].
Again, using the scrap yarn as your guide, work a double backstitch pulling the next two columns together.
Repeat until you reach the end of the smocking panel.
Second Row: Thread that length of yarn on a tapestry needle, working from right to left and using the scrap yarn as your guide, begin with the 2nd and 3rd columns of “v” stitch and work a double backstitch pulling those two columns together. This will stagger the double backstitch and allow the smocking to work properly.
Do not cut the yarn, the thread the needle behind the next brp [this will leave a float along the ws of the cowl].
Again, using the scrap yarn as your guide, work a double backstitch pulling the next two columns together.
Repeat until you reach the end of the smocking panel.
For the smocking section, repeat rows 1 and 2 to the top of the cowl.
Finish off the cowl by weaving in all the tails on the WS.
When weaving in the ends on WS side of work, be careful not to pull them too tightly, as this would distort the brioche ribbing and the smocking on the right side of the work.
Be sure to come back each day to get the next set of instructions 🙂
