Bogolan

Bogolan Cowl by Elizabeth Davis

What Is Being Made

The Bogolan is an advanced-level knitted cowl designed by Elizabeth Davis. This project creates a finished cowl accessory worked in the round using colorwork techniques, resulting in a garment with sealed floats and a polished construction.

Craft and Primary Technique

This is a knitting project that employs fair-isle colorwork as its primary decorative technique. Fair-isle knitting involves working with two colors per row, carrying the unused yarn across the back of the work to create intricate patterned designs. The Bogolan uses this method to produce charted colorwork patterns that are repeated throughout the cowl.

Construction Method

The cowl is constructed using a specialized multi-step approach:

• Begins with a provisional cast-on using waste yarn, allowing for a seamless join later in the project
• Knitter works through the first fair-isle chart a specified number of times
• A turning round is worked to change the direction or orientation of the pattern
• The second fair-isle chart is then worked a specified number of times
• Finished with a 3-needle bind-off technique that seals all floats to the inside of the cowl, creating a clean, professional interior finish

Stitches and Techniques

The Bogolan incorporates several advanced knitting techniques:

• Fair-isle colorwork – the primary stitch pattern, worked from charted instructions
• Provisional cast-on – allows for a seamless connection between the beginning and end of the cowl
• 3-needle bind-off – a joining technique that simultaneously binds off two sets of live stitches while encasing the carried yarn floats on the inside of the garment
• Pattern stitch – the gauge is measured as 24 stitches and 30 rows over 4 inches (10 centimeters) in the pattern stitch

Materials Required

Yarn: Approximately 210 yards (195 meters) of yarn for each color used. The exact yardage may vary depending on which charts and color combinations are selected for the project.

Needles:

• 3.5mm (US4) circular needle, 24 inches long, or the size needed to obtain gauge – this is the main needle for working the pattern
• 3.5mm (US4) or smaller circular needle, 24 inches or longer, for holding stitches during the bind-off process
• 4.0mm (US6) needle, or a couple of sizes larger than the main needle, used specifically for the binding-off step

Additional Notions:

• Waste yarn for the provisional cast-on
• Stitch marker for tracking rounds
• Tapestry needle for weaving in ends

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern is designed to achieve a gauge of 24 stitches and 30 rows over 4 inches (10 centimeters) in pattern stitch. While exact gauge is not strictly necessary to complete the project, variations in gauge will affect the overall size of the finished cowl. Knitters should swatch and measure before beginning if a specific finished size is desired.

Difficulty Level

This project is rated as advanced, reflecting the complexity of fair-isle colorwork, the use of provisional cast-ons, and the 3-needle bind-off technique. Knitters should have solid experience with colorwork and circular needle techniques before attempting this cowl.