Wild Oats Cowl

Wild Oats Cowl by Irina Anikeeva

What Is Being Made

The Wild Oats Cowl is a knitted cowl designed by Irina Anikeeva. This is a circular neckwear accessory worked in the round from brim to crown. The finished cowl measures 30 inches (76 centimeters) in circumference and stands 8½ inches (21.5 centimeters) tall, making it a substantial neck covering suitable for layering or wearing as a statement accessory.

Craft and Techniques

This project is a knitting pattern of intermediate difficulty. The cowl employs several key techniques that intermediate knitters will find engaging:

• Circular knitting: The cowl is worked in the round from the brim upward to the crown, requiring circular needles or the magic loop method.
• Stranded colorwork: The design incorporates contrast color work, with the yarn not in use carried at the back of the work to maintain tension and create the pattern.
• Slip stitch technique: Stitches are slipped purlwise with yarn held in back, a technique that creates clean edges and contributes to the visual texture of the finished piece.
• K1LG (Knit 1 Long) stitch: A specialty stitch used in this pattern where the right needle is inserted as though to knit, the yarn is wrapped twice around the right needle, and the stitch is worked as normal. On the following row, the extra wrap is dropped, creating elongated stitches that add visual interest to the design.

Stitches Used

The Wild Oats pattern is based on a multiple of 7 stitches. The core stitch pattern repeats across rounds as follows: Knit 1, slip 1, knit 4, slip 1, repeated to the end of each round. This simple but effective combination of knit and slip stitches creates the textured, dimensional appearance characteristic of the Wild Oats design. The pattern is worked over Rounds 1-4, establishing the repeating motif throughout the cowl.

Materials and Yarn

The Wild Oats Cowl uses super bulky weight yarn, requiring approximately 115 yards (105 meters) total. The pattern calls for two colors:

• Main Color (MC): 75 yards (68.5 meters) in Sol (yellow), using 1 skein of Vrinda Yarn Surya Super Bulky
• Contrast Color (CC): 40 yards (36.5 meters) in Oh La La (purple), using 1 skein of Vrinda Yarn Surya Super Bulky

The Vrinda Yarn Surya Super Bulky yarn is composed of 70% Fine Merino and 30% Silk, providing a luxurious blend that combines the warmth and elasticity of merino wool with the lustrous drape of silk. Each skein weighs 150 grams and contains 98 yards (90 meters) of yarn. The super bulky weight ensures that the cowl works up quickly, making this an ideal project for crafters seeking fast results with chunky, satisfying yarn.

Needles

The pattern specifies Size U needles for working this project. Circular needles of this size are recommended for working the cowl in the round.

Finishing

Measurements for the finished cowl are taken after blocking, which helps set the stitches and achieve the final dimensions of 30 inches circumference and 8½ inches height.