Yarnadillo

Yarnadillo Cowl by Laurie Beardsley

Project Overview

Yarnadillo is an intermediate-level knitted cowl designed by Laurie Beardsley for the 2018 DFW Yarn Crawl. This downloadable knitting pattern creates a cozy neck accessory with a distinctive smushy texture that invites creative colorwork experimentation. The finished cowl measures 24 inches (61 cm) in circumference and 11 inches (28 cm) in width, making it a versatile layering piece suitable for various occasions and seasons.

What Is Being Made

The Yarnadillo is a circular cowl—a tubular neckwear garment that slips over the head and drapes around the shoulders. The design celebrates textural interest and offers knitters the flexibility to create their own striping effects or maintain a solid appearance, depending on yarn selection and personal preference. The smushy texture characteristic of this cowl makes it particularly comfortable and visually appealing.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

This pattern employs circular knitting techniques, worked in the round on circular needles to create a seamless tubular construction. The intermediate difficulty level indicates that knitters should be comfortable with fundamental knitting skills and working with circular needles. The pattern is designed to be adaptable, allowing knitters to experiment with different stitch combinations and colorwork approaches without requiring advanced techniques. The flexibility of the pattern means that gauge precision, while noted, is not critical to the project's success—variations will primarily affect yarn yardage requirements and the final drape and size of the finished cowl.

Materials and Yarn Requirements

The Yarnadillo requires 100 grams of DK weight yarn, making it an efficient project for yarn stash usage or mini-skein collections. The pattern calls for US 7 (4.5 mm) circular needles in a length of 16 to 24 inches (40 to 60 cm), along with a tapestry needle for finishing and a stitch marker for tracking rounds. The recommended gauge is 23 stitches and 20 rows to 4 inches (10 cm) in stockinette stitch.

Yarn Suggestions and Colorway Flexibility

The Yarnadillo pattern is exceptionally versatile and accommodates a wide range of yarn types and colorways. Suitable options include solid colors, highly variegated yarns, striping yarns, and semi-solid colorways. The sample shown in the pattern was created using Dye2Spin Merino DK, a 100% Superwash Merino yarn available in sets of five mini-skeins, each containing 20 grams and 54 yards. The sample features five colors: Stone, Texas Lilac, Steel, Boomerang, and Pewter, demonstrating how the pattern can showcase multiple coordinating hues. This flexibility makes Yarnadillo an excellent choice for knitters seeking to use up yarn scraps or explore creative color combinations.