Ablaze

Ablaze Cowl by Andrea Rangel

What Is Being Made

Ablaze is an advanced-level knitted cowl designed by Andrea Rangel. This project is worked as a seamless tube in the round, creating a versatile neckwear piece with finished dimensions of 46.5 inches in length and 6.5 inches in width. The tube circumference measures 13 inches, making it suitable for wrapping around the neck multiple times or wearing as a generous cowl.

Construction Technique

The cowl employs a sophisticated construction method that begins with a provisional cast on, allowing the knitter to work the entire length of the scarf as a continuous tube. Once the desired length is achieved, the provisional cast on is carefully removed and the two ends are grafted together using Kitchener stitch, creating a seamless join. This technique requires intermediate to advanced grafting skills and produces a professional, polished finish with no visible seams.

The pattern incorporates stranded colorwork, which is a technique where two colors of yarn are carried across the back of the work to create color patterns from charts. Because stranded colorwork tends to result in tighter tension than plain stockinette stitch, the pattern recommends using a larger needle size for the colorwork sections compared to plain stockinette sections. Knitters are strongly advised to swatch both the plain stockinette and the colorwork sections separately to determine if needle adjustments are necessary for their individual tension.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The primary stitch used throughout the Ablaze cowl is stockinette stitch, which creates a smooth, classic fabric. The colorwork is charted and must be read from right to left, following the standard convention for circular knitting. The pattern uses two colors of yarn to create the design, with the main color and a contrast color worked together in stranded colorwork sections.

Gauge and Sizing

Achieving proper gauge is essential for this project. The plain stockinette stitch gauge is 22 stitches and 32 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) when blocked. The colorwork sections have a slightly different gauge of 22 stitches and 26 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) when blocked, reflecting the tighter tension typical of stranded colorwork.

Materials and Yarn Requirements

The Ablaze cowl is designed for DK weight yarn, a medium-light yarn weight suitable for creating fabric with good drape and definition. The pattern requires:

• Main Color: 370 yards (340 meters) of DK weight yarn
• Contrast Color: 250 yards (227 meters) of DK weight yarn

The pattern is shown worked in Madelinetosh Tosh Merino DK, which is 100% superwash merino wool with 225 yards (206 meters) per 100-gram skein. The main color shown is Tart, requiring 2 skeins. This yarn choice provides a luxurious, soft fabric with excellent stitch definition for displaying the colorwork pattern.

Tools Required

Knitters will need circular needles appropriate for DK weight yarn and the stitch gauge specified in the pattern. As mentioned, having a larger needle size available for the colorwork sections is recommended to accommodate the tighter tension that naturally occurs when working with multiple colors.