Cheatgrass

Cheatgrass Cowl by Anne Hanson

What Is Being Made

Cheatgrass is a lace cowl pattern designed by Anne Hanson, available as a downloadable PDF. This neckwarmer is offered in two sizes—small and large—and features a delicate, gossamer construction inspired by the natural movement of grasses and vines. The cowl showcases an organic, rustic aesthetic while maintaining an elegant drape suitable as a gift or personal accessory.

Knitting Technique and Construction

This cowl is worked in the round with the right side facing at all times, creating a seamless tubular garment. The design employs an intuitive lace knitting approach that makes it accessible to knitters of varying experience levels. The pattern's distinctive visual effect—featuring pleasantly irregular angles and tangled forms—is achieved through a clever technique of introducing and removing rest rows in different sections of the motif. This strategic placement of rest rows creates the ever-changing directional flow that echoes natural grass movement.

Stitches and Lace Pattern

The Cheatgrass cowl utilizes simple stitch maneuvers characteristic of lace knitting, making it an excellent beginner-friendly project despite its sophisticated appearance. The pattern relies on basic lace techniques rather than complex stitch combinations, allowing knitters new to lace to build confidence while creating visually striking results. The lace construction produces a fabric that is simultaneously delicate and rustic, with interesting edge details that enhance the organic aesthetic.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The pattern is shown worked in Bare Naked Wools Cabécou Lace in the colorway Meringue for the size small cowl. The designer suggests several compatible yarn options for substitution:

• Bare Naked Wools Deco Lace
• Better Breakfast Fingering
• Stone Soup Fingering
• Chebris Lace
• Cabécou Lace
• Handmaiden Fine Yarn Cashmere and Silk
• Valle

These are all fingering-weight or lace-weight yarns suitable for creating the delicate, gossamer fabric characteristic of this design. Yarn and needle substitutions may result in variations in overall size, drape, and yardage requirements, so gauge swatching is recommended when using alternative materials.

Difficulty Level

Designed as a beginner-friendly project, the Cheatgrass cowl introduces lace knitting techniques in an intuitive manner. The simple stitch maneuvers and straightforward construction make it an ideal pattern for knitters looking to explore lace knitting without overwhelming complexity.