Product Description
This cowl is inspired by the fairy tale “die Gänsemagd” or “[the goose girl][2]”. In this the eponymous heroine is a princess who is send to a different country to get married. Her mother gives her a kerchief with three drops of blood to identify herself. Thanks to her evil maid she drops said kerchief into a river and later becomes the goose girl as she can't prove she's the real princess.
The three red buttons represent the three drops of blood and the lace pattern the river.
The pattern is seamless, apart form attaching the buttons.
Join the ungoing KAL [here][3].
Size: 75cm x 21cm (29.5'' x 8'') but easily adjustable.
Needles: 6mm / US 10
Yarn: 1 skein of Herdywool 100% wool in Ecru
Difficulty: The lace is knitted on both sides, but if you knitted lace before this is easy.
Notions: 3 red buttons
Pattern has both CHART and WRITTEN Instructions
Gänsemagd Cowl by Atalante
What is Being Made
The Gänsemagd is a knitted cowl inspired by the classic fairy tale "die Gänsemagd" (The Goose Girl). This intermediate-level knitting project creates a finished cowl measuring 75cm x 21cm (29.5" x 8"), designed to be worn as a neck accessory. The design incorporates symbolic elements from the story: three red buttons representing the three drops of blood from the princess's magical kerchief, and a lace pattern evoking the river into which the kerchief is lost. This narrative-driven accessory combines storytelling with wearable knitwear.
Techniques Used
The Gänsemagd cowl employs lace knitting as its primary decorative technique, creating an openwork pattern that symbolizes the river central to the fairy tale. The pattern requires knitters to work with yarn overs and decreases to form the lace motif. The cowl is constructed using stockinette stitch as the base fabric, which provides a smooth, classic foundation for the lace elements. Blocking is recommended to set the finished piece and ensure proper drape and dimensions, using blocking wires or smooth string with pins.
Stitches Used
- Stockinette stitch — forms the primary fabric structure
- Lace pattern stitches — created through yarn overs and decreases to produce the openwork design representing the river
Materials Required
This cowl is designed to be worked in Herdywool 100% wool yarn in Ecru, requiring 1 skein. The pattern calls for US 10 (6 mm) needles for the main knitting. Additional materials include a tapestry needle for weaving in ends, 3 red buttons approximately 1.5cm (0.5") in diameter (or matching buttons to suit your preference) to represent the blood drops, and blocking wires or smooth string with pins for finishing.
Gauge and Sizing Notes
The pattern specifies a gauge of 14 stitches x 21 rows in a 10cm (4") square worked in stockinette stitch. The designer notes that gauge is not critical to this project, though variations in gauge will affect both the finished size and yardage requirements. Knitters working at a different gauge should expect their cowl dimensions and yarn consumption to differ accordingly.
```Specifications
| Brand: | Independent Designer |
| Pages: | 6 |
| Designer: | Atalante |
| Craft: | Knitting |
| Format: | Downloadable PDF |
| Languages: | English |
| Number of Patterns: | 1 |
| Skill Level: | Intermediate |
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