Depth

Depth Cowl by Hannah Miller

What Is Being Made

Depth is an airy, textured cowl designed by Hannah Miller of Windblown Fibers. This advanced knitting project creates a lightweight neck accessory featuring striking visual depth and dimension through the strategic combination of contrasting yarn weights. The cowl is designed to showcase indie-dyed yarns beautifully, making it an ideal project for knitters who want to highlight hand-dyed or specialty fibers in their collection.

Knitting Techniques Used

The Depth cowl employs a unique directional knitting technique to create its distinctive rippled texture. Rather than using traditional short rows for shaping, the pattern involves turning the work every few rounds and knitting in the opposite direction. This creates a ripple effect that gives the cowl its characteristic dimensional appearance. The technique is described as easy to memorize, making it an accessible advanced project despite its sophisticated visual results. Because the pattern is worked entirely in knit stitches, all texture and visual interest comes from the directional work and yarn weight contrast rather than complex stitch patterns.

Stitches and Stitch Details

The Depth cowl is worked exclusively in knit stitches. The textural interest and ripple effect are achieved through the turning technique rather than through varied stitch patterns, making this an excellent project for knitters who prefer straightforward stitch work. The simplicity of the stitch pattern allows the yarn characteristics and the directional knitting method to take center stage.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

Needles: US 6 / 4mm circular needle, 32 inches in length.

Yarn Used: The pattern calls for two distinct yarns that work together to create the textured effect:

• Greenwood Fiberworks Fine Fluff (Lace weight, 1 ply): 72% kid mohair and 28% silk blend, providing 459 yards per 50-gram skein. Approximately 459 yards of this lace weight yarn is required.
• Greenwood Fiberworks Simply Sock (Fingering weight, 3 ply): 75% Superwash Merino and 25% nylon blend, providing 463 yards per 100-gram skein. This yarn provides the structure and contrast to the delicate mohair.

The contrast between the lace weight mohair and the fingering weight sock yarn is essential to the design, as the difference in weight makes the ripple stitch pattern visually prominent. The mohair adds airiness and a luxurious feel, while the merino-nylon blend provides durability and elasticity. This combination creates a cowl suitable for advanced knitters seeking a project that balances technical interest with beautiful yarn showcasing.