Heart in my Hands Cowl

Heart in my Hands Cowl by Kath Andrews

What is Being Made

The Heart in my Hands Cowl is a warm and comforting stranded cowl designed to coordinate with the Heart in my Hands Mitts and Hat collection. This knitted accessory is worked in the round from the bottom up, making it a versatile piece that can be easily adapted to suit individual preferences in both circumference and height. The pattern provides multiple sizing options to accommodate different needs.

Craft and Primary Technique

This is a knitting project worked using the stranded colorwork technique, also known as Fair Isle knitting. Stranded colorwork involves carrying multiple yarn colors across the inside of the fabric while working with the active color, creating a two-color pattern on the finished piece. The pattern is worked in the round, which means stitches are worked continuously in a circular fashion rather than in flat rows, resulting in a seamless tubular construction ideal for cowl neckwear.

Stitches and Techniques

The Heart in my Hands Cowl employs Fair Isle colorwork techniques with specific guidance for maintaining consistent appearance throughout the project. The pattern includes detailed instructions for managing multiple yarn colors effectively:

• Stranded colorwork – The primary technique, where unused yarn colors are carried along the inside of the work
• Yarn management for Fair Isle – The pattern recommends holding the contrast color (CC) below both main colors (MC1 and MC2) to ensure the Fair Isle design appears consistently prominent
• Two-handed knitting option – For those who work with both hands, holding the CC in the left hand and MC in the right hand promotes a smooth, consistent appearance
• Yarn weaving – To avoid long strands of yarn floating inside the cowl, the pattern instructs knitters to weave the yarn not in use with the yarn currently being worked, achieved by twisting the strands together

Yarn and Materials

The Heart in my Hands Cowl is worked using Erika Knight Wool Local, a 100% wool yarn available in 450m per 100g skeins. The pattern accommodates multiple yarn weights, including 3-ply, 4-ply, and lace weight options, allowing for flexibility in yarn selection and final fabric characteristics.

For the size shown in the pattern, the yardage requirements are as follows:

• MC1 (Main Color 1) – 150 meters / 33 grams
• MC2 (Main Color 2) – 60 meters / 13 grams
• CC (Contrast Color) – 126 meters / 28 grams

Each repeat of the colorwork chart uses specific yardage quantities: MC1 requires 27 meters, MC2 requires 10 meters, and CC requires 21 meters per repeat. This information allows knitters to calculate yardage needs for adapted sizes.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for knitters with some experience. The stranded colorwork technique and in-the-round construction require familiarity with basic knitting skills, yarn management, and the ability to follow a chart-based pattern. The adaptability options for circumference and height add complexity but also provide customization opportunities for experienced crafters.

Pattern design and copyright © Kath Andrews Designs 2021. All rights reserved. This pattern is for personal use only.