Mondwaben

Mondwaben Cowl by Tanja Osswald

What Is Being Made

Mondwaben is a reversible crochet cowl designed by Tanja Osswald, featuring a clever two-sided construction that allows the wearer to choose between displaying a dark side (representing a new moon) or a light side (representing a full moon). This winter accessory measures approximately 15 cm (6 inches) in height with a circumference of 52 cm (20.5 inches), making it a versatile neckwear piece suitable for cold-weather layering.

Crochet Techniques and Stitches

This intermediate-level crochet project employs specialized slip stitch variations to achieve its reversible design. The pattern utilizes the following stitches and techniques:

• Chain stitches (ch): Foundation and structural elements throughout the cowl
• Front loop only slip stitch (F): A specialized slip stitch worked through the front loop only, contributing to the dimensional texture
• Inverse back loop only slip stitch (iB): A variation of the back loop only slip stitch that creates the contrasting visual effect between the two sides of the cowl

The pattern uses David Burchall's terminology for slip stitch variations, providing precise technical instructions for achieving the reversible effect. The gauge is 16 stitches and 16 rows per 10 cm × 10 cm (4 in × 4 in) square, which is essential for achieving the correct finished dimensions.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

Mondwaben is designed to be crafted from mYak Baby Yak Medium yarn, a luxurious fiber composition of 100% yak. The yarn provides 114 meters per 50 grams. The project requires 25 grams each of two coordinating colorways: Burgundy (for the dark side) and Night Flower (for the light side), totaling 50 grams of yarn. A 6 mm crochet hook (US size J) is used throughout the construction. A darning needle is required for seaming the finished cowl. The completed cowl weighs approximately 36 grams, though having a few extra grams of yarn on hand is recommended to account for individual crochet tension variations.

Yarn Weight and Difficulty Level

This pattern is worked with worsted weight yarn, a medium-weight fiber that provides warmth and structure. The project is classified as intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for crocheters with some experience who are comfortable working with specialized stitch techniques and managing color changes in a reversible construction.