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Color block cable cowl - free tutorial!

With knitting, the possibilities are endless and the fabulous Nicki Trench's Color Block Knits'has loads of inspiration for your next project. And the best part is, they all use fabulous self-striping designs! We are just lusting after this gorgeous cable cowl, what are you waiting for?

The horizontal cables on this cowl and the colors of the Faerie Cake yarn create the impression of waves on the sea. This is a really lovely cowl to make—it’s worked on straight needles and then the seams are joined at the end to create a cozy ring of cable fabric.

We've substituted the x2 balls of faerie cake yarn for Paintbox Yarns Chunky Pots.

Materials

  • Caron Cakes (100% acrylic, approx. 382yds/350m per 7oz/200g ball) worsted (aran) weight yarn
  • 2 balls of 17010 Faerie Cake
  • US size 10 (6mm) knitting needles
  • Cable needle or double-pointed needle
  • Row counter
  • Yarn sewing needle

Finished Measurements

Approx. 53½ x 7½ in (136 x 19cm)

Gauge (Tension)

3 cables (unstretched) x 24 rows over a 5in (12.5cm) square in cable pattern, using US size 10 (6mm) needles.

Pro Tip

Use a row counter to mark the 20-row pattern, crossing the cable on Rows 4 and 14.

Time to make the cowl!

1

Cast on 55 sts.

Row 1: K2, [k2, p8, k2, k1] 4 times, k1.

2

Row 2: K2, [p2, k8, p2, k1] 4 times, k1.

3

Row 3: Rep Row 1.

4

Row 4: K2, *p2, sl next 4 sts onto cable needle and hold in back, k4, k4 from cable needle, p2, k1; rep from * 3 times, k1.

5

Rows 5–12: Rep Rows 1 and 2 four times.

6

Row 13: Rep Row 1.

7

Row 14: K2, *p2, sl next 4 sts onto cable needle and hold in front, k4, k4 from cable needle, p2, k1; rep from * 3 times, k1.

8

Rows 15–20: Rep Rows 1 and 2 three times.

9

Rep Rows 1–20 until 300 rows are worked and cowl measures approx. 53½ in (136cm).

10

Bind (cast) off.

11

Finishing:

Use mattress stitch to join the seam, matching the cables as you go. Sew in any yarn ends.

step 11

Love this pattern? Buy Color Block Knits from MAKEetc.com.

Photography by James Gardiner  CICO Books.

What will you knit next?