Berries, Leaves and Vines

Berries, Leaves and Vines Cowl by Michael Harrigan

What is Being Made

The Berries, Leaves and Vines pattern is a knitted cowl designed to capture the warm autumn colors of the northeastern United States. This circular cowl features stranded colorwork patterns depicting berries, leaves, and vines inspired by fall foliage. The finished cowl measures 22½ inches (56.5 cm) in circumference and 9¼ inches (23 cm) in height, making it a versatile neckwear piece suitable for layering during cooler seasons.

Design Inspiration and Concept

Designer Michael Harrigan created this pattern to evoke the seasonal beauty of autumn colors, drawing from his memories of growing up in the northeastern United States despite living in tropical Thailand. The pattern translates natural botanical imagery—berries, leaves, and vines—into knitted stranded colorwork, allowing crafters to wear a wearable representation of fall's distinctive palette.

Knitting Techniques Used

Stranded Colorwork: The primary technique employed in this cowl is stranded colorwork, also known as Fair Isle knitting. This method involves carrying two colors of yarn across the back of the work while knitting with the active color in the foreground. The pattern uses only two colors per round, which simplifies the stranded colorwork process and makes it accessible for intermediate-level knitters. This approach minimizes the complexity of managing multiple yarn colors simultaneously while still creating visually interesting and detailed patterns.

Circular Knitting: The cowl is knit in the round from the bottom up using circular needles. This construction method eliminates the need for seaming and creates a seamless, tubular fabric that is ideal for neckwear. Knitting in the round allows for continuous rounds of colorwork without interruption, maintaining pattern consistency throughout the circumference.

Stitches and Stitch Work

While specific stitch abbreviations are not detailed in the pattern excerpt provided, the cowl utilizes fundamental knitting stitches combined with the stranded colorwork technique. The pattern involves working stockinette stitch as the base fabric while introducing the two-color stranded patterns that depict the berries, leaves, and vines motifs. The gauge is blocked at 30 stitches, indicating a relatively fine gauge appropriate for the fingering weight yarn used.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

Yarn: The pattern calls for fingering weight yarn, specifically Miss Babs Yummy 2-Ply Toes, which is composed of 100% Superwash Merino Wool. Each skein contains 133 yards (121 meters) and weighs 1.3 ounces (38 grams). The pattern requires three skeins total—one skein each of three coordinating colors. The original design features Box Turtle (Color A), Fleur de Sel (Color B), and Turkey Red (Color C). Alternatively, crafters may substitute approximately 115 yards (110 meters) of fingering weight yarn in each of three colors of their choice, allowing for creative color selection while maintaining the autumn-inspired aesthetic.

Needles: The pattern requires US 2 (2.75mm) circular needles measuring 16 inches (40 cm) in length, or a size adjusted to obtain the specified gauge of 30 stitches when blocked. The use of circular needles is essential for knitting this cowl in the round.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as intermediate difficulty. While stranded colorwork can appear complex, the limitation of using only two colors per round makes this project manageable for knitters with some experience. Intermediate-level knitters should be comfortable with circular knitting, reading colorwork charts, and managing multiple yarn colors while maintaining consistent tension.

Yarn Weight and Gauge Considerations

The use of 4-ply fingering weight yarn creates a fine, delicate fabric suitable for a refined neckwear piece. The blocked gauge of 30 stitches per inch ensures that the stranded colorwork patterns are clearly defined and visually striking. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the finished measurements and ensuring the cowl fits appropriately around the neck.