Bisbee

Bisbee Cowl by Taiga Hilliard Designs

What is Being Made

Bisbee is an advanced knitting pattern for a cowl or scarf featuring a beautiful combination of cable and lace elements. The design offers versatility with three size options: a standard Cowl, Medium Cowl, and Double Loop configuration. The length and width can be easily adjusted to suit individual preferences, making it a customizable accessory project.

Knitting Technique and Construction

Bisbee is knit in the round using circular needles, allowing for seamless construction and a fast knitting pace. The pattern is suitable for advanced knitters and features both written instructions and charted patterns for every row, providing multiple reference formats to follow the design. The cast-on uses the long tail method with 114 stitches for the standard Cowl size, 190 stitches for the Medium Cowl, and 247 stitches for the Double Loop version.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Bisbee pattern combines fundamental knitting techniques with decorative elements:

• Cable Stitch: Created using a cable needle to slip stitches and hold them in front while knitting subsequent stitches, producing the characteristic twisted rope texture
• Lace Stitches: Incorporates yarn overs (YO) to create openwork and decorative holes throughout the pattern
• Decreases: Uses K2tog (knit two stitches together) and SSK (slip, slip, knit together) to shape and balance the lace elements
• Stockinette Stitch: Knit rounds alternate with purl rounds in the foundation rows to establish the base fabric

The main pattern repeat combines these stitches in a structured sequence: K2tog, knit 1, YO, SSK, YO, knit 1, YO, K2tog, YO, knit 1, SSK, and additional knit stitches, creating a balanced and visually appealing fabric.

Materials and Specifications

Bisbee is designed for Sport or DK weight yarn, offering flexibility in yarn selection. The pattern sample shown uses Mary Gavans Hoodoo in Lagoon, a specific yarn choice that demonstrates the pattern's appearance. Knitters will need US size 7 (4.50 mm) circular needles to achieve the correct gauge.

The gauge is 19.0 stitches over 4 inches, which is important for achieving the intended finished dimensions. Yardage requirements vary by size: the standard Cowl requires 250 yards, the Medium Cowl requires approximately 400 yards, and the Double Loop version requires up to 550 yards of yarn.

Pattern Format

This is a downloadable PDF pattern from independent designer Taiga Hilliard Designs. The pattern includes both written row-by-row instructions and charted representations, making it accessible to knitters who prefer either format or wish to use both as reference tools.