Tuli

Tuli Cowl by Fiona Alice

What is Being Made

The Tuli Cowl is a reversible neck accessory designed by Fiona Alice, inspired by the Finnish summer solstice bonfire celebration known as Tuli, which translates to "fire" in Finnish. This knitted cowl features a finished circumference of 58cm (23 inches) and a depth of 21cm (8¼ inches), making it a versatile layering piece that can be worn with either side facing outward for two distinct textural presentations.

Design Inspiration and Features

The Tuli Cowl draws inspiration from the classic Fireflowers pattern, which has been thoughtfully modified for this design. The standout feature of this cowl is its complete reversibility—the construction method allows knitters to flip the finished piece to reveal an entirely different texture, effectively creating two distinct cowls in one project. This dual-sided design makes it an exceptionally versatile accessory for any wardrobe.

Construction Technique

The Tuli Cowl is worked in the round using a specialized construction method. Once the circular knitting is complete, the cowl is folded in half by bringing one end inside the other before grafting the edges together. This folding and grafting technique creates a double-layered, double-sided cowl with an incredibly cosy finish. The reversible nature of the design means that both sides feature distinct visual and textural interest.

Stitches and Stitch Techniques

Multiple combinations of garter stitch and slipped stitches are used throughout the Tuli design. These stitch combinations work together to create the textural variations that make the cowl reversible and visually interesting from both sides. The interplay between these fundamental knitting stitches produces the modified Fireflowers pattern effect.

Yarn and Materials

The Tuli Cowl is designed to be worked in Uncommon Thread BFL Singles, a 4ply (fingering weight) yarn composed of 100% superwash Bluefaced Leicester wool. This yarn provides 400 meters of yardage, and the pattern uses nearly all of the suggested yarn, making it important for knitters to check their tension before beginning. The 4ply weight classification makes this an ideal choice for creating the delicate stitch definition required for the garter and slipped stitch combinations.

Skill Level

The Tuli Cowl is rated as an intermediate difficulty project. This classification reflects the techniques involved, including working in the round, managing multiple stitch combinations, and executing the grafting technique required to join the folded cowl edges together seamlessly.

Pattern Format

The Tuli Cowl pattern is available as a downloadable PDF, allowing knitters to access the complete instructions digitally and work at their own pace.