Chain, Chain, Chain

Chain, Chain, Chain Cowl by Anne Hanson

Project Overview

Chain, Chain, Chain is a textured cowl design created by independent designer Anne Hanson. This knitting project features an unusual cable pattern that creates the visual appearance of multiple rope chains, resulting in a bold and modern fabric suitable for adding a fresh accent to outerwear. The cowl is available in three sizes: Small, Medium, and Large, allowing for customized fit and drape.

Design and Construction

The cowl showcases a deeply textured construction inspired by an unconventional cable technique. The pattern uses a provisional cast on at the beginning, with the two ends grafted together to complete the seamless circular cowl. This construction method ensures a polished finish without visible seams. The easily memorized stitch pattern makes this project ideal for TV knitting or spectator knitting, as crafters can work through the repeats without constant pattern reference. The design knits up quickly, making it an excellent choice for a traveling project.

Yarn and Materials

Chain, Chain, Chain is designed to work with worsted weight yarn, which contributes to the quick knitting pace and bold texture of the finished cowl. The pattern has been tested with several quality yarn options, including Spirit Trail Verdande, Bare Naked Wools Chebris Worsted, Better Breakfast DK, Confection, Kent Worsted, Madelintosh Pashmina Worsted, SweetGeorgia Yarns Trinity Worsted, and Indigodragonfly MCS Worsted. Crafters should note that substituting yarn and/or needles may result in overall variation in size and drape of the finished cowel.

Skill Level and Techniques

This project is rated at an intermediate difficulty level, making it suitable for knitters with some experience beyond basic stockinette stitch. The primary techniques involved include:

• Cable knitting—the foundation of the unusual cable pattern that creates the chain-like appearance
• Provisional cast on—a temporary cast-on method that allows for grafting the ends together
• Grafting—the technique used to seamlessly join the two ends of the cowl
• Pattern memorization—the repeating stitch pattern is designed to be easily committed to memory

Coordinating Designs

Chain, Chain, Chain is part of a coordinated collection by Anne Hanson. The cowl pairs with two complementary projects: the Chain of Fools hat and the Cuffed Links mittens. These three pieces can be knitted together to create a cohesive, attention-grabbing set suitable for winter activities on slopes or sidewalks.