Laitis Cowl

Laitis Cowl by K.M. Bedigan

Project Overview

The Laitis is a simple cabled cowl designed by K.M. Bedigan, created as a knitting project perfect for showcasing luxurious fingering weight yarns. This intermediate-level cowl emphasizes twisted stitches and cable techniques to create visual interest and texture. The finished cowl measures 12" x 9" (30cm x 23cm) when measured flat, making it a versatile neckwear piece suitable for layering.

What is Being Made

This is a cowl—a tubular neckwear accessory that can be worn looped around the neck for warmth and style. The Laitis cowl is designed as a one-size project, offering a balanced proportion between width and length for comfortable wear. The design showcases the beauty of premium yarns through strategic cable and twisted stitch placement.

Techniques Used

The Laitis cowl employs several key knitting techniques to achieve its finished aesthetic:

• Cable Stitches: The pattern uses multiple cable crossing techniques, including 1/1 Left Purl Twist (1/1 LPT) and 1/1 Right Purl Twist (1/1 RPT), which create twisted, rope-like textures. These cables are formed by slipping stitches to a cable needle and holding them either in front or behind the work before knitting or purling them in sequence.
• Twisted Stitches: Knitting through the back loop (k tbl) is used throughout the pattern to create additional texture and emphasis. This technique involves inserting the needle through the back of the stitch rather than the front, twisting the stitch and creating a distinct visual effect.
• Circular Knitting: The cowl is worked in the round using circular needles, which allows for seamless construction. The pattern accommodates both standard circular needle methods and the magic loop technique for smaller circumferences.

Stitches Used

The Laitis cowl utilizes fundamental knitting stitches combined with advanced cable and twisted variations:

• Knit (k): The basic knit stitch forms the foundation of the fabric.
• Purl (p): Purl stitches are incorporated, particularly within the cable and twisted stitch sequences to create contrast and texture.
• Knit Through Back Loop (k tbl): This twisted variation is used frequently to emphasize the cable and twisted stitch patterns, creating a more defined and textured appearance.
• 1/1 Left Purl Twist (1/1 LPT): One stitch is slipped to a cable needle and held at the front of the work, then one purl stitch is worked from the left needle, followed by knitting one stitch through the back loop from the cable needle.
• 1/1 Right Purl Twist (1/1 RPT): One stitch is slipped to a cable needle and held at the back of the work, then one knit stitch through the back loop is worked from the left needle, followed by purling one stitch from the cable needle.
• T3Rpktbl (Triple Right Purl Knit Through Back Loop): Two stitches are slipped purlwise to a cable needle and held at the back of the work. One stitch is knitted through the back loop from the left needle, then one purl stitch and one knit through the back loop stitch are worked from the cable needle, creating a more complex twisted cable effect.

Materials and Tools

Yarn: The pattern calls for 300 yards (275 metres) of fingering weight yarn, also known as 4 ply yarn. The sample shown in the pattern uses MadeleineTosh Tosh Merino Light in the 'Stephen Loves Tosh' colourway, demonstrating how the twisted and cable stitches beautifully showcase the qualities of premium merino yarn. Fingering weight yarn is ideal for creating detailed stitch definition, allowing the cable and twisted stitch patterns to be clearly visible.

Needles: The pattern requires one 4mm (US 6) circular needle with a minimum length of 24" (60cm). The longer length accommodates both traditional circular needle methods and the magic loop technique, providing flexibility for knitters with different preferences or needle collections.

Additional Notions: Seven stitch markers are needed to track pattern repeats and key points throughout the circular knitting. A tapestry needle is required for weaving in yarn ends and finishing the cowl.