Powder River Set

Powder River Set by Laura Chau

What is Being Made

The Powder River Set is a coordinating collection of handwarmers and cowl designed to be worn together. This matching set provides both neck and hand warmth through thoughtfully engineered knitwear pieces that showcase an innovative folded fabric construction.

Design Features and Construction

Both the handwarmers and cowl are constructed using a distinctive folded fabric technique that creates the visual appearance of cable knitting without employing traditional cable stitches. This clever design approach produces gentle undulating waves throughout the fabric that serve a functional purpose: the textured surface traps air within the folds, significantly enhancing the warmth-retention properties of the finished pieces.

The garments are worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, which simplifies the knitting process while maintaining structural integrity. Closure is achieved through the addition of tiny mother of pearl buttons, adding both functional and aesthetic refinement to the completed set.

Finished Dimensions

Handwarmers: Available in two sizes with finished circumferences of 7" or 9" around the knuckles, with a depth of 5.5" or 6" depending on the size selected.

Cowl: Offered in close-fitting and loose-fitting options with finished circumferences of 20" or 24" respectively, providing versatility for different styling preferences and fit requirements.

Yarn and Materials

The Powder River Set is designed to showcase fine, slightly thick-and-thin yarn with brilliant color options. The pattern sample is worked in Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light, a superwash merino wool yarn offering 440 yards per 4-ounce skein with 100% natural fiber content. The colorway shown is Fragrant.

Yardage Requirements: The cowl requires 270 yards for the smaller size or 325 yards for the larger size (247 to 298 meters respectively).

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

This advanced-level knitting project employs specialized techniques to create its signature folded fabric effect. Rather than relying on traditional cable stitches and their accompanying yarn overs, the design uses alternative stitch manipulation to achieve visual depth and textural interest. The undulating wave pattern emerges through careful stitch placement and shaping rather than complex cable crossings.

The construction method demonstrates intermediate to advanced knitting skills, making this set suitable for experienced knitters seeking to expand their technical repertoire with innovative fabric-creation methods.

Needles and Notions

• US 2 / 2.75mm needles (straight or circular) for main cowl construction
• US 2 / 2.75mm double-pointed needles for handwarmer shaping
• US 0 or 1 / 2.0 or 2.25mm double-pointed needle (single needle for specialized techniques)
• Tiny mother of pearl buttons for closure on both pieces

Yarn Weight and Fiber Characteristics

The pattern calls for 4-ply weight yarn, which provides the ideal balance between drape and structure for the folded fabric technique. The slight variations in yarn thickness throughout the strand add visual interest and texture to the finished pieces, while the superwash merino fiber ensures durability and easy care for these frequently-worn accessories.

Technical Editing: Pattern development and technical refinement provided by Jaya Purswani, ensuring accuracy and clarity throughout the instructions.