Defoliated Leaf Cowl by Nick Davis

Defoliated Leaf Cowl

Knitting
February 2024
both are used in this pattern
Sport (12 wpi) ?
18 stitches and 40 rows = 4 inches
in garter stitch, worked in the round and lightly blocked
US 6 - 4.0 mm
US 7 - 4.5 mm
US 8 - 5.0 mm
3.5 mm (E)
690 - 800 yards (631 - 732 m)
Two sizes, s/m and m/l!
English
This pattern is available for $6.50 USD buy it now

Defoliated Leaf Cowl is a hooded cowl without the leaf-shaped front! It ended up being quite a bit different to Leaf Cowl, despite focusing on the same design approach. I’d planned to just remove the leaf, obviously, but now—

This one has two shaping options—you can go for more of a cowl look or the capelet/mini-shawl shown—and also has a much deeper hood. The hood is seriously voluminous. With this shaping, it’s about twice as deep as the Leaf Cowl’s. For the larger size, you could practically hide a creature in there. (Don’t hide a creature in there.)

Cowl shaping works for both sizes! Shawl shaping may work best for the larger option, but includes instructions for both.

Use scraps or self-striping yarns to emphasize the directional knitting, or a solid or kettle-dyed/tonal yarn for a more subtle effect. (It would also be good in a less-processed natural wool, which I don’t think would ruin the ethereal look at all.

Materials:

  • 690-800 yds of dk/worsted yarn; sample shown in scraps of Malabrigo Yarns Arroyo and Noro Silk Garden Sock
  • 1 set of DPNs and 1 48” circular needle in US6-8/4.0-5.0mm, or size needed for gauge.
  • Optional: 16” circular needle in size needed for gauge, or any other comfortable circular length. There are points where you’ll need to use magic loop if you’re going straight from DPNs to a long circular, so use your best judgement and feel free to work within your preferences here.
  • Tapestry needle for weaving in ends
  • 4+ removable stitch markers

Gauge:
Gauge is 18 sts and 40 rows over 4”/10cm of garter stitch, worked in the round and blocked.

Measurements:
As shown, cape version measures 25-31”/63-79cm tall from back triangle-point to top of hood, 38”/97cm tall from leaf-point to crown, and 11-13”/28-33cm flat across, for a cowl
circumference of about 22-26”/56-66cm.

Quick Shaping Note:
The schematic shows the capelet sample for now! The tube-cowl option will have the same circumference, but none of the shawl-style flare.