The Helicowl is my favourite pattern name to date and it is all due to a spelling mistake! I meant to type Helical Cowl and Helicowl came out and well, it was destiny. No one wanted this to be Simply the Simplest Helical Cowl … no one!

This pattern is currently only available in Knit School but will be available to buy on Ravelry from December 2020.

Pattern Notes
The Helicowl has been designed as a project for knitters learning how to do helical stripes and to build confidence with tubular cast-ons. It is available in two sizes, the second size can be worn with or without doubling it. There is an option to work the cowl with a long-tail cast-on and a stretchy cast-off if preferred. The yarn usage is similar.

Sizes
Finished cowl size (circumference, height):
Size 1: 60 cm / 24 ins, 22.5 cm / 9 ins
Size 2: 120 cm / 48 ins, 22.5 cm / 9 ins

Yarn
Yarn brand & line: Banshee Yarns Cashmere DK (shown here in Blazer & Airgead).
Yarn detail: 80% superwash merino wool, 10% cashmere, 10% nylon. 212 meters / 231 yards per 100g skein.

Both sizes use less than two 100g skeins of Cashmere DK. It is possible to make two Size 1 cowls with the two skeins. To do this, ensure you complete the body of the first cowl
with more than 55g of C1 remaining. Size 2 uses almost all of both skeins.

Yarn Substitution
Cashmere DK is a soft but dense DK-weight yarn. Gauge is often different to finer DK weight yarns. It should be possible to substitute many animal fibre and soft man-made fibre DK yarns to make this cowl. Swatching is recommended to ensure that the required cowl size is achieved and to ensure sufficient yarn is purchased for the project.

Gauge
20 stitches and 28 rounds to 10 cm / 4 ins on 4mm needles in helical striped stocking stitch.

Needles
Size 1: 4mm 40cm-long circular needle, or size needed to achieve gauge; an extra 4mm circular needle or DPN for the tubular cast-off
Size 2: 4mm 80cm-long circular needle, or size needed to achieve gauge; an extra 4mm circular needle or DPN for the tubular cast-off

Optional: In some circumstances, knitters prefer to work a tubular cast-on using long straight needles. The tutorial for this pattern shows long needles being used for the caston
and the first set-up row of the tubular cast-on.

Notions
Scissors, darning needle for ends, 1 stitch marker (more if you would like to use them for counting the stitches during your cast-on)

Techniques
This pattern includes a tubular cast-on, a tubular cast-off, single-round helical stripes in two colours and kitchener stitch for grafting. Tutorials for all of these techniques are
included in the Helicowl Pattern Knit Through, available in Knit School.