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For more helix knitting patterns, see the rest of my Ink Series.

Worked in the round from the bottom to top, Ink Cowl uses the helix knitting technique to create easy jogless one-row stripes around the circumference. Completely reversible thanks to invisible color changes, one side displays stockinette stitch and the other reverse stockinette, each with a slipped stitch decorative linear detail. Pair two contrasting tonal yarns as in the grey sample, or match a neutral main color with an array of leftovers as shown in the gold. Versatile fingering weight yarn makes a comfortably lightweight neckwarmer.

Construction: The helix knitting technique avoids the jog in color between stripe rounds, as well as removes the ridge where yarns are carried on the reverse of the work, making the cowl delightfully reversible. Helix knitting is used in the striped body of the Ink Cowl, with 8 stationary markers to indicate the position of the slipped stitch columns; check both sides of the work frequently, to be sure these columns are maintained. No EOR marker is needed, as the “round” is constantly spiraling around the work. The Ink Cowl is cast on and bound off using the tubular method for smooth, infinity edges. The cowl offers two hem variations; 3/4” in double knitting for a stockinette appearance, or a transition to comfortable K1P1 ribbing. Add color B for the helix stripes section, worked with just one color every round. When changing yarns, do not cross or twist the yarns; drop the old color to the right, and pick up the new color from underneath it on the left. The initial EOR marker serves as a mA during the striping; simply treat it as a mA and slip it purlwise every time you meet it. For my video tutorials of helix stripe knitting & the tubular CO method, see www.jenniferdassau.com/support/tutorials/

Techniques & Skills Used: tubular CO and BO, knit/purl, slipped stitches, working in the round.

Size: S (M, L); about 17.5 (19, 20.25)” circumference and 8” height, measured flat and unstretched; samples shown in size M.

Yarn: use fingering weight yarn in two colors from any combination of full skeins, mini skeins, or leftovers, about 80-120 (A) and 40-60 (B) yards total.

Yarn (gold Ink sample): Miss Babs Katahdin 437 (100% superwash Bluefaced Leicester wool; 437 yards/400m/100g), 1 skein Dark Roast (A), and Miss Babs Yummy 2-Ply Toes (100% superwash merino wool, 133 yards/122m/37g) (B). Use fingering weight yarn in two colors from any combination of full skeins, mini skeins, or leftovers. The gold sample used 96 (A) and 48 (B) yards, with small amounts of three different colors used for B.

Yarn (grey Ink sample): Miss Babs Yummy 2-Ply (100% superwash merino wool, 400 yards/365m/110g)), 1 skein Oxidized Silver (A), and Miss Babs Estrellita (92% superwash merino wool, 8% lurex; 400 yards/365m/115g), 1 skein Gal Noir (B). Use fingering weight yarn in two colors from any combination of full skeins, mini skeins, or leftovers. The grey sample used 100 (A) and 52 (B) yards.

Other Materials: US 5 (3.75mm) 16” circular needle, or size to match gauge; (2) US 4 (3.5mm) 16” circular needles and scrap yarn for tubular CO and BO; Stitch markers (4 color A and 4 color B); Yarn needle.

Gauge: 22 st and 32 rounds/4” in stockinette stitch after blocking. Gauge is not critical for this project, however a different gauge may result in a smaller or larger finished cowl, and different yardage requirements.

Thank you to my wonderful tech editor Kate Vanover.