Just keep swimming cowl is inspired by the aquatic sports that are happening as part of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014. The instructions are for a short distance swim cowl, which forms just one loop around the neck. A long distance cowl can be made by adding in extra pattern repeats.

The cowl uses a combination of intarsia and stranded colourwork. Two bobbins of MC are needed to work either side of the pool ends, and a small bobbin of CC1 is handy for knitting the diver’s feet at the beginning of the chart. No additional bobbins are necessary for CC2 or CC3 – floats can be carried across the back of the work for the two lines of water, and for the start/finish line. The cowl is worked back and forth, end to end. The ends are then grafted together.

materials
aran weight yarn | MC: 150m | CC1: 50m | CC2: 50m | CC3: 50m
Sample was knitted in Drops Nepal shades 8038 (MC), 8783 (CC1), 0501 (CC2) and 4399 (CC3)

gauge
14 stitches and 21 rows per 10 x 10cm in colourwork, although exact gauge is not crucial

notions
4.5mm needles (or size needed to obtain gauge) + spare needle of same/similar size (for grafting)
Crochet hook & scrap yarn (for provisional cast on)
Darning needle (for kitchener stitch, and weaving in ends)

Photos and modelling courtesy of Graham Campbell.
Thanks to SadieLou and pollianicus for help with editing!

I would love to see your projects here on Ravelry or on Instagram - use #justkeepswimmingcowl #commonwealthcowls and/or tag me @hannahmadeinscotland so I can find them! ♡