Inspired by beautiful images of the kelp forests of the Pacific Coast, and armed with some amazing yarns, I tried to emulate the vertical-majesty of the kelp plant. The pattern follows the plant from the holdfast to the surface and takes you with it!

To make this neckwarmer, you should be comfortable working two color brioche in the round, working brioche increases and decreases and working an i-cord cast on and bind off.

Notes on choosing colors:
A good contrast between your background and foreground colors will ensure that the brioche motif “pops” like in the grey/gold sample, but choosing two similarly-toned colors can also emulate the muted colors under the surface of the water, like in the blue/green sample.

It’s up to you which color to use for the i-cord edges In one sample, it made more sense for the grey BC to be the base because it was like rocks.In another sample it made more sense for the green FC tobe the base because it was more like an algae covered surface. Think about how you want it to look and go for it.You may decide to use the same color for both i-cord edges if you have enough yarn! I merely advise you to pay attention to the set up round in Step 2 to ensure you start the Brioche section correctly.

A note on gauge:
The grey/blue sample uses a heavy sport weight yarn with the same sized needle and it worked fine, the gauge for the sport version is closer to 23 sts and 25 rows in 4” using the brioche pattern in the round.

Yarns in the samples pictured:
Grey/Gold: Malabrigo Cashmerino (1 slein each color)
Blue/Green: Malabrigo Silky Merino (1 skein each color)
Blue/Grey: Madelinetosh Tosh Sport (less than 1 skein each)