The Weaver’s Cowl is a new design in the “Victorian Women Today” series, named to honour a magazine editor, Jane Weaver.

This cowl is based on a stitch found in an 1862 women’s magazine, the well-known “Peterson’s Magazine;” the needlework editor at this period was Mrs. Jane Weaver. Jane’s name is found on many of the patterns published in the magazine while she was editor, and though it doesn’t necessarily mean she actually designed them they are an interesting assortment of designs. Some were for finished items—shawls, slippers, etc.—but I spotted this one and decided to try the stitch. It is indeed “pretty and simple,” and has the look of a woven herringbone stitch. It is very elastic, much like a rib stitch but—I think—prettier!

What is special about this cowl:

• Use any yarn with appropriate needles
• Make it any width
• Make it any length
• Make it as an “eternity” circle, either using a provisional cast-on and a special 3-needle bind-off, OR regular cast on, cast off, then sew the ends together
• Make it as a buttoned rectangle, versatile and fun

In the pattern I tell you how many stitches I cast on for my cowls, how many 2-row pattern repeats, the size of needles I used, etc.

Add your own unique touches to make it special! For my daughter’s cowl in blue DK weight yarn I made a matching crocheted headband, with a button-on flower; she can use the headband separately or wrap it twice around the stole for a different look!

For the brown/blue/beige super bulky yarn buttoned cowl, I made a couple of flowers to slip over a button to change the look sometimes.

Visit my blog for more information! Watch for more patterns in the Victorian Women Today series, too.
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