I followed the pattern with one exception: I slipped the first stitch along the edge of each triangle or rectangle where the stitches for the next tier would be picked up, which makes it easier to pick up those stitches evenly.

I used a German Twisted Cast-On with this cowl with the hopes of obtaining a little more stretch along the cast-on edge than afforded by the long-tail cast on. The result was actually less stretchy than the long-tail cast on (but better than the knitted cast on that I used in a prior cowl).