For me, the lack of physical human contact has been the worst part of managing this pandemic. I long for the days that I can put my arms around my best friend and squeeze her tight! This year, it just made sense to design a neck-hugging Valentine with the softest yarn in my stash. And since the only kind of hugs I am getting are the virtual, from-six-feet-away ones, Air Hugs seemed the logical choice for its name.

The cowl is knit from the bottom up, with rolled edges bordering the corrugated ribbing and stranded colorwork. The stranded design starts off with an easy, repetitive pattern before transitioning to the middle section which features asymmetrical, non-repeating motifs. Within that section of the chart, there are long floats that will need to be managed using your favorite method.

A final note about the pattern layout – it is entirely charted. The only written directions are brief instructions for the cast on and bind off. Given these attributes, I rate this as an intermediate level knitting pattern. Even for more experienced knitters, this is not knit-night knitting. Quite frankly, I’m not getting out of the house that much anyway these days, and it’s nice to have something besides Netflix to hold my attention.

Techniques:
Corrugated ribbing
Two-color stranded knitting in the round
Lace bind off
Knit increases and decreases

Materials Needed:
Yarn:
300 yards each of background and motif colors in sport weight yarn. Sample knit using Wollmeise Blend (70% merino/20%cashmere/10% nylon) Natur (MC) and Orchidee (CC)

Needles:
Size 4 US/ 3.5 mm 24” (61 cm) circular needle (or size needed to achieve gauge)

Notions:
Stitch markers (at least one for marking beginning of round and more if desired to mark pattern repeats)
Tapestry needle

Finished Measurements:
Gauge: 25 sts equals 4”/ 10 cm in stranded knitting after light blocking
Circumference: 26” (66 cm)
Height: 14” (36 cm)

This pattern was designed to be used during my one-on-one tutoring sessions, to teach chart reading and catching long floats in stranded knitting. It has been professionally tech edited and test knitted. If you find a mistake, need pattern support or are interested in private knitting lessons please write to info@theknittingtutor.net.