Anticlastic adjective
- (of a surface) having opposite curvatures at a given point

Don’t tell anyone, but I sometimes wish it were socially acceptable to carry around a blanket. I realize that’s not generally encouraged for adults, but still the urge persists. If you sometimes feel that way too, these cowls might be just the thing to help out on days when you could use a little extra comfort. Grab your favorite skein of super soft yarn, decide if the day calls for a big cowl or a little one, and cast on. You’ll be snuggled up in something cozy in no time.

The pattern includes instructions for both pieces. Each comes in four sizes (126, 144, 162, and 180 stitch cast on) and three gauges (3.5, 4, and 4.5 stitches per inch), so there’s plenty of flexibility to make the size that feels most comfortable for you. The cowls are tapered (the top is about 2/3 the size of the bottom), as I find that makes for the best fit (plenty of fabric at first to keep you warm, not too much up top to get in your way).

The pieces in the pictures were knit at 4 stitches per inch. They are 36 inches around at the widest point, 24 inches around at the narrowest point, 12 and 6 inches tall, and shown on a size 16 dress form. The largest took 250 yards of yarn (if you want a really big cowl, 350 is a safer bet) and the smallest 125 yards of yarn (if you want a bigger one, 175 is a safer bet).

These are perfect for you if:

• You’re always looking for something cozy to snuggle up in
• You need a bit of armor to keep out the world
• You’ve got a skein of soft, beautiful yarn you want to keep close

They’re not for you if:

• You don’t like charts (the pattern uses charts)
• You hate swatching (you need to swatch to check your needle size)

Pssst, String Theory’s Caper Aran, the yarn in which the sample was knit, is sadly discontinued. But I have it on good authority that Indigodragonfly’s MerGoat Worsted uses the same base, and I know for sure that they do lovely, hand-dyed colors that would be a great match for the pattern!