IMPORTANT: this uses the larger, 150gm skein of a shawl-striping yarn.
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I love stripes, I love unexpected colour combos, I love a splash of neon, and I love shawl knitting. All of which is to say that I’m absolutely and utterly enchanted by the Yarn Therapist’s clever shawl striping yarn. I mean, honestly: skeins of yarn dyed to make perfect stripes when working a top-down shawl. The colourway is specifically and brilliantly calculated so that when the stitch count increases, the width of the stripe stays the same. It’s PERFECT.

You can use any top-down shawl pattern, of course, but the challenge is to find one that lets the colourway shine, a pattern where the construction and stitches don’t overwhelm or detract from the yarn.

This is what these two patterns are for. These are the ultimate in comfort knitting, easy and relaxing – and with results that show off the yarn the best way possible.

The shawl lets the stripes do their clever thing, of course. It’s an unusual construction, a 5/8ths wedge – it’s fun to knit and a change from the usual. The shaping is fantastic for auto-pilot knitting, requiring very little attention. And the shape that results is very wearable, deep all the way around and wide enough for a cozy wrap with overlap, a sort of modern poncho.

The cowl turns it upside down, using a consistent stitch count to reveal the secret of the stripes.

These patterns are suitable for knitters of all skill levels. The cowl is worked in the round, but otherwise no special skills are needed.