Cumulus is a stylish neckerchief, just the perfect size for tying around the neck in a number of elegant ways. This small piece is inspired by the work of Bloomsbury artist, Duncan Grant, and specifically his textile design, Clouds. This one design of Grant’s has already served as the inspiration for my popular scarflette pattern, also called Clouds in homage to his work.

Cumulus is, in turn, a smaller neckerchief with a simplified surface pattern, which is created using a combination of intarsia, duplicate stitching and embroidery and is a great introductory project for all of these techniques.

Cumulus is knitted flat from one end to the other with a garter stitch edging on both long edges. Increases are worked along one edge to the centre point, then matching decreases are worked until the neckerchief is completed. In addition to the intarsia sections, further surface decoration is then worked, using duplicate stitching and embroidery to create a exquisite finished piece. Separate small balls of yarn should be wound off for each section of colour being worked in intarsia.

I have used Susan Crawford Byre, a fingering weight 100% British wool. I have used the natural grey colour of Dry Stone Wool as the background shade for my neckerchief, and four additional shades for the surface pattern of Banting, a slightly greenish midtoned blue; Straw Hat, a soft, greyish-yellow; Charleston, a lovely shade of aqua; and Broussa, a gentle red shade. Cumulus uses the smallest amount of yarns and is perfect for using up the oddments of yarns we all end up with.

The pattern includes full colour charts plus written instructions. The charts should be read from right to left on odd-numbered rows and stitches knitted, then from left to right on even-numbered rows and stitches purled. Tutorials are available on my YouTube channel for all the techniques used to make Cumulus.

A yarn kit is available from Susan Crawford Vintage.

Yarn
Susan Crawford Byre, fingering weight, 100% British wool (400 / 436 yds per 100g skein)
1 skein, shade Dry Stone Wall
1 skein, shade Banting
1 skein, shade Straw Hat
1 skein, shade Charleston
1 skein, shade Broussa

Suggested needles
3.75mm (US 5) needle(s)

Gauge
24 sts and 31 rows measured over intarsia / stocking stitch knitted flat, after blocking. We obtained this gauge using 3.75mm (US 5) needles.

If necessary, use an alternative needle size to obtain the correct gauge.

Notions
Darning needle
Scissors
2 stitch markers.

Techniques
Intarsia
Duplicate stitch
Embroidery