In October 2010, a talented indie yarn dyer whose work I loved announced a design contest. Two months, one new design, in any of her yarns. At that point, I’d been designing for just a few months, still finding my voice as a designer, so the timing felt perfect. There would also be not just one but two winners, so the chances felt good!

I cast on right away, using the dyer’s soft and luxurious MCN, a merino, cashmere, nylon blend. I wanted to create a set—a cowl and mitts that worked together but not as two separate projects. I made the first set in a teal colorway with earthy speckles, followed by a second set in a warm cinnamon. As I finished, I realized they’d each used exactly or just shy of one skein. That wasn’t by design; it just worked out that way.

The win came as such a validation. I was still so new to designing, and to have my work recognized alongside another designer’s? It gave me confidence to keep going and to trust that I had something to offer. I called it Dyade, a German word for a pair as well as a nod to my heritage and to how these two pieces were meant to function as one.

It’s a set that doesn’t demand a big commitment—just one generous skein of fingering weight yarn in whatever color that speaks to you and a few evenings of knitting. You get to play with color and yarn and finish with something beautiful on your hands.

What makes this set special

• A lace pattern that keeps you engaged. The stitch pattern has movement that makes you pay attention without demanding focus. Not round and round mindless—just the right amount of “stay present” to make the knitting satisfying.

• One-skein wonder. Up to 430 yards of sock/fingering weight yarn gets you both the cowl and mitts. That happy accident from 2010 is built into the design, and you get to use a special skein or stash bust!

• Twisted rib meets lace. The cowl pairs a unique lace stitch with twisted ribbing for texture that looks intricate but knits more intuitively than you’d expect. The fingerless mitts echo the same stitch family, so they feel cohesive without being repetitive.

• Quick to knit, customizable to suit your style. Adjust the mitts to fit your hands. Resize the cowl wider or narrower. One test knitter even looped the cowl into an infinity scarf; the design adapts to what you want to make.

What’s included

In the downloadable PDF you’ll find …

• Written and charted instructions for both the cowl and mitts, so you can follow however you prefer

• Detailed notes for resizing the mitts and tips for adjusting the cowl’s dimensions

I’ve also published video tutorials for the following key techniques:

• Long-tail cast on or German twisted cast on
• Join to work in the round—invisibly!
• How to bind off in pattern
• Hide the last bind-off stitch in the round

The Knitty-Gritty

Accessorize in style this winter with a cozy, oversized cowl and matching fingerless mitts that feature a unique lace stitch pattern coupled with twisted ribbing. This set is quick to knit and even easier to size, making it perfect for last minute gift knitting—or yourself, of course!

Sizes

Cowl: Small (Medium)

Mitts: One Size

Finished Measurements

Cowl: 12 (13½)” / 30.5 (34) cm wide and 9½ (10)” / 24 (25.5) cm tall 24 (27)” / 61 (68.5) cm circumference when laid flat, lightly blocked

Cowl size can be easily modified.

Mitts: 3¼ (8 cm) wide, 7” (18 cm) tall 6½ (16.5 cm) circumference when laid flat, unstretched

Mitts shown on hands that measure 7½” (19 cm) around knuckles. 1” (2.5 cm) negative ease intended. Adjust needle size as needed to achieve gauge or to minimally size mitts up or down. Additional guidelines for modifying the mitts’ size are provided.

Yarn

355 (430) yards / 325 (393) meters fingering weight yarn Cowl Only: 215 (290) yards / 197 (265) meters; Mitts Only: 140 yards / 128 meters

Needles

Cowl: US 6 (4 mm) circular needle, 16 (24)” / 40 (60) cm long

Mitts: US 1 (2.25 mm) double pointed needles or circular needle, 40” (100 cm) or longer for magic looping

Change needle size if necessary to obtain correct gauge.

Gauge

Cowl: 22 sts and 18 rnds = 4” (10 cm) in twisted rib, slightly stretched OR blocked

Mitts: 28.5 and 48 rnds = 4” (10 cm) in stockinette stitch, unblocked