The Family Tree Cowl uses birthstone colors to represent each of your family members, so no two cowls will be alike! Half the fun is in figuring out your family’s set of colors and deciding how to place them, and just like families, the combinations will be unique.

The finished item is like having a family ring, in the form of a hand knit, with lots of history and significance. Yours can include whatever constellation of family you’d like to represent, your immediate or extended family, even pets! Grandmothers would love one representing each of their grandchildren.

The pattern is a twisted rib stitch that came from my grandmother’s knit stitch dictionary, and has a lovely texture. I made a single loop cowl, but it can be made wider by having shallower stripes, or using more yarn. I used Miss Babs Three Ply Toes, in the mini-skeins, the perfect amount to make each stripe. It is simple enough for a beginner, but the color changes and placement will keep an experienced knitter interested. The pattern is written, not charted.

The pattern comes with a list of birth months and their corresponding birthstone and color, and the Miss Babs yarn I chose to represent each birthstone. The Three Ply Toes is beautifully tonal and lovely to knit with. Feel free to substitute yarn, or use some from your stash.

If you purchase both the Family Tree Cowl and Scarf, you will receive $1 off each, $6 for both patterns.

Thank you to David Williams from Event Horizons Photography for the lovely pictures!