Featuring a repeating pattern suggestive of leaves and flowers, this cowl is suitable for stranded colourwork beginners due to there being no need to catch floats when worked in two colours, but offers a challenge for more experienced knitters with the option of working in three. This pattern has an easy-to-follow chart, along with written instructions, to help you create a cosy cowl in a size that suits your needs.

Easily customizable in both length and width, this pattern is written for DK and fingering weight yarns, but can adapt to any yarn you choose. With ribbed edges, you can choose between two or three colours in stranded colourwork, or add the third colour in duplicate stitch later.

The Hope Grows Roots Cowl pattern is based on a sigil design inspired by the Star card in the tarot. May this design be a support and guide to you, also, as you turn hopes into stitches and actions, and perhaps together we can build a better and kinder world.
_____

The Hope Grows Roots Cowl is knit bottom-up, in the round, starting with ribbing, then working a repeating colourwork chart, which is included in the pattern in both chart and written formats, before finishing with another section of ribbing and casting off.
It is a great place to start for beginners in colourwork (there is no float-catching in the two-colour version), or a first piece in 3-colour stranded colourwork, or learning to read colourwork charts.

You will need to know (or learn):

• German twisted cast on (or alternative stretchy cast on)
• knit stitch
• purl stitch
• two or three -colour stranded colourwork from a chart or written instructions
• duplicate stitch (optional)
• italian bind-off (or alternative stretchy bind-off)

Approximate Finished Sizes

DK Height:
Short: 19cm / 7.5”
Tall: 24.5cm / 9.5”

Fingering Height:
Short: 18cm / 7”
Tall: 25cm / 9.75”

Width, measured flat:
Narrow: 23.5cm / 10.5”
Wide: 26.5cm / 12.75”

Size is customisable to suit - instructions on how to do this are included. Working with three colours is more likely to end up with a slightly narrower cowl.

Gauge
DK gauge:
In colourwork, worked in the round, blocked.
10cm x 10cm or 4” x 4” = 21 stitches x 23 rows

Fingering weight gauge:
In colourwork, worked in the round, blocked.
10cm x 10cm or 4” x 4” = 29 stitches x 29 rows

Exact gauge does not matter, but will effect final measurements.
It is more important to create a fabric you like and to adjust the number of pattern repeats to suit. Instructions on how to do this are included.

YOU’LL NEED:
Needles:
For DK
4.5mm (US 7) circular needles, or size needed to achieve gauge in colourwork, blocked
3.5mm (US 4) circular needles for ribbing, or 2 sizes smaller than main needle
→ 80cm/32” long for wide cowl, 60cm/24” for narrow cowl, or longer and use travelling loop method

For Fingering
3.5mm (US 4) circular needles, or size needed to achieve gauge in colourwork, blocked
2.75mm (US 2) circular needles for ribbing, or 2 sizes smaller than main needle
→ 80cm/32” long for wide cowl, 60cm/24” for narrow cowl, or longer and use travelling loop method

Stitch markers: 10, 12, 13, 16 (or number of repeats), including a unique one for start of round

Yarn:
In your chosen weight and number of colours, measuring approximately:

For DK, Three-colours
Narrow, Short
Main Colour 95m / 105yd
Contrast Colour 45m / 50yd
Accent Colour 20m / 20yd

Narrow, Tall
Main Colour 115m / 125yd
Contrast Colour 60m / 65yd
Accent Colour 30m / 35yd

Wide, Short
Main Colour 110m / 120yd
Contrast Colour 50m / 55yd
Accent Colour 25m / 25yd

Wide, Tall
Main Colour 130m / 140yd
Contrast Colour 70m / 75yd
Accent Colour 35m / 40yd

For Fingering Weight, Three-colours
Narrow, Short
Main Colour 105m / 115yd
Contrast Colour 55m / 60yd
Accent Colour 30m / 35yd

Narrow, Tall
Main Colour 145m / 160yd
Contrast Colour 90m / 100yd
Accent Colour 50m / 55yd

Wide, Short
Main Colour 130m / 140yd
Contrast Colour 65m / 70yd
Accent Colour 40m / 45yd

Wide, Tall
Main Colour 175m / 190yd
Contrast Colour 110m / 120yd
Accent Colour 65m / 70yd

For DK, Two-colours
Narrow, Short
Main Colour 95m / 105yd
Contrast Colour 50m / 55yd

Narrow, Tall
Main Colour 110m / 120yd
Contrast Colour 70m / 75yd

Wide, Short
Main Colour 105m / 115yd
Contrast Colour 80m / 85yd

Wide, Tall
Main Colour 125m / 135yd
Contrast Colour 80m / 85yd

For Fingering Weight, Two-colour
Narrow, Short
Main Colour 105m / 115yd
Contrast Colour 60m / 65yd

Narrow, Tall
Main Colour 135m / 150yd
Contrast Colour 100m / 110yd

Wide, Short
Main Colour 120m / 130yd
Contrast Colour 75m / 80yd

Wide, Tall
Main Colour 165m / 180yd
Contrast Colour 125m / 135yd

It is important to me that this pattern is financially accessible, so low-income customers can purchase this pattern at 25% off using the code ‘6PENTS’. This is an honours system. Please respect that I am a disabled creator trying to make a living from my work and if you can afford the full price, I’d appreciate if you paid it. If this is still too expensive for you, get in touch and we’ll work something out.