VertiCowl I is a nice midweight version of my vertical cowl concept—you might have seen the lightweight original on my social media.

Heftier sportweight/DK yarn makes the project flow fast, without adding a lot of bulk. The sample is shown in Malabrigo Yarn Arroyo in the Petrichor colorway.

It’s knit from side to side instead of top to bottom (or vice versa), and uses short rows to achieve a satisfyingly tapered funnel shape.

Alternating stitch motifs keep the knitting engaging, and provide visual interest in the finished cowl. The work is flat, and finished with an easy grafting technique. Overall, this is a relatively quick—but interesting—project for most intermediate knitters.

Materials:

• 1 skein or about 250 yards of Malabrigo Yarn Arroyo, or similar sport-to-DK-weight yarn.
• 1 16-24”+ circular needle in US 5/3.75mm, or size needed for gauge, used to work flat, OR 1 pair single-pointed needles
• Spare 16” circular needle in same size, or one size down from needed for gauge
• crochet hook, 3.5mm or size needed to suit yarn
• Tapestry needle for weaving in ends

Gauge:
Gauge is 9 sts and 14 rows over 2”/5cm in the textured stitch motif, worked flat & blocked. (Alternately, gauge is about 9.5 sts and 18 rows over 2”/5cm in garter stitch.) Please be sure to check your gauge.

I do have a couple of spring and summer projects coming up, but in the meantime, this is a nice small project that won’t be too hot and oppressive to work. (It’s cool and rainy where I am today, so it doesn’t feel too jarringly unseasonal. I’m still pretty stoked about the spring work, though.)

Thanks for reading!