Winter Sky is a colourwork cowl worked in the round. The pattern offers several options – a double-layer cowl with different colourwork motifs on each side in either DK OR fingering weight yarn, and a single layer cowl in DK weight.

You can choose from multiple charts offering either simple 2-colour patterns or patterns in multiple colours, or even use the colour-yourself chart to create your own unique colour story!

I initially wanted to make a really thick and windproof cowl that would keep my neck warm during ferocious cold winds from the Atlantic we get here every winter. However, I soon realized that it might be a bit too much for most people (it is indeed very thick, imagine 4 layers of DK weight), so decided to add a fingering weight option, that is still pretty warm and cozy, and a single-sided option in DK weight yarn.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

For Fingering weight: Top and bottom circumference: 56 cm / 22.5 inches and 75 cm / 30 inches
For DK weight: Top and bottom circumference: 58.5 cm / 23.5 inches and 78 cm / 31.25 inches

YARN AND YARDAGE

Sample 1 (DK weight, 3 colours, double layer):
Col. A - Obsidian from Woollentwine Fiber Studio (50% Shetland, 50% Welsh mountain, 100 grams – 230 meters / 252 yards) – 255 meters / 279 yards
Col. B – Hearth DK col. Cognac (50% Jacob, 50% BFL, 100 grams – 240 meters / 263 yards) – 235 meters/ 257 yards
Col. C – Heath DK, col. Indigo (50% Jacob, 50% BFL, 100 grams – 240 meters / 263 yards) – 80 meters / 88 yards

Sample2 (Fingering weight, 6 colours, double layer)
Holst Garn Supersoft (100% wool, 50 gr – 287 meters / 314 yards)
Col. A - Pussy willow – 120 meters / 131 yards
Col. B – Ember – 350 meters / 383 yards
Col. C – Sage Blue – 90 meters / 99 yards
Col. D – Nougat – 125 meters / 137 yards
Col. E – Marlin – 60 meters / 66 yards
Col. F – Tobacco – 30 meters / 33 yards

Samples 3 and 4 (DK weight, single layer):
Siaban (light grey) (100% Scottish wool, Cheviot and Hebridean from Uist wool, 100 grams – 230 meters / 252 yards)
Sian (dark grey) (100% wool, Zwartbles and Cheviot from Uist wool, 100 grams – 235 meters / 257 yards)
For C1: MC – 180 meters / 197 yards, CC – 110 meters / 120 yards
For C2: MC – 100 meters / 110 yards, CC – 190 meters / 208 yards

Yardage given above includes a bit extra for swatching. Please note that your actual yarn consumption will depend on yarn choice, gauge, the length of your finished cowl and any other alterations you might make to the pattern.

YARN SUBSTITUTION

Fingering OR DK weight to achieve gauge

GAUGE

For Fingering weight: 32 sts / 36 rnds on smaller needles and 24 sts / 26 rnds on larger needles per 10 cm / 4 inches in colourwork in the round after washing and blocking
For DK weight: 24 sts / 26 rnds on smaller needles and 18 sts / 22 rnds on larger needles per 10 cm / 4 inches in colourwork in the round after washing and blocking

NEEDLES

For Fingering weight: 2.25 mm / US 1, 2.5 mm / US 1,5, 2.75 mm / US 2, 3 mm / US 2.5, 3.25 mm/ US 3
For DK weight: 3.75 mm / US 5, 4 mm / US 6, 4.5 mm / US 7, 5 mm / US 8
Please note that needle size is just a suggestion, you might need to change the size of your needles to achieve gauge.

NOTIONS

Tapestry needle, measuring tape, 1 stitch marker for beginning of round, smooth waste yarn for provisional cast on, crochet hook for provisional cast on, spare circular needle (size smaller than your main needle) for transferring provisional cast on sts