Gradient Cowl in Line Weight
I love that color is at once systematic and inexplicable. There are the rational rules and theories of hue, saturation, value, tone, primary, secondary, tertiary; and there are the irrational impacts of color: how it makes us feel, which colors resonate together or complement each other, which colors express a certain mood or emotion.
And because color is too special to be relegated to the world of just feeling or just reason, my Gradient Cowl embraces both aspects. Resembling a traditional color study, it progresses along a spectrum, mixing each color with its neighbor and forming a new color in the process. And simultaneously, I felt renewed with each change in color, eager to discover the new world of every stripe. The result is a cuddly color wheel that is organized and expressive.
Yarn lovers, if you adore the yarn used in this project, you’ll love exploring all of our other yarn collections! Discover over 45 thoughtfully designed yarns in nearly every natural fiber and in every spectacular color you can imagine. Only available here at Purl Soho’s online yarn store, where every skein is created with care and your creativity in mind!
Purl Soho’s Line Weight provides the perfect medium for this study. It comes in 35 gorgeous colors, and its single ply of exquisite merino forms a soft bloom over the finished cowl, blending the colors into a beautiful watercolor-like wash. Get all five skeins you need with our Gradient Cowl Bundle (no longer available), available in three lovely colorways. Pick one up here and celebrate your love of color with every stitch! -Gina
Update: New Yarn
March 22, 2016
Our Gradient Cowl in Linen Quill recreates the original with a whole new feeling! Pick up a Gradient Cowl Bundle (no longer available) in the Sweetgrass palette to make your own! Sweetgrass includes one of each of the following colors: Pale Oats, Pale Mushroom, Rose Granite, Oatmeal Gray, and Salt + Pepper.
Designed by Purl Soho designer, Gina Rockenwagner. Click here to see even more of Gina’s designs!
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoGradientCowl, and #PurlSohoLineWeight. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
- 5 skeins of Purl Soho’s Line Weight, 100% merino wool yarn, in 5 colors. Each skein of this fingering weight yarn is 494 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 1610 yards required. These colors, from the top, are Super Pink, Pink Grapefruit, Ballet Pink, Heirloom White, and Yellow Yellow. (NOTE: Some colors are no longer available.)
- US 7 (4.5 mm), 24-inch circular needles
Gauge
20 stitches = 4 inches in seed stitch with yarn doubled
Size
Finished Height: 12 inches
Finished Circumference: 58 inches
Notes
The pattern refers to each color by letter. Below are the letters we assigned to each color in our materials bundle. If you have chosen your own colors, arrange them in a pleasing order and name them letters A-E.
Grapefruit
- A: Super Pink
- B: Pink Grapefruit
- C: Ballet Pink
- D: Heirloom White
- E: Yellow Yellow
For stripes that use two strands of the same color, you can either roll the skein into two equal-size balls and pull from both balls at once, or you can pull one strand from the inside of the ball and one strand from the outside. If you don’t have a swift and ball winder to wind a center-pull ball, never fear, you can do it by hand! Click here for a great video that shows you how!
Pattern
Begin
Stripe 1
Using 2 strands of color A (see Pattern Note, above), cast on 60 stitches. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.
Row 1: Slip 1 with yarn in front, *p1, k1, repeat from * to last stitch, p1.
Row 2: Slip 1 with yarn in back, *k1, p1, repeat from * to last stitch, k1.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until piece measures 3 ¼ inches from the cast on edge, ending with Row 2.
Stripe 2
Cut one strand of color A and join 1 strand of color B.
NOTES
- To avoid having lots of ends to weave in, you can knit the tails in as you work. Here’s how: When you join in a new yarn, simply work the first 4 to 6 stitches of the row with both the working yarns and the tails. Continue the row with the working yarns only.
- When you work the first row of a new stripe, knit the first stitch instead of slipping it.
Using colors A and B and starting with Row 1, repeat Rows 1 and 2 for 3 ¼ inches, ending with Row 2.
Cut color A and join 1 more strand of color B.
Using this new yarn combo and starting with Row 1, repeat Rows 1 and 2 for 3 ¼ inches, ending with Row 2.
Remaining Stripes
Continuing in the pattern as established, start with Stripe 4 and work the remaining stripes, as follows…
Stripe 1: 2 strands color A
Stripe 2: 1 strand color A, 1 strand color B
Stripe 3: 2 strands color B
Stripe 4: 1 strand color B, 1 strand color C
Stripe 5: 2 strands color C
Stripe 6: 1 strand color C, 1 strand color D
Stripe 7: 2 strands color D
Stripe 8: 1 strand color D, 1 strand color E
Stripe 9: 2 strands color E
Now repeat the stripe sequence in reverse order:
Stripe 10: Repeat stripe 9
Stripe 11: Repeat stripe 8
Stripe 12: Repeat stripe 7
Stripe 13: Repeat stripe 6
Stripe 14: Repeat stripe 5
Stripe 15: Repeat stripe 4
Stripe 16: Repeat stripe 3
Stripe 17: Repeat stripe 2
Stripe 18: Repeat stripe 1
Bind off loosely in pattern. Cut the yarns, leaving a tail about 20 inches long.
Finish
Thread the tail onto a tapestry needle. Being careful to not twist the cowl (unless you want to!), sew the two ends together with a whipstitch, inserting the needle right under each cast-on or bind-off stitch.
Weave in any remaining ends. Block as desired. And enjoy your Gradient Cowl!
LEARN ABOUT LINE WEIGHT + ALL OUR BEAUTIFUL YARNS
Line Weight is a lovely choice for this project because it is sumptuously soft with a subtle luster. A lithe single ply of 100% merino wool, this fingering-weight yarn knits up into a smooth fabric that blooms beautifully when you hand wash it. Enjoy 494 yards of beautiful knitting with every 100-gram skein and choose from over 20 riveting colors!
More Free Knitting Patterns
- Be sure to explore our collection of (mostly free!) Line Weight patterns and cast on!
More Fingering-Weight Yarns
- Shop our entire collection of fingering-weight yarns
- If you want to use a different yarn, be sure to take the time to get the correct gauge. Need help? Check our All About Gauge Tutorial!
More Yarns With Similar Fibers
- Shop merino wool yarn
Looking for more inspiration? Explore all of our free knitting patterns and knitting tutorials, buy one of our many knitting kits and yarn bundles, and shop for beautiful yarn. We have over 35 gorgeous natural fiber yarns in 100’s of magnificent colors, designed to bring integrity, beauty, and joy to your next knitting project and only available at Purl Soho!
Again, you’re killing it with the knitting patterns recently. Can’t wait to get started here, as soon as I finish with the vest from last week! One note, is there any reason not to do a provisional cast on and finish with kitchener stitch? Seems like this would be an ideal place to use that tool. I’ve never tried that technique with a seed-stitched garment though. Is there a reason it wouldn’t work?
Thanks again for the inspiration!
Hi Sarah – Thank you so much for your comment! I really appreciate hearing great feedback.
Regarding the cast on: Excellent question! Originally when I made the cowl, I did begin with a provisional cast on. Once I finished, I began my kitchener stitch and was not super happy with how it was looking. No matter which technique I tried, there was a wide, flat gap between the seed stitch bumps, which I did not find visually pleasing. So instead, I bound off both edges and whip stitched them together. Finally, I was happy with how it looked! If you want to do a provisional cast on and Kitchener stitch the two ends together, that would be completely fine! I won’t stop you! Cheers and thanks for making my day with your fantastic comment! – Gina
Wow, all these crafts are gorgeous! Thanks so much for sharing, keep up the great work!
http://www.ananansa.com/blog/
Thank you, Ananasa! I’m so glad to hear your kind words.
When you slip the first stitches in the row, do you slip as if to purl or knit?
Hi Im,
Great question. I slipped every first stitch as if to purl. Thanks for writing! – Gina
Gina et all … a three needle bind off in all knit stitches would work perfectly here … ya’ gonna have a seam line … ya’ can have one from the three needle bind off!
Cheers … knit faster!
Ina + Pokey + Stella
Hi Ina + Pokey + Stella,
Thanks for your comment! I did try the three needle bind off, though it is a perfectly fine way to make the seam, I was not completely satisfied with how it looked. There are so many great ways to make this join! It’s up to every knitter whether they want to whip stitch it together, like I did, or use one of the methods suggested in the comments, of which there are many. I always enjoy trying different techniques for different applications and seeing what I like best. For me, it’s part of the fun. Cheers and happy knitting! – Gina
Gina,
Can you provide a bit more detail on the yardage requirements? I LOVE this pattern, but have a ginormous stash…
Thanks!
Hi! Thanks for your question. You will need about 1,600 yards total for the cowl, about 325 yards per color, if you choose 5 colors. Let me know if I can help with any more questions! – Gina
you wonderful people at purl bee never cease to amaze me with your brilliant ideas. thank you
This creation is gorgeous as usual. I would love to take on this project, however, I have a problem which causes me difficulty as an avid knitter–I am allergic to wool and other animal fibers. I enjoy using the skinny dyed cotton, but it is a thicker weight than the yarn used in this pattern. Can you recommend an alternative yarn I can use for this pattern?
Thank you so much!
Hi Mia, Sorry to hear you are allergic to wool! That must be tough for a knitter.
I do have a couple yarns to recommend
would make a great gradient cowl in a more gentle colorway.
Comes in dozens of colors and gets nice and soft when you block it.
You could also make the cowl in , but use larger needles and slightly fewer stitches.
I hope one of those options work for you. Thanks so much for writing in and happy knitting! – Gina
Gina:
I love this pattern! I had the same issue/question as Mia, and appreciated your response; however, I only see blanks where there should be yarn names in your response…could you repost your response?
Hi Maia, Sorry about the glitch that prevented you from reading the yarn names! Here’s my response to Mia again:
Sorry to hear you are allergic to wool! That must be tough for a knitter.
I do have a couple yarns to recommend
Habu Textiles Cotton Nerimaki Slub would make a great gradient cowl in a more gentle colorway.
Alchemy Silken Straw comes in dozens of colors and gets nice and soft when you block it.
You could also make the cowl in Cascade Ultra Pima Fine, but use larger needles and slightly fewer stitches.
I hope one of those options work for you. Thanks so much for writing in and happy knitting! – Gina
‘Almost’ makes me want to learn to knit. I crochet and would love to see more patterns for crochet.
Hi G Morgan – I agree this would make a great crochet pattern! We don’t have plans to transpose it for crochet at the moment, but I will definitely keep it in mind. We do, however, have some great crochet ideas coming so be sure to check back! Thanks for writing in and have a great day. – Gina
Love this pattern! Is this enough yarn for 1 or 2 cowls? I’m thinking of this for a couple of Xmas gifts. Thanks!
Hi Ellen,
Great question! 5 skeins of line weight is enough to make 1 full sized cowl. You will have a little bit of yarn left over. I thought of a good way to use the extra: If you follow the pattern for the Gradient cowl but make every stripe about 1 1/2 inches long, you can make a smaller cowl, like the type that just slips over the head but does not wrap twice. A mini Gradient Cowl! If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to ask! – Gina
Thank you Gina! One more quick question are the leftovers enough to make a matching pair of hand warmers?
Hi Ellen – The leftovers from the cowl absolutely are enough to make a pair of hand warmers! What a great idea for a matching set. I hope you enjoy and thanks for writing in! – Gina
I can’t wait to try this pattern. It’s a brilliant idea holding the different colors!
Hi Purl Bee!
This is gorgeous—color really inspires me and I love these vibrant shades. I’m dreaming up my own gradient color scheme, and particularly love Clementine Orange and Pistachio Green together. Would this combo make sense, and would I add some neutrals to tone it down some? Thanks in advance!
Hi Courenay-
I don’t know if I’d add neutrals. I might just go bright all the way, traveling from the orange, through yellow, to the green like this:
Clementine Orange
Yellow Yellow
Extra Green
Cardamom Green
Pistachio Green
Thanks so much for getting in touch and keep us posted on what you decide!
Best-
Molly
Love this pattern and although I absolutely love your colorways, I think it’s a fantastic stash buster. Who doesn’t love seed stitch? I also love the Jade Sapphire cowl pattern. Thank you so much.
Hello – I LOVE this! I am fairly new knitter – would you consider this to be a beginner/advanced beginner project?
Hi Susan,
Thank you so much for your kind words! Yes, this project would be great for an advanced beginner, or anyone who knows how to knit and purl, cast on and bind off. I hope you enjoy making the cowl as much as I did! – Gina
I love this cowl pattern and I can’t wait to try it out! I take it you don’t work in the round? Also, do you use the whole skein?
Hi Hannah, Thanks for your question! For this project you do not work in the round, you turn the work after every row. I used the majority of each skein, I had about 35 grams of each 100 gram ball remaining. Have a great day and please let me know if you have any other questions! – Gina
Love this pattern and can’t wait to get it started. Don’t know if anyone else had a problem getting it to print but I had to try everything I knew and finally had to cut and paste to transfer it to a document I could use. Think it will be well worth the time. Thank you!
I fell in love with the gradient cowl , so much I bought one for me and my sister . We both are fairly new to knitting, please tell me what cast on method did you use?
Hi Cora, Thank you for your kind words! I used a long tail cast on for the cowl. You can find instructions for this cast on in our knitting tutorials section. Thanks again for writing in and I hope you enjoy making the cowl! All my best, Gina
Such a simple stitch and gorgeous color makes this cowl a knock out! I love it!!
Hi,
Thank you for the instructions on this gorgeous scarf. If I’m reading this correctly the width of solid portions of colors A and E will be twice as wide as the other 3 colors (3.25″ + 3.25″ = 6.5″) because of the stripes 9 & 10 being right next to each other (color E) and the same goes for stripes 1 and 18 (color A), is this correct?
Hi Nadi! Yes, you are exactly right. Thanks for writing in with your question and happy knitting! – Gina
If I use a line weight yarn what will happen if I use 1 yarn for the solid colour and 2 colours for the ombre section?
Hi Kim! Thanks for writing in with your question! I hope I’m understanding you correctly, do you mean to use one strand of yarn for the solid sections and two strands of yarn for the ombre sections? If so, your work will be sheer in the sections where only one strand of yarn is used. These sections may have a different gauge as well, so your cowl may have curvy edges rather than straight edges. I would try making a swatch first before you commit to the project! Happy knitting! – Gina
Hi,
This cowl is beautiful! The grapefruit colour combination does not show up as an option when I try to order the yarn kit. Is it still available? If not when do you think it will be back in stock?
Hi Anne Marie-
We will be getting more of this in stock soon. To be notified when it comes back please email [email protected]
Thanks!
Molly
I am almost done with this beautiful cowl but I have so much yarn left over. Any ideas for projects that I could use the left over yarn for? I don’t want it to go to waste! Thanks!
Sharon
Hi Sharon, thanks so much for writing in with your question! There are a bunch of choices for things you could make from the leftover yarn. You can see all the projects in Line Weight by clicking the Line Weight tag on the right hand side of the post, however I will make some recommendations!
You could make a color block Boyfriend Hat by making the bottom half in one combination of two colors, then switch to another combination of two colors for the second half.
Line Weight Colorblock Hand Warmers made to match the cowl would be spectacular!
If you want to make something as a gift, make the Hats for Newborns, or a smaller gradient cowl. I wrote a quick pattern in response to a comment from Ellen in the comment thread above.
Let me know what you think of those ideas!
Hi Gina,
I just received the yarn to make this beautiful Cow. I can’t wait to get started. Is there a reason why you have to use a circular needle? Can you use #7 straight needles?
Hi Lucy, thanks for your question! You can certainly use straight needles for this project. I prefer circular needles myself, so I suggested circulars in the materials section of the pattern, but straight needles will achieve the same cowl. Please let me know if any other questions come up! Enjoy your cowl! -Gina
I love the Grapefruit kit but see it’s not available. Will you stock this again? I checked inventory of Line Weight yarns and it seems that just the Pink Grapefruit yarn that’s out. Any chance?
Hi Ann-
Yes, we’ll be stocking this again. If you would like to be emailed when it comes back in stock drop us a line at [email protected]
Thank you!
Molly
I love it! I’m making this pattern for my mom and I was wondering if it matters with which color I start knitting, I only have the white or beige one so I want to start with that one as my color A and then finish with the darkest one. Is there any difference ?
Thank you very much 🙂
Hi Claudia, Thanks for writing us with your question! It does not matter which color you start with, you can begin with any color. Just make sure you note which color is A, B, C, etc, to keep the order correct. I hope you enjoy this project! Happy knitting – Gina
Hi there,
I consider myself an intermediate beginner knitter and am determined to knit this beautiful scarf with the lovely line weight merino I bought during your most recent sale.
A couple of questions- the instructions use a circular needle, which I bought, but I find that once I cast on the 60 stitches the yarn is way too tight to knit. There is a very large gap between the beginning and end of the stitches. Am I casting on too tightly? Suggestions?
Also, I notice that although this pattern uses a circular needle the instructions do not indicate joining the round. Do I need to join the round (I assume so)? Do I knit a round before starting row 1 (after joining)?
Your help is much appreciated.
Thanks,
Mary
Hi Mary, Thanks so much for writing us with your question. I’m sorry you’ve been having trouble with the pattern. I think the solution is simple, though! You don’t work the cowl in the round, rather, you work in rows, turning the work after every row. At the end, you sew the two ends together to make the cowl a circle shape. Please let me know if that doesn’t make sense. I really want to help you so you can get started! All my best, Gina
Hi! If we’re using circular needle, does the length matter? Just wondering if it would be OK to use size 7, 32-inch needles.
Hi Meg,
Thank you for the comment! If you work this pattern in the round a 32 inch cord will work great. Keep in mind if you do this in the round your gradient will move up the cowl from top to bottom rather than going horizontal around the neck.
I hope this helps and feel free to write back if you have anymore questions!
Happy Knitting!
Jake
Hi, I love these colours and am wondering if I can make this into a scarf rather than a cowl? If so does the size differ?
Hi Helen! Thanks for writing! The Gradient Cowl is worked as a scarf (12″ by 58″) until the very end of the pattern when the ends are sewn together to make the cowl. If you want to keep it a scarf, all you’d need to do is not sew the ends together at the end. Let us know if you have any additional questions and good luck with the scarf!
Beautiful scarf! It’s cozy and chic at the same time!
If knitting this using straight needles, would we still slip the first stitch in each row?
Thank you!
Hi Puja! Thanks for writing! And yes! The pattern stays the same whether you choose to use a circular needle or straight ones. The type of needle does not effect the pattern. Hope this helps and good luck with the scarf!
If you use the method mentioned to avoid weaving in ends and knit 4-6 stitches with the working yarn + tails, can you cut the yarn right now? Do you need to do anything else to secure it? Thanks!
You’ve got it, Meg! Especially if you are using 100% wool, the ends will be woven in enough to stick to the work and not come undone. If you are using another yarn that may be a little more slippery, we would recommend weaving them in (or knitting them together) for a little longer for a total of about 10-12 stitches wide. Glad you like this colorful cowl!
Hi Meg,
Thanks for your interest in this pattern! When knitting in your ends you will simply knit four to six stitches in pattern and then cut the strand you want to omit. No weaving in of your ends necessary! It’s quite convenient. Best of luck!
Best,
Adam
I love this scarf and all the color combinations you’ve curated to go with it. Do you think I could pull it off with greens or a mix of hues like green and pink?
Hello Mary!
The nature of this cowl is that it allows for lots of fun colorful combinations! Pink and green could be a very fun springy combo! Try Yellow Green, Ballet Pink, Pink Grapefruit, Super Pink, and Yellow Yellow for a bright and lively mix! Happy knitting! -Alyson
I Love this cowl. Thanks so much for sharing this pattern. I just wanted to know if this particular wool prickles or itches the skin & if it does is there a substitute wool I could use. Many thanks.
Hello Wendy!
Line Weight is a lovely soft 100% merino wool yarn that isn’t itchy, even for many of the most picky wearers! We purposely picked the merino wool for our yarns in order to stay extra soft! Give it a try and let us know what you think! -Alyson
Thank you so much Alyson. I’m so glad I can use this wool.
Hi! I am so excited to start this scarf! My question is when I tried to start it on the 24″ circular needles, it stretches the stitches apart to an extreme. Have you experienced this too? Should I add a few stitches? Or should I push through the first row?
Thank you so much! I’m such a fan of all the PurlSoho yarns and designs!
Hi Katie,
Thanks for writing in! I think that I may know why your stitches are stretched. Is it possible that you have joined your work in the round? With this pattern you are knitting straight instead of in the round, so there should be no need to stretch out the stitches.
I hope that this helps!
Happy knitting!
Cassy
Beautyful pattern! I am knitting another project from your site, also on seed stitch – but is with worsted wool, for needles size UK4.5-5mm US 7-8mm (though they are knit on needles US6mm) – and I want to make also this cowl, but with the same wool I am using for the gloves (so I can have the exact same colour at least in one of the stripes)
Could you let me know how many stitches should I cast and on which needles if I am to use wool made for needles 7-8mm?
And if I’d made the small version you mention in your comments?
Thanks!
Hello, Belen!
Thank you for writing in! Sorry for the delayed response! I recommend making a gauge swatch to help calculate your cast-on. If you get 3.5 stitches per inch you would cast on 42 stitches (3.5 x 12 = 42 inches). As for needle size, I recommend trying a US 10 (6mm). If you have further questions, please let us know!
Best wishes,
Kumeko
Beautiful pattern!
Could you help me to find out how many stitches I’d need to cast on if I am to knit it in worsted or aran wool (so wool for needles size 5mmUK – 7-8 US mm) . As it needs to use two strands of yarn, is it ok then to knit it with needles size 6 or 7 UK?
I am making it for a present to match the gloves you also have on seed sticht – I already have the wool for the gloves and the yarn is for 5mm UK. Would it look ok to have the cowl with bigger sticht than the gloves?
I hope you can help! Thanks!
Hello, Belen!
Thank you for writing in! Sorry for the delayed response! I recommend making a gauge swatch to help calculate your cast-on. If you get 3.5 stitches per inch you would cast on 42 stitches (3.5 x 12 = 42 inches). As for needle size, I recommend trying a US 10 (6mm). If you have further questions, please let us know!
Best wishes,
Kumeko
Hi: I’m an intermediate beginner, and I love this pattern. I started it yesterday. Question: How much does it matter if I do the slip at the beginning of each row? Also, how many inches for each stripe?
Hello, Leah!
Thank you for writing in! We slipped the stitch at the beginning of each row to give the cowl’s edge a neat finish. If you decide not slip the first stitch the edge of your cowl will be a bit bumpy (a look I kind of like!).
Each stripe will be 3 1/4-inches. The solid portions of colors A and E will be twice as wide as the other 3 colors (3.25″ + 3.25″ = 6.5″) because the stripes 9 & 10 are right next to each other and the same goes for stripes 1 and 18.
Please let us know if you have further questions!
Best wishes,
Kumeko
Please forward sequencing of sweetgrass colors, naming colors by name. Thanks! Saralea
Hi Saralea,
Thanks for your question! The colors included in the Sweetgrass gradient are:
Pale Oats
Pale Mushroom
Rose Granite
Oatmeal Gray
Salt + Pepper
Happy knitting!
Cassy
Hi guys,
I was thinking of making this beautiful cowl, however I have a ton of tosh merino light… was wondering if this may be a good swap for the line weight?
Thanks!
Olivia
Hi Olivia,
Great question! Tosh Merino Light has a very similar gauge to our Line Weight and would make a great substitution! You could even combine Tosh Merino Light and Line Weight if you would like.
Happy knitting!
Cassy
I love this cowl and would love to purchase the kit/wool if it came in the same colour variations as the Ombre Wrap in Plum. I love both but I know that I would wear the cowl far more. The exchange rate between Canadian and US dollars are horrible but to make this cowl in part of the plum pallet would be so wonderful.
Hi Elizabeth!
Thank you for your interest in this pattern! Although there aren’t many options for a plum-themed gradient cowl in Line Weight, we do have some wonderful purples and pinks in Koigu KPM and KPPPM. This would be a less expensive option. However, if you purchase the Ombre Wrap in the plum colorway, you could certainly make the Gradient Cowl with that yarn and it would be stunning in my opinion! Here are some links to the Ombre Wrap and the Koigus on our site:
Koigu:
https://www.purlsoho.com/yarn/knitting-crochet/koigu-painter-s-palette-premium-merino-kpppm-and-premium-merino-kpm.html
Ombre Wrap:
https://www.purlsoho.com/purl-soho-goods/purl-soho-kits/cashmere-ombre-wrap-kit.html
Best of luck!
Adam
Hi, I am in love with how this looks in the linen. Quick question – I find it easier to cast on an odd number when I do seed stitch so I always start with a K… would this work, and if so, would it mean that the pattern is the same for every row?
Hi Vanessa,
Thanks for your question. You can certainly cast on an odd amount of stitches for this pattern. However, we have cast on an even amount because the extra stitch is needed for the slipped stitch selvedge. We just think that it looks more polished. Have fun knitting this!
Best,
Adam
Hi,
I love this scarf and have knitted the Moon, Forest and Grapefruit for presents. I was wondering if you have any other suggestions of colour mixtures that I could knit. I would like something with the red colour in the line weight. As I am in Australia I can’t come into the shop. I also like the linen and any other colour suggestions in this range that included the kiln colour would be great.
Hello, Kathy!
Thank you for writing in! For the Line Weight I think the following color mixtures would be lovely:
A.
Paprika Red
Pink Grapefruit
Ballet Pink
Sea Salt
Heirloom White
B.
Paprika Red
Super Pink
Ballet Pink
Storm Gray
Toasted Charcoal
And for the Linen Quill
A.
Kiln Red
Turmeric Yellow
Pale Oats
Heirloom White
Gray Denim
B.
Rose Granite
Kiln Red
Heirloom White
Stonewall Gray
Stillwater Blue
Please let us know what you think!
Best wishes,
Kumeko
Thank you so much for these colour combinations.
I have a friend whose favourite colour is purple and wondered if there is a combination you could suggest to incorporate Gray fig. Or is there another range of wool that this scarf can be kitted that would have more purples to use.
I love the quality of your wools and the amazing patterns that you have.
Hi Kathy,
Thanks for your kind words! Gray fig is such a beautiful color! I think that you could hold it throughout and just stripe the flax down for this pattern. You would need two skeins of Gray fig in line weight and then the colors you’d like to stripe throughout the scarf. I hope this helps!
Best,
Adam
Thank you for the suggestions. I was wondering when the rose granite in the linen will be back in stock as I want to do just one order as the postage to Australia is quite expensive to just get one skein.
Hi Kathy,
That is a good question. I am not 100% sure when the new shipment will arrive, but I do know that it is on its way! You are more than welcome to email the store and request to be notified by email when the product comes in.
Best,
Adam
What is the best way to begin with 2 strands of yarn for the solid sections when you have one skein of the color? Are you cutting the total length of the skein in two and winding 2 balls from it? Just wondering what the simplest way to do this is without getting myself tangled. 🙂
Hello Helen,
Thanks for writing in! The best way to knit two strands from one ball is to wind the skein with a center pull. This way you can pull from the inside of the ball and the outside at the same time. You can also wind two 50g balls using a scale and checking the weight as you go. Best of luck to you!
Best,
Adam
Hello!
Thank you for another great pattern. I am looking to make this but with worsted weight yarn. I’ve made a gauge for the first time, and I’m not fully sure what to do next. I believe I am getting 10 stitches for 4 inches which I think is half of what I need, so would I need a bigger needle or perhaps I’m not measuring my gauge correctly?
Thanks
Hi Christianne,
Thanks for the wonderful comment! If you are getting 10 stitches to 4″ that means your gauge is 2.5 stitches per inch with the worsted weight doubled. Knitting a gauge swatch is always a great idea because you get to decide whether or not you like the look of the stitch on the needle you are using. If you are happy with the way it looks, then you’ll multiply your stitches per inch by the amount of inches wide you want the scarf. This will yield your cast on number. I hope this helps! Happy knitting!
-Adam
How do I tell which stitch ended row and so how to start next row? Not sure about how to tell which stitch u ended with. Thank you.
Hello Drew,
Thank you for writing us! Seed stitch is a pattern where you knit the purls and purl the knits. After slipping the first stitch in the row, you will know to knit if you see a purl or purl if you see a knit. I hope this answers your question!
Best,
Adam
HI There
I LOVE Love this pattern.
However as I am purchasing from far away I would like to ask about the colour options.
The Linen Quill was my first choice however on my screen the colours seem to throw “dirty” and dull, are they softly muted, clean and gentle or trendy muddy? and how Highlighter bright is the Line weight option?
Thank you, and like I need more projects 😉
Frances
Hi Frances,
Thank you for the nice comment! I would say that the only “dusty” colors are Rose Granite and Pale Mushroom. However, I think that they are very pretty mixed up with the other neutral tones. You could substitute the Rose Granite for either the Gray Denim, Turmeric or Kiln Red. All of these are brighter. Best of luck!
Happy knitting,
Adam
Hi I love this scarf and wondered what colour combination you could suggest with the new colour palette that has just arrived.
Thanks Kathy
Hi Kathy,
What a great idea to do this pattern in our new colors! I suggest Ginger Orange, Kiln Red, Yellow Yellow, Tabby Gray and Honey Pink in that order. I think it would look unique and stunning. Let me know if you are into it!
Best,
Adam
Hi! I’m thinking about making this scarf with a combination of colors from Linen Quill and Line Weight; do you have any recommendations for how these two yarns would work for this scarf? The yarns seem to have slightly different gauges; would that cause sections of the scarf to be narrower/wider?
Thanks for your help!!
Hi Jenny,
Thanks for writing in! While the two yarns do have ever so slightly different gauges, you can knit them at the same gauge without there being any issues. Out Tiny Stripes Hat is knit using alternating stripes of Linen Quill and Line Weight and it comes out lovely and with both yarns at the same gauge. I think that using the two together in this project will result in a lovely cowl!
Happy knitting!
Cassy
Can this cowl be made with 3 colors? I have yarn in my stash that would look beautiful. Thanks!
Hi Lisa,
Thanks for the question. I don’t see why not! Best of luck!
-Adam
Hi,
I’m a little confused about the casting on with two strands as I haven’t done this before. Does this mean that each ‘stitch’ is 2 loops? And when slipping off the first one, will that have 2 loops slipped?
Hello R!
Thank you for writing in! Yes, you are correct, each stitch of the cast on row will appear to have 2 loops since you are holding the yarn double. When you slip that first stitch it will have those two loops slipped! Please let us know if you have any more questions!
Best wishes,
Kumeko
I have extra linen quill yarn from a sweater I didnt make. Its one color. How would I incorporate this pattern with one color. Do I still use 2 strands?
Thanks
Hello Jen,
Thanks for writing us! Yes, you will still knit with two strands to obtain gauge. I hope this helps! Let us know if you have any further questions.
Happy knitting,
Marilla
Hi! I purchased the kit with linen quill for the Four Points Baby Blanket a while ago and hadn’t gotten around to knitting that one, was hoping to use the yarn for this beautiful cowl! I was wondering if you had any suggestions regarding a good fifth color (and order A-E I should organize them!) to purchase. I got the Wild Radish combination: Pale Oats, Lavender Opal, Heirloom White and Oatmeal Grey.
I also wanted to check – when starting a new stripe and incorporating the tail from the cut yarn, the first row of the stripe we should KNIT not slip the stitch, but subsequent rows for that stripe should then be slipped until getting to the next stripe?
Thank you!
Hi Jess,
Thanks for writing in! I would suggest adding either Stonewall Gray or Salt and Pepper to the colors that you already have. I think that a pleasing progression would be:
A: Pale Oats
B: Oatmeal Gray
C: Heirloom White
D: Lavender Opal
E: Stonewall Gray OR Salt and Pepper
You are correct! When you work the first row of a new stripe, knit the first stitch instead of slipping it. Then all subsequent rows in that stripe, you will slip the first stitch according to the pattern!
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Could you recommend a color scheme for the Gradient Cowl using Line Weight? I am currently making this beautiful cowl in the Sweetgrass palette & am loving it.
Hello Laurie,
Thank you for reaching out! I’m happy to hear that you are loving the Sweetgrass palette- It is one of my favorites. Are you interested in doing a similar palette in Line weight? Are their any colors that you would be apposed to?
Warmly,
Marilla
Hi! Loving the designs. When knitting with two strands of yarn at once, by how much should you increase the needle size?
Hello Amanda,
This is a great question! There isn’t a rule for this because there are so many factors that go into finding the right needle size. The stitch you are using and your own personal gauge will help you figure out what size needle to choose. When I am trying to figure out a needle size for double I usually end up trying out about three different sized needle before deciding on a gauge that I’m happy with. As a very loose guide I usually double the needle size and go from there.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
when you are changing colors it says to knit the first stitch instead of slipping it. So you knit that stitch and then you start in with your first row which is a purl stitch?
Hi Shelia,
Thanks for writing in! Yes, that is correct, you will knit one instead of slipping one, and then proceed with the rest of the row following the slip stitch as normal.
Best of luck and happy knitting!
Julianna
Hi, I’m french speaking and not used to knitting in English. I’m not sure about this pattern, are you using circular needles as they were straight needles, going back and forth?
Thanks!
Hi Julie,
Thanks for reaching out! You are correct, the cowl is knitted flat, or back and forth, but we used circular needles simply because many people find them more comfortable to use. You could certainly use straight needles if you prefer!
Happy knitting!
Julianna
Is there any reason I couldn’t make this in Posy? I really want to duplicate the bright colors. Thanks for your advice.
Hi Mary,
Thanks for reaching out! I think Posy would be a wonderful substitution for this pattern! Since it is a true fingering weight, it is just a bit thicker than Line Weight, so I would suggest knitting a small gauge swatch before beginning to make sure you are happy with the density of the fabric and to check your stitches per inch.
Happy knitting, and please do let us know how it turns out!
Julianna
I have been searching for a gradient cowl pattern and found this one which might fill the bill- I am a bit tentative about the double strand knitting technique used- is there anyway of just using 1 strand of yarn?
Thanks
Hi Claudette,
Thanks for writing in! The gradient effect in this cowl is accomplished by using two strands of yarn and changing only one at a time to blend the colors together. You could choose a thicker yarn instead and choose colors to mimic a gradient, but you may find it has more a color block effect rather than a blended gradient. However, knitting with two strands of yarn is really quite easy – you simply hold both strands together as if they were one! I recommend giving it a try on a practice swatch so you can see it how it feels, but I’m sure it will be much easier than you are imagining!
Happy knitting!
Julianna
I knitted this beautiful cowl and wear it all the time. I’m looking for a hat in seed stitch that will go with it. Any suggestions?
Hi Philippa,
Thanks for writing in! Unfortunately we don’t have any seed stitch hat patterns, but I will certainly pass your request along to the design team! I think our Color-Dipped Hat would complement this cowl quite nicely – you could even vary the contrast color to use up all your scraps and incorporate all the colors in the cowl!
I hope that helps, and happy knitting!
Julianna
Hi
I hope that all is well.
Most of your patterns give the length of yarn in a skein and an estimate of yardage needed for the pattern but I don’t think it’s in this one. Would you please let me know how much of each yarn I’ll need – I can see it’ll be slightly less for the first and last shades. Thanks
Hi Annie,
Thanks for writing in! Unfortunately, we no longer have the information for exactly how much yardage of each color was used in this cowl – I’m so sorry about that! However, since the total cowl used 1600 yards, I believe you will need 275 yards of colors A and E, and 360 yards of each of the rest of the colors.
I hope that helps!
Julianna
Hi,
I’ve made one as a gift, but I’d like to use some from my stash to make one for myself. Is it possible to substitute Shibui Knits Silk Cloud instead of the Line Weight to make the gradient cowl?
Silk Cloud info:
Fiber Content: 60% Kid Mohair/40% Silk
Weight: DK, Lace, Sport, Worsted
Gauge: 5 sts = 1″ on US 7; suggested 7 hook
Weight/Yardage: 25g/330yds
Many thanks!
Bette
Hi Bette,
Thanks for reaching out! I think Shibui Knits Silk Cloud could work for this pattern! I do recommend working a gauge swatch first and compare it to the gauge of the pattern to insure it is consistent or if you would need to make any adjustments!
Warmly,
Gianna
Hello,
Will the gradient cowl in line weight bundle as follows (colors – Super Pink, Pink Grapefruit, Ballet Pink, Heirloom White, and Yellow Yellow) will become available again?
Thank you.
Hi Anne,
Thanks for writing in! Unfortunately, we no longer offer these bundles in Line Weight since some of the colors have been discontinued. However, you can build your own bundle of colors! For a similar colorway, I would recommend Super Pink, Pink Begonia, Ballet Pink, Heirloom White, and Pink Apricot.
Alternatively, we do offer these bundles in our yarn Linen Quill, if you are interested in that I would recommend the Gradient Cowl Bundle in Hollyhock!
I hope this helps!
Gianna
I just ordered the linen quill bundle in barn door. I’m wondering the best way to organize the colors. In terms of assigning them their letter A-E designations I’m wondering in what order you would usually place the colors. Is it best to go from light to dark? Or to mix them?
Hi Kate,
Thanks for reaching out! It is up to you have you would like to organize the colors! In our Linen Quill version, we arranged the colors to go from light to dark, but our Line Weight cowl is a bit more mixed!
With the Barn Door bundle I would organize as follows:
A: Peony Pink
B: Lychee Pink
C: Rosewood Pink
D: Chesnut Red
E: Kiln Red
I hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
Hello!
I would prefer to knit this in the round so as to not have a seam. Would I just omit the slip yarn part for each row? I am excited to get started with this project.
Thank you!
Mary
I answered my own question. It would be possible but difficult to change the yarns so frequently. Not practical!
this is a beautiful cowl but I haven’t knit in awhile, so to make it easier, could this project be done in stockinette stitch or could you suggest another project for this yarn – I love, love, love the sweetgrass bundle. Thanks!
Hi Robin,
Thanks for reaching out. I would not recommend doing this project in stockinette stitch because it will roll in on itself, since stockinette has a tendency to curl at the edges! However, you could definitely do it in garter stitch, which is even easier than stockinette, since it’s all knit stitches and no purls. Hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
Hi, I purchased linen quill to knit this project but reading now am wondering if I will have enough yardage with 5 skeins?
I tried to choose colors close to the original, but they are not as bright, any suggestions on the best order are appreciated!
pale oats
buttercup yellow
pink pop
peony pink
red poppy
Thank you !
Kim
Hi Kim,
You should be fine with the amount of yarn you have and I think your color order sounds lovely! Another order to consider would be Pink Pop, Red Poppy, Peony Pink, Pale Oats and then Buttercup Yellow. I hope this helps!
All the best,
Gavriella
Thank you!! So appreciate how helpful you all are!
You are very welcome!