Nimbus Cowl
Our Nimbus Cowl puts your head in the clouds with a midway yarn change that creates layers of soft cloud cover and a very dreamy atmosphere!
You knit most of this cowl holding together a strand of light-as-air Tussock with a strand of down-to-earth Line Weight, then the Tussock takes solo flight, forming a fluffy halo up top like a gentle cloud floating by!
This combo of Wheat Flour Line Weight and Cloud Blue Tussock reminds us of the morning sky bursting through a foggy dawn. Use the same pairing with one of our Line Weight + Tussock Bundles (also available in fifteen other pairings). Or make your own color story with just one skein of each yarn… The sky’s the limit!
If you love the yarn used in this project, you’ll love all of our other yarn, too! Explore our 35+ lovingly created yarn collections, in nearly every natural fiber and spectacular color you can imagine… Only available here at Purl Soho’s online yarn shop!
Designed by Purl Soho designer, Laura Ferguson.
Share your progress + connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoNimbusCowl, #PurlSohoLineWeight, and #PurlSohoTussock. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
To knit your own Nimbus Cowl, you’ll need a Line Weight + Tussock Bundle, which includes…
- Yarn A: 1 skein of Purl Soho’s Line Weight, 100% merino wool yarn. Each skein of this fingering weight yarn is 494 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 255 total yards required. We used the color Wheat Flour.
- Yarn B: 1 skein of Purl Soho’s Tussock, 60% super fine kid mohair and 40% silk. Each skein of this fingering-weight yarn is 328 yards/ 25 grams; approximately 290 total yards required. We used the color Cloud Blue.
You will also need…
- US 4 (3.5 mm), 16-inch circular needles
- Stitch markers, including one unique
Here are some more color ideas, all available as Line Weight + Tussock Bundles (NOTE: some palettes are no longer available, including the one we used for our sample)…
Heirloom White + Heirloom White; Ballet Pink + Pale Orchid
Peony Pink + Pink Fog; Kiln Red + Orange Pekoe
Red Plum + Claret Pink; Lotus Flower + Bright Thistle
Night Blue + Cerulean Sea; Frond Green + Bright Jade
Gauge
28 stitches and 36 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch, holding Yarn A + Yarn B together
Size
Finished Circumference At Top: 19 inches
Finished Circumference At Bottom: 22 inches
Finished Height: 14 inches
Pattern
Holding one strand of Yarn A and one strand of Yarn B, cast on 154 stitches.
Place unique marker and join for working in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches.
Work in stockinette stitch, knitting each round, until piece measures 3 inches from cast-on edge, rolled.
Set-Up Round: K77, place marker, knit to end of round.
Decrease Round: [Knit 2 together, knit to two stitches before next marker, slip slip knit] 2 times. [4 stitches decreased]
Working in stockinette stitch, repeat Decrease Round every 2 inches 3 more times. [138 stitches]
Work evenly in stockinette stitch for 1 inch.
Cut Yarn A.
Work evenly in stockinette stitch for 1 inch.
Repeat Decrease Round. [134 stitches]
Work evenly in stockinette stitch for 3 inches.
Bind off loosely, perhaps using a needle several sizes larger to ensure a nice, relaxed edge!
Weave in ends and gently block.
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
LEARN ABOUT TUSSOCK + ALL OUR BEAUTIFUL YARNS
Tussock is impossible to replace! Spun and dyed in Japan, it is 60% super fine kid mohair, the softest quality there is, plus 40% silk, which is much more than most mohair-silk blends and makes for a super lustrous yarn. Technically a fine lace-weight, Tussock’s mohair blooms so beautifully that we prefer to use it as a fingering-weight yarn, either alone on US 3-6 needles or alongside other yarns for plumping up a companion or deepening its complexity. Choose from 26 gorgeous colors, inspired by juicy, ripe berries and mimosas in bloom, lapping waters and zippy wildflowers… Pure joy!
More Free Knitting Patterns
- Be sure to explore our collection of free Tussock knitting patterns and cast on!
More Fingering-Weight Yarns
- Shop our entire collection of fingering-weight yarn
- 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 mohair yarn
- Shop silk 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!
This looks lovely but I cannot tolerate mohair next to my skin and will have to find an alternative yarn to get the thick, thin, solid, see through thing
Hi and thanks for writing in! Although not many other fibers have the same halo as mohair, you could use any lace weight yarn to create the same diaphanous look and hint of color! I would suggest substituting Jade Sapphire 2-Ply Cashmere or Brooklyn Tweed Vale in place of Tussock.
Happy knitting!
Julianna
Question: You say to hold a strand of each color and cast on 154 stitches and work in stockinette from there. So, is the first part of this all knot with both strands together until you cut the one color for the last few inches? In the photo I can’t see that there are two strands in the body of the cowl. Clarify please?
Hi Laura,
Thanks for reaching out! Yes, that is correct! Tussock is a very fine laceweight yarn, so although it might be hard to see in the pictures, it adds a hint of marled color and a lovely halo to the lower part of the cowl. If you take a look at the closeup pictures above, you should be able to see just a bit of light blue peeking out in the beige body of the cowl!
I hope that clears things up!
Julianna
Thanks for this question and got clarifying!
Love the look of this! Can you recommend a yarn combo using grays/silvers that might work?
Hi Meghan,
I would be happy to – silvery grays are my favorite neutrals! For a darker version of the cowl, I think Line Weight in Fieldstone Gray would be lovely paired with Tussock in Marble Gray, or you could reverse the effect by using Line Weight in Dove Gray together with Tussock in Gray Quartz. Or, for an ethereal silvery look, Line Weight in Dove Gray with Tussock in Silver Needle would be a wonderful combination!
I hope that helps, and please do let us know how it turns out!
Julianna
Would it be okay to use US 3, 16 inch needles with this pattern/yarn?
Hi Melissa,
Thanks for reaching out! It’s hard to say without knitting a gauge swatch – we used a US 4 to obtain a gauge of 28 stitches and 36 rows to 4 inches with both yarns held together, so if you knit a bit looser than our designer, you might be able to get the same gauge on a US 3 and have your cowl turn out the same size as ours. If your gauge is tighter than ours, you could still make that work by measuring your stitches per inch and multiplying that number by 22 inches to figure out how many stitches to cast on; however, keep in mind that knitting at a tighter gauge will result in a denser fabric that may not drape like our original cowl. Either way, I would definitely recommend knitting a gauge swatch!
Best,
Julianna
I would like to knit this Nimbus Cowl in black and grey (grey on top). Do you have a suggestion for the yarn I could use with these two colors that would give me this beautiful soft effect?
Hi Barbara,
Thanks for reaching out! I would suggest pairing Line Weight in Soft Black with Tussock in either Gray Quartz or Marble Gray, depending on how much of a contrast you want between the black and gray portions of your cowl. Either color should turn out just lovely!
I hope that helps, and happy knitting!
Julianna
How much I love this!
I have old skeins of line weight in my stash, heirloom white and kiln red. Any suggestions on tussock colors to match or prettily contrast?
Hi Jen,
Thanks so much for the kind words! With Heirloom White, you could use almost any color of Tussock to create various beautiful effects! A vibrant color like Blue Lagoon, Bright Thistle, or Wild Guava would result in a bright speckle in the lower part of the cowl, followed by a pop of brilliant solid color at the top of the cowl, while a lighter color like Pink Fog, Cloud Blue, or Pale Orchid would create a subtle wash of color in the double stranded section transitioning smoothly to the Tussock-only top of the cowl. Or, you could choose a neutral for an elegant monochrome version! With Kiln Red, I would specifically recommend either Red Cedar for a darker matching color, or Golden Lichen for a bright contrast.
I hope that helps, and happy knitting!
Julianna
This looks delicious but I can’t do any wool. Is there a possible combination of silk or linen or cotton that might work? I’m heavy into neutrals these days – cream or grey or tan…
Thanks!
Hi Laura,
Great question! I would suggest using either Field Linen or Cattail Silk in place of Line Weight, and Habu Textiles Nerimaki Cotton Slub in place of Tussock. Although you won’t get the same halo without mohair, you will still get the same texture contrast and marled to solid effect, and it should be a lovely lightweight cowl!
Happy knitting!
Julianna
I love the look of the cowl but I am very worried about the ethics of using mohair. Some animal rights organisation advise against using yarn derived from brushing (as opposed to shaving) because of the cruelty often involved in the process. Is your mohair yarn cruelty -free?
HI Corinne,
Thanks for the question! The origins and ethical standards of our yarns are as important to us as their beauty. We only work with yarn producers who share these values by maintaining strict standards for the treatment of animals and workers and by following the European guidelines for environmental safety. Further, our mohair complies with the highest level of industry guidelines in South Africa!
Best,
Cassy
On the decrease round you indicate that 4 stitches are decreased. I count 3…1 from the k2 together and 2 from the ssk (2x).
Please clarify.
Thanks for your help!
Hi Joan,
Thanks for reaching out! You will be repeating the entire bracketed section of the decrease row, which includes both a k2tog and a ssk – in other words, you will k2tog, knit to two before the marker, ssk, and then repeat, beginning with the k2tog, knit to two before the beginning of round marker, and ssk again, for a total of 4 stitches decreased.
I hope that clears things up!
Julianna
Just to clear up the decrease row for the Nimbus Cowl.Do you slip marker, then knit 2 together agin and then before the marker?
Hi Lori,
Thanks for writing in! Yes, that is correct! You will be knitting two together immediately after the marker, and then working a ssk right before the next marker, followed by another k2tog after slipping that marker.
Best,
Julianna
Do you know when the color cloud blue will be back in stock for the tussock so I can make the cowl with the colors pictured?
Hi Maggie,
Thanks for writing in! We will certainly be getting more Cloud Blue back in stock! In fact, our mill is currently making it. While we do not have a firm ETA, we are hoping that it will arrive soon. You can sign up to be notified when we get it back in stock. To do so, go to the product page, select the color that you are interested in and enter your email address. When that yarn and color arrives, we will email you right away!
I hope that helps!
Julianna
Hi!
I was just wondering, what sort of cast on do you recommend for this cowl?
I was thinking that perhaps Cap Sease’s Chinese Waitress Cast on might work for this.
What would you suggest?
Hi Kate,
Thanks for writing in! We use a long tail cast on for most of our projects, but a Chinese Waitress Cast On would also work well for this cowl. Since the cowl is large enough to fit comfortably over ones head without having to stretch too much, you could use almost any cast on that will give you a stable edging.
Happy knitting!
Julianna
I’m new to long tail cast on – how long a tail would you suggest using for the 154 stitches? Thank you!
Hi Maren,
Great question! There are a few ways to determine how much yarn is needed to work a long tail cast on. My favorite is to cast on about 10 stitches and then unravel those stitches, carefully holding on to the tail and first stitch, so you can use the length of yarn that was used to cast on 10 stitches to measure out how much you will need for the full 154. Another method that is almost as accurate but a bit faster is to wrap your yarn around your needle once for each stitch – in this case, 154 times – and use that tail to cast on.
Warmly,
Julianna
Hi,
you wrote “Work in stockinette stitch, knitting each round, until piece measures 3 inches from cast-on edge, rolled.”
As english is not my native language, please, what do you mean by “rolled” ? Best regards
Hi Marie,
Thanks for reaching out! This means to include the rolled up portion of the brim when measuring, but not to unroll it. To do so, you will allow the edge to roll as much as it does naturally, and align the bottom of your measuring tape with the bottom of the roll.
I hope that clears things up!
Julianna
Just finished nimbus cowl. How do I “gently block”?
Thanks
Gale
Hi Gale,
Congratulations on your (nearly) finished cowl! I would recommend either spray or wet blocking this cowl, but there is no need to aggressively stretch or shape the cowl. While the piece is damp, you can gently arrange it so that the edges are straight and the cowl isn’t twisted, but you can allow it to be its natural size without stretching it larger.
Thanks for the great question!
Julianna
For binding off, you need to use many sizes larger and I suggest that you give better directions! After knitting the entire piece it was much to my dismay that after binding off loosely and using a size 8 needles it was still too small. Even had stopped in the store in soho to check in on needle size.
Hi Christine,
Thank you so much for sharing your experience and tips! It can be difficult for some of us to cast off loosely enough even with a regular yarn, and the issue is much more pronounced when using a lace weight yarn like Tussock at a loose gauge. I hope you were able to get the cast off finished, and I will certainly pass your suggestion along to the design team!
Best,
Julianna
I had the same problem binding off using size 8 needles. I tried again using a “stretchy bind off decrease” method and it made a huge difference.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFbFnfdl4Cc
I am loving this cowl. I am close to being finished and I am hoping that you can find out what size needle was used to bind off. I realize it was several sizes larger than the #4 needle but how much larger is very important especially because in one of the above comments the knitter used several sizes larger but was still tight. My knitting is not tight or loose but I am told just right.
Thank you
Hi Camille,
Thanks for writing in! How big of a needle you need to use is highly dependent on how loosely you bind off – even very loose knitters can sometimes find they bind off much tighter than they usually knit, while some regular to tight knitters (including myself) have become so used to practicing binding off loosely that they go too far! If you usually bind off in your normal tension, I would first try binding off as loosely as you can with your regular needles, as for many people this will be enough. After an inch or so, take a look at your bind off and see if it looks loose enough. The bind off should roll or splay out slightly, as you can see in our images. If it isn’t loose enough, move up one or two needle sizes, but continue checking every inch or so and adjusting if necessary until you are happy with how the bind off edge looks.
Best of luck, and I hope that helps!
Julianna
Thank you. ??
I would like to make this wider. I like looser items around my neck. Any suggestions as to make this cowl wider and how much more yarn to purchase?
Hello,
Thank you for reaching out! This is a fairly simple alteration. The first thing you will need to do is measure out your desired circumference, you will then be able to use this number to figure out your cast on number. For example if you want to add 2″ and are on gauge (28 stitches and 36 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch, holding Yarn A + Yarn B together) you will add 14 stitches to your 154, casting on 168. I would recommend getting an extra skein of Tussock.
I hope this helps and let us know if you have any further questions!
Happy knitting,
Marilla
Hi,
How would this do with the Mineral Silk and Tussock?
Would I need different needle size?
Thank you,
Stephanie Thomas
Hello Stephanie,
Thank you for reaching out! You are correct that Mineral Silk is a thinner yarn than Line Weight. Depending on your desired texture you might want to go down a needles size. Either way you will likely need to add some stitches to get the correct circumference. The first thing you will want to do is knit up a gauge swatch to find out how many stitches per inch you are getting. Once you know this number you will multiply it by 22″ to get your cast on number.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Say it ain’t so! I wanted to order the yarn bundle for this so bad.
Unfortunately the one color I wanted is out of stock. Woe is me!
Hi Wendy,
Thanks for reaching out, and I’m so sorry about that! You can sign up to be notified when we get it back in stock by going to the product page, selecting the color that you are interested in and entering your email address. When that bundle arrives, we will email you right away! Although we are missing a few colors, we do have quite a few other colors of Line Weight and Tussock in stock if you would like to design your own color combination!
Warmly,
Julianna
What is a unique marker
Hi Diane,
Great question! Since you will have more than one marker in this piece, this means to place a marker that is different from the rest so you know which one marks the beginning of the round. This can be a marker that is a different color, shape, or type from the others, or if you only have one type of marker, you can hook two together or place two in the same spot to indicate the beginning of the round.
I hope that clears things up!
Julianna
I’m loving this pattern and have fallen for Tussock in the new color Cyprus Green. Can you suggest a companion color either in Line Weight or another suitable yarn?
Thanks
Hi Johanna,
Thanks so much for the kind words and for writing in! I think Cyprus Green would be lovely with Line Weight in either Night Blue for a deep, moody tone, or with Reed Gray for something a bit more neutral and light.
I hope that helps, and please do let us know how it turns out!
Julianna
Hi. I just bought the yarn in a blue/green combination and am excited but, if you excuse the pun, over my head. I’m a beginner and have made your garder scarf and some ribbed headbands. I’ve tried unsuccessfully to use a circular needle in a project this summer and I’ve never increased, decreased or used stitch markers. But I think I can swing stockinette. Have I made a terrible mistake by thinking this could be my next project? I live in the City. Is there someone there at your store that can get me started? Getting discouraged! Thanks.
Hi Charlene,
I am so sorry for the delay in responding! Yes, please stop by the store any time and we will be more than happy to help you get going on your cowl! We always want to make sure your knitting projects are a success, so I hope you are able to bring it in soon!
Best,
Julianna
I was under the impression, from my discussion with the employees at the Soho store, that the entire top part of this cowl should be done in a lager size needle (not just the bind off). Was I mistaken?
Also, the roll at the bottom is really creeping way up as I knit this, am I doing something wrong or will it relax to a more normal roll once blocked?
Hi Megan,
Thanks for writing in! You will be using the same size needle for both parts of the cowl, and only switching to a larger needle for the bind off if necessary. You can see from our pictures that the bottom edge will always roll up to some degree, but blocking should help it relax and lay a bit flatter!
I hope that clears things up!
Julianna
Just a warning for others, I kept a pretty loose/gentle tension on the mohair section of the cowl and it ended up very floppy 🙁 It tends to fold over and be in the middle of the cowl. I might redo it with a tighter tension to get the look in the photos.
Thank you for the tip! I am about to start this project.
Frances
Can the tussock yarn be wound by machine or by hand? Thanks
Hi Christine,
Thanks for reaching out! We have had great results winding Tussock using a swift and ball winder, but it can also be wound by hand. If you choose to wind it by hand, because the yarn is so fine, it is really helpful to use an empty toilet paper roll or balled up paper towel as a core to wind the yarn around.
I hope that helps, and happy knitting!
Julianna
I’ll swift away then! Thanks❤️
Hello, is the 14” length also measured from the bottom of the roll? Thanks!
Hi Kathryn,
Thanks for reaching out! Yes, the finished height measurement of the cowl is taken with the cast on edge rolled.
Happy knitting!
Julianna
I bought the bundle, and see the pattern on your web site. I use knit companion, and am wondering if I could get the pattern as a pdf?
Hello Ann,
Thank you for reaching out! If you’re on a desktop version of the site, you will find a “print” icon in the right column just below the date and tags. If you’re on a mobile version of the site, you will find a “print” icon below the pattern and above the comments.
Follow the easy on-screen instructions to delete whichever parts of the pattern you don’t want to print or save. For example, you may decide to shorten the pattern by omitting certain images or the list of materials. To remove images, click the drop down next to the image icon and change from 100% to 0%.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Hello!
I picked up some yarn while traveling.
It is fingering superfine #1 in a yarn bomb (FREIA). Would this pattern work? It is handpainted and 860 yds- 100% merino.
Do I have to separate my one skein into two balls to knit together?
If this will not work then I am open to other pattern suggestions for a cowl or scarf using this yarn.
Hi Lynn,
Thanks for reaching out! It sounds like your yarn would be equivalent to the Line Weight used in this pattern, so you could use it for Yarn A, but it would be too heavy to also use it for Yarn B, which is a very fine lace weight. You could use your yarn for Yarn A along with a strand of Tussock, but you will have enough to knit three cowls! Another option would be our Willow Cowl, which calls for 870 yards, so you should have just enough if you make it a few rows shorter!
Thanks so much! I am going to make the beautiful Willow Cowl. By the way… love your store!
Hi, I am at about 3″ tall of this beautiful cowl!
I just need a help visualizing the decrease round – So you K2tog, knit to 2 stitches before next marker (about half way around the round), SSK, and right away you do the K2tog next to the SSK you just made, and then knit to 2 stitches before the starting point of the decrease round and SSK again? Am I understanding correctly? Thanks!
By the way I am using Line Weight Wheat Flour + Tussock Golden Lichen and it is pretty gorgeous.
Hi Ai,
Thanks for reaching out! Yes, it sounds like you’ve got it! The SSK and K2Tog will be right next to each other, on either side of the marker, and there will be four total decreases in the round. You color combination sounds so amazing – please do let us know how it turns out!
Best,
Julianna
Hi Purl,
I need clarification about measuring 3 inches from cast on edge rolled? Does this mean to measure 3 inches up from the top of the completed rolled edge to get to the setup round or to unroll it to the cast on and measure 3 inches up from that?
Thanks so much, this is a lovely cowl!!!
Nikki
Hi Nikki,
Great question! This means that you will let the edge curl up naturally and will not unroll it to measure. You will take the measurement from the bottom of the roll so that the rolled portion is included in the measurement.
I hope that clears things up!
Julianna
I’d like to knit a Spring version of this cowl. Can you recommend a cotton yarn that might not be as hot?
Hi Frances,
Thanks for reaching out! There isn’t really a good cotton substitute for Mohair, as the light and fluffy texture can’t be replicated without mohair; however, you could substitute Nerimaki Cotton Slub for the Line Weight and end up with a much cooler cowl!
Best,
Julianna
What line weight color would you recommend with the golden lichen Tussock? I’m having a hard time finding a nice complement to that color. I’m OK with using an alternative to the line weight yarn. The cowl will be a gift for a redhead with pale complexion, in case that helps =)
Thank you!
Hi Maya,
Thanks for reaching out! Depending on how much contrast you would like in your cowl, I think Golden Lichen would be lovely with either Line Weight in Frond Green or Linen Quill in Twig Brown. Linen Quill is the correct weight to substitute for Line Weight, so that should open up quite a few new color possibilities!
Best,
Julianna
Hello Purl Soho- I wanted to let you know how appreciative I am that you are giving free shipping during the pandemic; As well as your free patterns. I finished knitting this cowl a couple of weeks ago. In March, I was living in the hospital, not as a patient, but as a caregiver for my mom. It was scary being in close proximity to people with Covid-19. She didn’t have it, but it was right before and during the lock down. I wasn’t suppose to leave her hospital room. I had viewed your website for several years, but never purchased due to the shipping cost and the cost of your beautiful yarn. During the night, when my mom slept, I looked at all of your beautiful yarns and patterns. As soon as we returned home, I noticed the free shipping and purchased Reed Grey-Line Wt. (You were out of Wheat Flour I’m glad you moved RG, to the top, because it had been next to the grey colors) and Tea Rose- Tussock. I began knitting it and showed my mom. Unfortunately, mom didn’t get to see the final product. Knitting with your beautiful yarns is helping me cope with the loss of my mom. Last night, I began knitting The Raglan sweater with your Linen Quill yarn.
Hi Amy,
Thank you for writing in during this challenging time, and thank you so much for sharing this. I’m so glad to hear that our yarns and patterns are giving you some comfort right now! Handwork can be such a solace, something to focus on when there are trying times to get through. The Reed Gray is one of my favorite of the Line Weight colors, and I’m sure your finished cowl looks beautiful with the Tea Rose! I hope that your knitting continues to bring you comfort and beauty.
All my best,
Cassandra
Would you have an idea of how to make this in crochet? Thank you!
Hi Mia,
Thanks for reaching out! Currently we only have this pattern available for knitting and not crochet, but we really appreciate the request and will keep this in mind for future patterns!
Best,
Gianna
Hi Purl,
What does “slip slip knit” means to decrease.
Thank you
Hi Kathrin,
Thanks for reaching out! Here is our Slip Slip Knit tutorial that shows you exactly how to preform that decrease!
Hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
Hi
I’m confused by the yardage figures for the two yarns. The first part of the pattern (with both yarns together) is 255 yds for 10 inches. The second part of the pattern uses only 35 yds (290-255) of Tussock for the remaining 4 inches. This doesn’t sound very much.
Am I misreading the pattern.
Thanks
Hi Annie,
Thanks for writing in! That is correct! The majority of the cowl will be knit holding the two yarns double, approximately 255 yards of Line Weight are used and appropriately 290 yards of Tussock. So approximately 35 yards is all you use for the 4″ section at the top, which is plenty to finish the project!
Happy knitting!
Gianna
Silly question, but does this yarn shed all over whatever you are wearing the cowl over?
Hi Dena,
Thanks for writing in! By the nature of the mohair that is in our Tussock yarn it will shed a bit especially prior to blocking!
All the best,
Gianna
I have a question, I am a beginner knitter… when you cut yarn A, do you just continue with the one yarn, and then do you just weave in yarn A? I know this sounds silly.
Hi Terri,
Thanks for reaching out! Yes, once you finish the section with yarn A and B you cut yarn A and continue knitting with just yarn B, you will then weave in the ends of A when you finish!
Happy knitting!
Gianna
Hi. I’m almost done and getting ready to cut off yarn A. It seems like there is a lot left. Do you have any suggestions for other projects to use it for?
Hi Tracy,
Thanks for reaching out! After knitting the first section of the cowl you are left with about half a skein (approximately 239 yards) left of the Line Weight, a fun project to knit would be our Best Friend Hat! It uses 3 colors of Line Weight and would be a great opportunity to use up the rest of your skein!
Happy knitting!
Gianna
Whoops didn’t realize I wasn’t supposed to measure the unrolled part. Luckily my friend has a shorter neck. Alternatively- I could block it w a smaller roll ? Thanks!!
Hi Vix,
Thanks for reaching out! Yes, wet blocking the cowl will help a lot to lengthen a bit and flatten the roll out!
All the best,
Gianna
Hello –
I have a skein of Brume in Silver Needle. What yarn would pair well with that to make this lovely cowl??
Hi Donna,
Thanks for reaching out! Since Tussock and Line Weight are both fingering weight yarns and Brume is a sport weight yarn you will need to adjust the needle size gauge a bit to accommodate a heavier weight yarn. I would recommend pairing Brume with another sport weight to keep the weight consistent like our Season Alpaca or Mulberry Merino! I then recommend working up a gauge swatch with the two yarns with an appropriate needle size. Our All About Gauge tutorial is an excellent resource to use!
I hope this helps!
Gianna
The endless patience you demonstrate in these replies is most admirable.
Hi, I am getting ready to start this beautiful cowl. I love that it is lightweight with the feathery cloud ; ) I am, however, nervous about measuring the yarn for the long tail cast on.
I have read about it and watched a few videos. If I choose to wrap the yarn around the needle, do I wrap it around one of the needles or both of the needles?
Hi Debbie,
Thanks for reaching out and for your kind words! When measuring by wrapping around the needle you only wrap around 1 needle! If you prefer to skip the long tail method you can also use Cable Cast On!
All the best,
Gianna
Hi. Can I use US 4, 24-inch circular needles for this cowl? This is 8″longer than your suggestion.
Hi Minjoo,
Thanks for reaching out! I would recommend sticking to a 16″ circular needle for the project, a 24″ circular needle would be too large to work this project in the round!
I hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
I have some kettle black linen quill left over from my miter cornered blanket (which turned out fantastic!!) and wonder if I can use that with grey quartz tussock to make this cowl.
Hi Andrea,
Thanks for reaching out! I think Kettle Black Linen Quill and Gray Quartz Tussock would be a great combination for this cowl! I do recommend working a gauge swatch prior to beginning to insure that you are consistent with the pattern!
Please let us know how this turns out!
Warmly,
Gianna
Hello,
I’m a true beginner and am learning as I knit this. I am almost reaching the second roubd of decrease stitches and I’m worried that my gauge is a bit big. If it is too big would it be a good idea to decrease more stitches than 4? Do you have any suggestions?
Thanks,
Elaine
Hi Elaine,
Thanks for reaching out! First I would recommend checking your gauge, out tutorial All About Gauge is an excellent resource to use! Depending on how much bigger it is than the gauge of the pattern you can make adjustments from there! You can then easily add in an extra decrease or 2 if needed!
Warmly,
Gianna
Hi Gianna,
I will check out the tutorial and see if my gauge is alright. Thanks a lot!
Cheers,
Elaine
Hello again.
I’ve checked and my gauge is two stitches more… (30 stitches and 36 rows instead 28 stitches and 36rows). I guess I should decrease a stitch…
Thanks,
Elaine
Hi Elaine,
Thanks for your reply! I think adding in one more set of decreases will get you back to the same overall width!
I hope this helps and please let me know if you have any more questions!
Warmly,
Gianna
What type of bind off is recommended? I tried a stretchy bind off and it is way too loose and the cowl loses shape.
Thank you!
Hi Barbara,
Thanks for reaching out! We used a Basic Bind Off for this cowl, and we did it very loosely, we even recommend going up in needle size for the bind off to make sure its not too tight!
Warmly,
Gianna
Dear Purl Soho,
I have a few comments and suggestions for the upper airy/diaphanous portion of your ‘Nimbus Cowl’
I found that your regular decreases in the upper ‘Tussock’ portion of the cowl had too heavy an appearance, so I decreased (knit 2 together) four times, evenly spaced around the cowl – and it was almost invisible. I also found the cowl a bit large, so I increased 4 stitches 3 more times (for a total of 16 stitches), even spaced around the cowl, at about ever 3/4 inch.
Finally, or a really relaxed and stretchy bind off, I used the ‘Icelandic Bindoff’ and that seemed to work very well.
It took crazy forever to figure out these alternatives (and the Tussock is not an easy yarn to rip out), so I thought I could save other knitters time and heartache by sharing my discoveries.
all best wishes,
Cora
Hi Cora,
Thanks for reaching out and sharing your suggestions for this pattern! I am sure other knitters will find this information useful!
Warmly,
Gianna
You should do a short video of the most important parts to this such as:
A) casting the yarn with combination of yarns.
B) the decreases that take place
C) how to flawlessly transition to just the tussock alone
D) weaving in & finishing off the cowl.
A visual is always more helpful than instructions
Hi Jennifer,
Thanks for reaching out! At this time we don’t have the resources to create individual tutorials for each patterns, however we have a wonderful collection of tutorials with many of the techniques used in the pattern available! You can find our full list here: Tutorials
There you can find techniques used like Slip Slip Knit (ssk), Weaving in Your Ends and Blocking!
Warmly,
Gianna
I have Tussock in Balsam…what color of Line Weight would you recommend to pair with that color of Tussock?
Thanks!
Hi Margaret,
Thanks for reaching out! With Tussock in Balsam Green, I would suggest pairing it with Line weight in High Tide or Clover Green!
I hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
How many cowls can you make from the bundle? Is there enough yarn left over to make an additional cowls?
Hi Kathryn,
Thanks for reaching out! The bundle is enough yarn to make one cowl!
Warmly,
Gianna
I am looking forward to knitting this cowl. The line weight sounds great, but I don’t like the feel of mohair–nor do I like to knit with linen. So I’m looking for another soft wool, merino or alpaca, that I could use as my second yarn. Any suggestions?
Hi Nancy,
Thanks for reaching out! In place of Tussock, I would suggest using another stand of Line Weight, Sweetgrass Fine, or even Anzula’s Cloud!
I hope this helps!
Gianna
Hello, what color tussocks would go with Pink Grapefruit (discontinued) and Heather Honey Pink (discontinued)?
Hi Kathryn,
Thanks for reaching out. I think that Tussock in Tea Rose would look lovely with Line Weight in either Pink Grapefruit or Honey Pink! You could also go with Heirloom White in combination with Honey Pink, and Anjou Pear could also work with Pink Grapefruit. Hope this helps you plan your project!
All the best,
Lili
Thank you Lili! I will be placing an order this weekend!
Can I use good wool and coorie for this project?
Hi Marcia!
Thank you for your question! Good Wool would be slightly too thick to use in place of Line Weight for this cowl as written, since Good Wool is a sportweight yarn while Line Weight is a fingering weight yarn. As for the upper portion in Tussock, Coorie would also be a too thick to use in this pattern as written for Tussock.
However, you can certainly make this cowl in a different weight! I suggest knitting a gauge swatch in Good Wool to see how many stitches you will need to cast on based on the amount of stitches per inch you are getting, and then you can adjust the pattern as need to work with your gauge!
I hope this helps!
All the best,
Margaret
I would like to make this for my 3 and 5 year old grandchildren. Can you please suggest how many stitches I should start with? I can figure out the rest. Thank you!
Hi Linda,
Thank you for your question. We’re so excited for you to make these cowls for your grandchildren! The best way to calculate a cast on stitch amount for their cowls is to determine the finished circumference that is needed for their head and neck size, and then use your gauge swatch of stitches per inch to calculate how many stitches to cast on. For an 18″ circumference at gauge, you can cast on 126 stitches, and for a 20″ circumference at gauge, you can cast on 140 stitches, as quick starting points!
I hope this helps, and happy knitting!
All the best,
Margaret
Thank you!
I love this pattern! I read that Posy yarn would be a suitable substitute for Line Weight because it is also a fingering weight yarn (it comes in a color my daughter loves.).
The pattern as written with the Line Weight and Tussock has a 28 sts =4” gauge for the double strand as well as the Tussock alone. I did a test swatch with the Posy and Tussock and the gauge came out to 22 sts=4”.
It is possible to make this with Posy yarn? Can I use a bigger needle for the top part with the Tussock only to get a 22sts=4” gauge? Any other suggestions to make it work? Thank you for any advice.
Hi Linda,
Thank you for writing in! We’re so glad to hear you love this pattern. While the best route to help achieve gauge in this case is to knit a swatch with a smaller size needle, you could also adjust this pattern to suit your specific gauge! To do this, you can use your stitches per inch ratio to calculate that you’ll need to cast on 121 stitches at 5.5 stitches per inch for a 22″ cowl circumference at the base of the cowl. For the set-up round later in the cowl, you will be placing your marker halfway through the round, or after 60 stitches. This way, you can knit the cowl with the gauge you have with Posy and Tussock!
I hope this helps provide some options from here for your project!
All the best,
Margaret
Thanks so much, Margaret!
I am just finishing up the lace columns wrap using 2 strands of Tussock. I am at 70″ and have a full skein of each color left. I’m looking for something to use the two skeins – one of bright verdigris and one cerulean sea. Would this cowl work with 2 strands of tussock rather than 1 tussock, 1 line weight?
Hi Lise,
This pattern would absolutely work for 2 strands of Tussock! The only thing you may want to consider is that the bottom circumference would end up narrower, since Tussock is thinner than Line Weight. But one thing you could do is use larger needles for that section, in order to match the gauge. Hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
Hi, my swatch with 28 stitches came out to 5” so I tried a #3 needle, even then it was 4.5 “. Usually my gauge isn’t so far off. Should I adjust the number of stitches in this case?
Hi Alison,
Thank you for writing in! It sounds like your gauge for this pattern can be adjusted by going down an additional needle size but you can also check out our gauge tutorial for a more indepth look on how this can be done. Gauge can vary depending on the style of the knitter so we recommend using whatever needle size helps you obtain the same results of the pattern. If you are happy with the fabric you have created while swatching, you can stick to the needle size you have used! I hope this helps but please let me know if you have any other questions!
Happy knitting,
Gavriella
Hello, could I substitute Linen Quill instead of Line Weight for the Nimbus Cowl?
Hi KT,
Thanks for writing in! You could definitely use Linen Quill in place of Line Weight. We always suggest making a gauge swatch just to make sure you can meet the gauge of the pattern and are happy with the result of the fabric! I hope this helps!
Happy knitting,
Gavriella