My love of easy fashion, a minimalist wardrobe and luxury yarn all comes together with this free knitting pattern for a silk bandana cowl.
Earlier this year, I stumbled across a post on facebook from Gist Yarn in a group. The owner, Sarah Resnick, was asking for people within the group to take a final look at her new website before it went live. Much to my pure joy, Gist Yarn specializes in sourcing high quality weaving yarns direct from the sources, so naturally I dove right in and fell in love. Once I read her about page, I was hooked.
How could I be anything but a fan?
Unfortunately, I'm on a weaving hiatus at the moment because of our year old kitten, Miss Ruby Willow Pierce. She's a bit too involved with anything that moves for me to have any success with weaving, but I'm not going to be daunted by that. Naturally, I've been using these amazing yarns for knitting instead, until she's a bit older and less interested in what I'm doing.
Purl Soho has a free pattern for a bandana cowl that is just amazing (you can find it HERE), but it's knit using a chunky weight yarn. I've made a couple and love them like you wouldn't believe, but I envisioned something lighter and more delicate that I'd wear every day. I envisioned a simple bandana cowl knit from the Gist Yarn Italian Silk Noil Weaving Yarn. It's beautifully textured, light weight, and knits up beautifully on size 4-5 needles.
If you're like me and love a beautiful yarn that is ethically sourced, enjoy a simple wardrobe with classic pieces and are itching to knit something you'll wear for years to come, here is the pattern to knit your own bandana cowl.
Needles: size 4 16" circular needles (I tend to knit quite loosely, so if you are a tight knitter, you may want to jump up to a size 5 to meet gauge).
Gauge: 5 stitches = 1"
Notions: 3 stitch markers
Notes:
k2tog = Knit 2 together (decrease)
ssk = slip 2 stitches knitwise, insert the tip of the left needle through the front of both slipped stitches and knit. (If this sounds kooky, google the how to. There are loads of how to videos and tutorials and you can choose the one that makes the most sense to you).
sk2po = slip 2 knitwise, purl one, slip the 2 slipped stitches over to create a centered decrease
wt = wrap and turn. As with ssk, if you're not sure how, find a handy youtube vid. It's not difficult at all, once you've done it a time or two, and it opens up a whole world of possibilities for shaping once you're comfortable with it.
Cast on 121, place a marker and join into the round being careful not to twist stitches.
Purl one round.
K59, sk2po, k to end
p58, sk2po, p to end
k57, sk2po, k to end
p56, sk2po, p to end
k55, sk2po, p to end
p54, sk2po, p to end (109 sts)
Begin short row shaping:
k55, wt
p3, wt
k to wrapped stitch, k the wrap together with the stitch, k1, wt
p to wrapped stitch, p the wrap together with the stitch, p1, wt
Repeat these 2 rows until you reach the marker.
Begin decrease rows:
K24, place marker, k61, place marker, k to end. (pick up and knit together the wrapped stitches on this set up round)
k 2 rounds
*k to 2 sts before the marker, k2tog, slip marker, k to next marker, slip marker, ssk, k to end of round
k 3 rounds
Repeat these 4 rounds (from *) 4 more times
You're almost done:
p 1 round
k 1 round
Repeat these 2 rounds 3 more times.
Bind off loosely. I used a size 7 needle for bind off.
Weave in the ends and enjoy!
If you decide to knit this wonderful wardrobe basic, I'd love to see it! Tag me with @gravesco on Instagram for a chance to be featured in my stories!
Happy knitting!