Accidental spiral cowl, eyelet hand warmers

The milk is cooling on the stove waiting to be turned into yogurt. I use Trader Joe's lowfat organic milk because it's the least expensive organic milk that's not ultra-high pasteurized. Hopefully this batch will turn out okay -- I left the last batch in my oven's warming drawer on the medium setting, and it curdled.

While it cools and MJ runs, I'm working on my fourth cowl of the month -- hopefully, I'll get to keep this one. The pattern for the cowl was inspired by a mistake I made on a baby hat last summer. I miscounted the stitches for the 2 x 2 rib and next thing I knew, I was making a spiral.

For the cowl, I wanted to use the same spiral idea. Since I wanted to make it extra cozy and thick, I used Malabrigo merino worsted, which is so light and soft. I knit two strands together, using size 11 needles. First try, I did 73 stitches, and it was way too wide to keep my neck warm. Ripped it out and reknit it with 61 stitches, and it turned out to be just loose enough. MJ wore it around the house several times and requested one, and Roxy wore it once and liked it too. But its ultimate owner turned out to be my friend Deb for her birthday/holiday/no reason. Deb's is in Velvet Grapes, which I'd bought at Sifu Design Studio last year. I had enough yarn left over from the cowl to make hand warmers too -- I made elbow-length hand warmers with some eyelet detail, knit flat and sewn together.

Then I decided to make the same set for Pennie in the Hummingbird colorway. For Pennie's, I made the handwarmers shorter.

Next was MJ's cowl, in Stoneway and 53 stitches, because she wanted it closer-fitting -- I'll make her a hat out of the rest of the two skeins.

Now, finally, I'm making a cowl and hand warmers for myself, out of Malabrigo Rio yarn in Amoroso. Just started it, as you can see.



(The bag is by Piddleloop, in case you're interested; mug by Roxy.)


Accidental spiral cowl pattern

Size 11 16" circular needles

Cast on 53 stitches with two strands held together. Join in the round, being careful not to twist stitches.
Continue to hold two strands together for the entire project.
Knit 2, purl 2 until the piece reaches 10" long.
Bind off loosely.
Finished piece will be 22" diameter.

Eyelet Hand Warmers

Size 8 flat or circular needles

Cast on 30 stitches.

Eyelet pattern
Knit 2 rows
Eyelet row: K2tog, yo -- repeat until last 2 stitches, K2
Knit 2 rows

Row 1: Knit all stitches
Eyelet pattern
Stockinette stitch for 10 rows
Eyelet pattern
Stockinette stitch for 10 rows

Continue until piece is desired length.
Bind off loosely.

Sew seam, leaving a 1" opening for thumb -- opening should be around the second eyelet pattern.