Hi folks. It’s me.
I am, in fact, still here.
It’s sure been a while. I haven’t done the math but many more weeks or months than I probably realise have been and gone since I was last in this space. Days have become shorter, colder, wetter and more grey. But in the hopes to break the silence of my absence I want to whisk you back to the warmer days of a golden fall – right around the time when a little project between my LYS and I came off the needles. I am happy to introduce the Coastal Fog Cowl.
I am so luckily surrounded by many yarn stores in the area that I live, but there is one that holds a special place in my heart – YARN. It’s a small spot [those of you who've been, know what I mean!] full to the brim of the most amazing yarns, colours and all things knitterly. When Sunni, the store owner, approached me to design for her new website I jumped at the chance to work with the wonderful selection of yarns she carries. Staying true to my fiber values we selected Cascade Eco Duo from which I would work. This is a classic case of how I design – allowing the yarn to inspire me. My swatch surprised me, with a fabric that held so much texture and life alongside the soft and subtle drape of alpaca. Another surprise was the colour and the way the undyed alpaca fibers are distributed to offer a soft striping, an element I wanted to emphasise. My goal was to create something that was rustic, yet delicate.
The Coastal Fog Cowl is an interesting shape. It is effectively a short scarf secured with the use of two buttons to sit as a cowl around your neck. Different rates of increases and decreases create a curved rectangle around which you finish with a highly textured lace and bobble edging. I’m in love with this stitch pattern and already have plans to include it in another project – the gentle curves and waves of the lace work remind me of the ocean tide along side our hard rocky coast lines, which are reflected in the bobbles.
This is a great project for those of you who dislike the piles of small balls of remnant yarn you collect as projects go by. This pattern uses all but a few yards of Cascade Eco Duo and I cannot recommend enough that you check your gauge. It’s also a speedy knit, easily completed in a weekend – perhaps the perfect last minute gift for a loved one.
Sunni and YARN recently released their new website, www.yarn-fun.com. Expanding with the opening of an online store, this site is oh so cleverly organised by projects. Inspired by the amazing photography you are invited to browse the patterns and projects, from which you can easily select the yarn and needles you might need. SO much easier than flicking back and forth between yarn, patterns, and needle sections – its all there, in one place.
The Coastal Fog Cowl is only going to be available from YARN and is currently only available in PDF format.
Sizes : One size.
Measurements : 39” long, at longest point x 13” deep.
Yarn : 2 skeins Cascade Eco Duo [70% Undyed Baby Alpaca/30% Undyed Merino Wool, 3.5oz, 197 yds]. Shown in ‘Koala’ 1706.
Needles : US 8 [5mm] needles, circular or straight, or size to obtain gauge.
Gauge : 18 sts and 19 rows = 4 inches in garter st.
Notions : Tapestry needle, two 5/8” buttons.
On ravelry : For purchase here
