Waves & Giggles (set)
WAVES & GIGGLES:
Who doesn’t love a little bit of chevron stripe? Obviously, I do! Whether it is happening in high fashion with Missioni or on simple and basic items in knit or crochet. It is rare that I see a design using this pattern that I do not like. To honor the plethora of chevron designs that have come before, I offer this cowl and hat set. Each piece contains are a few unique parts. The Cowl employs a mobius cast on and is worked from the center outwards, so FUN! The hat is worked from the top down and continues the chevron shaping all the way through the ribbing. I hope you enjoy these riffs on a wonderful standard patterning technique.
YARN:
This set is designed to be knit in Light Worsted or DK weight yarn. The featured yarn is an amazing new offering from my friends at Urth Yarns. The Ultrafine Merino is very soft and has a lot of drape and a relaxed aspect. It is available in 65 glorious colors, offering endless options for this design. I cannot wait to see what you choose.
It can be worked in other similar yarns as well.
NEEDLES & GAUGE:
COWL- US 8’s/5.0 mm round needles. The Mobius technique for the cowl requires a 40” or longer needle cable.
HAT- US 7’s/4.5 mm & US 5’s/3.75 mm The hat is worked in the round. It requires round needles or DPN’s
GAUGE was measured after blocking. Both pieces are loose and oversized. Exact gauge for cowl is less important than the hat gauge.
COWL GAUGE (US 08’s) 20 STS to 4” and 24 Rows to 4”
HAT GAUGE (US 07’s) 20 STS to 4” and 26 Rows to 4”
SIZE: COWL 7.25” high & 58” around BERET STYLE HAT 11” high & 21” around at ribbing
NOTIONS:
A yarn sewing needle for tucking in ends.
Stitch Markers.
13” plate or lid for “beret” blocking.
Clothes pins or other blocking weights.
As I noted above, I have a big old knitter’s CRUSH on chevron patterning. I wanted to create a set of items with a twist to that technique and these pieces are interesting plays in that format with a few twists to more common construction and approach.
The cowl uses a moebius cast on and is worked from the inside out in an ingenious manner developed by Cat Bordhi. By using this approach, I realized I wanted to figure out how to ‘tweak’ the chevron patterning to match and fit into this mode of knitting. In order to meet that challenge, some of the chevron is worked in knit and some in purl. This results in a very nice twist on the standard patterning, but also pairs very well the moebius nature of the work.
The hat is worked top down. This was because I was not sure how much yarn I would need and wanted the flexibility in designing to amend as I went if I was short. It ALSO resulted in me working the rib in chevron for a classy and different bottom edge to the hat. I am very happy with both pieces!
The YARN: URTH YARNS, “16” Worsted, 100% SW Ultrafine Merino Wool, 220 yards to 100 grams
1.CA (Color A) - N10 Natural - (Cowl 75g, Hat 15g) left over 10g
2.CB (Color B) - Y40 Deep Gold - (Cowl 30g, Hat 52g) left over 18g
3.CC (Color C) - G30 Deep Olive - (Cowl 60g, Hat 22g) left over 18g
COWL:
This cowl requires basic knowledge of the moebius cast on (and knitting) technique, video link included in pattern. It also requires your ability to increase with M1L & M1R; you can substitute a preferred increase (including, but not limited to: yo, M1, Kfb) if you wish. It also uses a CDD, Center Double Decrease; you may substitute K3tog here if you wish.
Obviously, I like the techniques I used and put into the pattern. If it is important to you that your piece looks like mine, please use the techniques I did.
HAT:
This hat is a little bit of a twist on the average hat. It is worked top down. It is blocked in a manner like a beret, but the yarn is very drapey, so it creates a gorgeous slouchy hat without a hard beret shape. It uses similar techniques to the Cowl, and substitutions to these techniques can also be imposed on this design; knitter’s choice.