Recipe for a Cowl

I really like it when knitting patterns are written as recipes, allowing the knitter to easily adapt and change the item as it suits them.

My most recent design is a recipe of sorts. The Geometric Cowl Recipe has several components that you can combine in order to create a unique piece every time you use the pattern.

The possibilities are endless - yarn choice (color-changing, solids, heathers) and color contrast, multicolored or solid ribbing, to braid or no braid, mirrored or continuous colorwork triangles…

I knit the two samples featured above, using the recipe as my guide. The difference is drastic!

Example 1: High Contrast Version

Main Color: Noro Taiyo Sock (color 3 shown)

Contrast Color: Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light (Antler shown)

Recipe Used:

• 1 Solid Yarn & 1 Color-Changing Yarn
• 2 Color Ribbing
• Double Braid
• Mirrored Colorwork
• Double Braid
• 2 Color Ribbing

Example 2: Subtle Version

Main Color: Brooklyn Tweed LOFT (Truffle Hunt shown)

Contrast Color: Brooklyn Tweed LOFT (Old World shown)

Recipe Used:

• 2 Solid Tweed/Heathered Yarns
• Solid Color Ribbing (MC)
• Garter Ridge (MC)
• Continuous Colorwork
• Garter Ridge (CC)
• Solid Color Ribbing (CC)

Enjoy customizing your own Geometric Cowls – I can’t wait to see the results!

$6.50

Quick Holiday Gift Knitting Ideas

Hi friends. I know you're all working away diligently, stitching gorgeous, inspired holiday gifts.

I have a secret. I haven't started my gift knitting yet. It's December 11th. And, to make things worse, I don't even have a plan. No list. No yarn purchased or patterns selected. Nothing.

Sound familiar?

Well, if it does, here are a few ideas for quick holiday gift knits. Each of these patterns takes 1 skein of lovely yarn and a few hours of your time.

Lakeshore Cowl

Created as part of the Malabrigo Freelance Pattern Project, the Lakeshore Cowl uses 1 skein (for the small size) of Malabrigo Rasta. buy now

Obstacles Hat

Part of an earlier collection of mine, the Obstacles Hat works up like greased lightning. Only 3 rounds of cabling and you're done. buy now

The Warmer

Beginners and experts alike love knitting this simple neckwarmer. One skein of super bulky yarn, like Malabrigo Rasta or Cascade Magnum, 2 hours of your time, and you get a lovely gift :) buy now

Riverside Cowl

With a bit of squishy sport weight yarn - I recommend Malabrigo Arroyo or The Wool Dispensary's Useful Restorative - you get this highly textured piece. buy now

The Cowl

A cousin to The Warmer, this piece is worked up flat, and then seamed using a 3 needle bindoff. It looks cool when the seam is worn as a decorative element on the outside. buy now

Good luck with your gift knitting!

New Pattern: Hyacinth Cowl

Hi there! Another new pattern!

The Hyacinth Cowl is a simple design, great for those looking to move beyond simple rectangles.

A few interesting stitches, including purl two together (p2tog), will keep more advanced knitters interested.

The silk and cashmere yarn creates a soft, buttery fabric with amazing drape and slight sheen.

This yarn (Ensemble from Artyarns) literally glows due to the fiber content and the beautiful colorway.

Featured FO: Indigo Swan Cowl by Gayla

Gayla of Doodlebug Yarn was sweet enough to let me share her most recently finished project - an Indigo Swan Cowl.

(C) GaylaGayla used Swans Island Certified Organic Chunky in Marine for her version.

Here's what she had to say about the pattern:

I love Breean’s designs - they always have a sweet little detail that make them special. In this case, it’s the rolled edge of the cowl.

Super fast, I think it took about 2 hours of knitting. This would be a perfect project for last minute holiday gifts.

You can purchase the Indigo Swan Cowl pattern exclusively via Doodlebug Yarn, or as part of Summer Stack.

Thanks for sharing, Gayla!

Striper Cowl Pattern - Photo Shoot

Yesterday I released the Striper Cowl pattern. You can get the pattern by itself, or as part of my new e-book collection, Summer Stack.

Summer Stack is a subscription of 8+ hat and cowl knitting patterns which will be released periodically through December 2012. It's available now on Ravelry.

I showed you a snippet yesterday...here are some more photos of the Striper Cowl.

Purchase Striper Cowl

Purchase Summer Stack