Grey Bank Holiday
- 2086
- 9
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Hello! Welcome to those of you who found me last weekend thanks to the lovely Julia. I hope I won’t disappoint! It’s Bank Holiday Monday here in the UK (a 3-day weekend, basically). I haven’t enjoyed weekends very much since I left school (whatever happened to saturday night?). For a start, I always get the urge to order yarn on Friday evening, just when I’ll have longest to wait for it. Then if I decide to go to the library, or to the supermarket, it’s always extra crowded. And then the internet is always so quiet (where do you all go? sniff). Besides, I’m not going to stop “working” just because it’s not a “workday” for most people! But well, thanks to Julia and the Twist Collective, this weekend was devoid of its usual tedium, and I was bouncing around in excitement instead. So welcome! :)
It’s another grey day here, but I hope you’re making the most of your long weekend (if you have one) to do some knitting. I felt like something quick and cosy yesterday & found this in my stash. I love Colinette so much. This is One Zero in the colourway ‘Banwy’ (I wish their website still had those charming blurbs, remember those?). I found myself driving (well, being driven) through Banwy the other day, but unfortunately we didn’t have time to stop and scout out the Colinette workshop. Anyway, I absolutely adore this colourway (though no photos can do it justice), in particular the inky blacks that look like they’ve been dripped onto a light mossy green pool. Welsh slate, mossy rocks, tenebrous woods, and (this is pure genius) the rosy glow of morning sunshine on limewash. How did they do it? How did those clever Colinette dyers manage to put all this in a yarn?
You really don’t need to work hard to show it off. Sometimes the simplest thing is the best: stocking stitch (stockinette for Colinette, you might say). Wide and loose cowls seem to be in fashion this winter, but I like mine to actually keep my neck warm! And this is the perfect width for that. It’s jolly tricky taking photos of yourself with a manual focus 50mm lens, by the way.
There were so many sixes in this pattern, I decided to call it the Sixes Cowl, maybe it’ll make it easier for you to remember if you decide to knit one.
Simple Instructions for the Sixes Cowl
You might just be able to squeeze a cowl out of one hank of One Zero, but get a couple (or 6) just to be sure.
Gauge is also a bit tricky since One Zero is a thick & thin yarn, but mine is approx. 12 sts / 19 rows to 10cm/4in of stocking st.
Using 6mm 60cm circular needles,
Cast on 66 sts & join to work in the round.
Work in 1×1 rib for 6 rows.
Work in stocking stitch for 30cm / 12in (or however long you desire).
Work 6 rows in 1×1 rib.
Cast off in rib.
Weave in ends (my cowl is still umbilical).
Easy, eh? Look at that sweet wobbly cast off! Because of the uneven nature of the yarn, your stocking stitch will have gentle waves. I recommend you enjoy it that way, rather than trying to block it flat. If you need help with circular knitting, read All About Circular Knitting. And did I mention you can wear it either way out?
Just in case you haven’t got any One Zero handy though, and you can’t bear the wait, how about having a picture of it to warm up your desktop? You can download a large copy of the photo above from Flickr, which should shrink to size when you apply it to your desktop. If it doesn’t work though, let me know your screen resolution & I’ll see if I can whip up some specific sizes. :)
P.S. I was very tempted to call this ‘Cawl’ (pronounced ‘cowl’), which is a hearty Welsh soup made with leftovers. Just the thing after a long damp walk. But then I thought (cowls being addictive) that maybe I’ll knit another cowl to call Cawl, what do you think? ;)
Dear Derya – I am one of those new fans that found you through Twist – and I am so happy I did! I just love this most recent post – it has everything. Beautiful new (to me) yarn in a colorway I would never have noticed. Your absolutely perfect description of it (which makes me want some right now). That sweet and simple (free!!) cowl pattern you so generously gave us (thank you!). And then to top it all off – all those wonderful Welsh references scattered throughout the post. I took a British Isles tour many years ago – a whirlwind overview through Britain, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. And it was Wales that captured my heart – I think about what I saw there so often. So lovely to meet you!!
I am planning on doing several cowls this year, as the cold weather always seems to go to my throat. I have been wanting to splurge on some Colinette for ages, but didn’t know what to start with, I may buy a skein and do a cowl in your honour.
..That’s how I found you! Great blog. Have added you on to My Favourites’s list!
i love it here Derya. I was even peeped through while on vacation but my internet was so slow. Just wanted you to know! thanks for stopping by my place.
Thank you for the warm welcome and for the wonderful paper goodies.
A beautiful, beautiful cowl – I have many of these, large and small, sifting around in my head to be knit this autumn and winter.
oooh now that is such a good pattern and will use up some of my handspun beautifully! Thank you
it looks so cozy!!! xo
Derya, what a doll you are! I love your writing; so poetic and beautiful, and so fitting for this gorgeous yarn as well as the cowl. I like “cawl” too, hehe :) I looked you up on Ravelry as well, and can’t log in. I haven’t been able to log in for months, though I’ve been busy knitting since about November (when I first learned). Thank you for sharing, and for turning me on to this yarn! I found some thick-and-thin Stacey-Tahki on sale at my LYS ~ can’t read the color, it’s dark outside, but I think it’s discontinued because I couldn’t find any more on their website. Sorry for being scatterbrained; my point being, I’ve been looking for something to knit it into, and this is perfect! Oh, and your photography is gorgeous as well. I’m also a photographer. You do very well with your 50mm lens!! As I see it, things are beautiful all the way around. You’re a multi-talented person whom I can’t wait to connect with on Ravelry, once I can log in, that is. So, thank you again!
p.s. I might wait and get some of this yarn to mix with what I’ve got. I’ll post pics when I’ve gotten it done.
[…] P.S. The knitting background is available here. […]