Softly Cabled Cowl

I have a weakness for alpaca yarn, and this cowl came about as a soft, fluffy, and warm wrap for my sister in law this Christmas. I might have to buy more yarn and make one for myself!

The cowl is shown looped around the neck only once. However, it's long enough to be doubled for a different look or for extra warmth around the face.

Softly Cabled Cowl (knitting pattern)

Yarn: Cascade Yarns Baby Alpaca Chunky, 2 skeins (216 yards total)
Needles: Size 11 double points or 16-inch cable needle
Gauge: 15 stitches and 16 rows = 4 inches in stockinette
(note: I used all but about 3 yards of the yarn, so if you up the gauge, plan on fewer repeats or buy a third skein).

- Using a provisional method, cast on 48 stitches.
- Place marker, and join to knit in the round.
- Knit 7 rounds.
- Cable row: *K4, place 4 stitches on cable needle and hold to back, K4, K4 from cable needle. Repeat from * 3 times more.
- Knit 14 rounds.
- On the 15th round, repeat cable row.
- Repeat these 15 rows 9 times.
- After completing the 9th cable row, knit 7 rounds.
- (At this point the cowl should measure about 34 inches in length.)
- Undo the provisional cast on and join the cowl in a continuous loop using the kitchener stitch.

Monkeys!

This summer I went a little bananas over Mary Ann Stephens "Sleepy Monkey Blanket." Although it's designed as a small stroller blanket (about 20 x 20 in.) I sized it up to make a full baby blanket for my friend's daughter. Finished size was about 46 x 30.

The process began with fair isle monkeys, knit in the round. This took me from early July through early October.


Here I'm machine sewing the blanket on either side of where I'm about to cut open the steek.


Every knitter knows that this is the scary part--going at your knitting with scissors. Yikes!


This was one of the more challenging objects I've ever blocked. The geometric nature of the monkeys made it very obvious if any portion of the blanket was stretched more than another. I ended up pinning each row of monkeys, using a yard stick to align the diamond motifs between the monkey's ears. I think it took several hours to get it all right.

Next step was to pick up and knit the border. It was a lot of hurry up and wait, as my grandpa would have said. I felt like I was really close to completion having finished the main panel, but in terms of area, knitting the border was like knitting half of the blanket over again! That's what happens when you have 10-12 linear feet of knitting. I had my eyes on the finish line and neglected to photograph it with the border in process. Below you can also see the pink cotton lining, which is tufted with small purple yarn ties and is attached to the knitted front with a blanket stitch.

Finally, voila, a very happy monkey blanket for baby Violet.

iPhone Cozy Knitting Pattern

iPhone cozy
Originally uploaded by knitscapade

I stood in line to get my iPhone 4 on the first day they were released (because I'd dropped and broken my old first-gen model). I was terrified that I'd break the new one--in all its glass-fronted and glass-backed glory--so I whipped up this cute and very protective case. I'm proud, er embarrassed, to say that it's survived at least one fall onto concrete.

iPhone Cozy (knitting pattern)

Approx 100-200 yards of Cascade 220
Size 9 double-pointed needles
Size 8 double-pointed needles
Gauge: 16 stitches and 24 rows = 4 inches in stockinette

Note: the yarn is worked double stranded, so you may prefer to have two skeins of the yarn. The pattern doesn't use a lot of yardage, so this is also a great way to use up scrap yarn.

- Cast on 20 stitches with your larger needles.
- Place marker and join to knit in the round.
- Knit 8 rounds.

- OPTIONAL thumb hole to be able to answer your phone while it remains in the case. If you don't want the thumb hole, skip to ** below.
- K3, Cast off 4, K13 (you've now completed the round)
- K3, cable cast on 4, K13 (you've now completed the second round and closed the hole.

** Continue knitting another 20 rounds (30 total)
- On the next round, switch to the smaller needles and begin knitting in K1, P1 rib.
- Knit 10 rows of rib.
- Bind off in pattern.
- Stitch the bottom closed and weave in ends.

The cozy is reversible.

- VARIATIONS
This cozy will fit all iPhone models. It is pretty snug, so it will conform to the shape of your device. To adapt for the iPod Touch, knit four fewer rows before starting the ribbed collar.