Wool & Folk Cowl
This article contains some tips and extra videos for the Wool & Folk Commemorative Cowl by Catherine Clark. Don’t have the pattern yet? It’s available for a limited time in Knitrino–click the button below from your phone to get the pattern.
As always, if you have any questions about this pattern, please email us at support@knitrino.com.
Table of Contents
Getting Started with Knitrino
If you're new to Knitrino, check out the Quick Start guide for short videos that show you how to use Knitrino.
Interpreting the Charts
Those new to reading charts may want to see the article How To Read Knitting Charts on our website. It contains a summary for both right-handed knitters and left-handed mirror knitters. Because this pattern has such a wide chart and some sections have nested repeats, we've added some additional videos to explain how read these more complicated charts.
Swatching in the Round with the Long Float Method
This pattern is very forgiving and gauge is not critical for this project, provided you have adequate yarn. We suggest aiming for a gauge of about 26 stitches and 30 rounds = 4" x 4"/10 cm x 10 cm on larger needle in stranded colorwork. A stitch gauge between 24 over 4"/10 cm will result in a 29"/72.5 cm circumference, and a stitch gauge of 28 stitches over 4"/10cm will result in a circumference of 25"/72.5 cm and 62.5 cm. Those newer to 3-color stranding may want to practice by swatching, and we include some extra videos with tips and suggestions.
To make a small swatch in the round, knit as instructed using a long circular, and then slide the stitches to the other end of your needle. Continue knitting, leaving a long float of at least 6"/15 cm between each side. Your edge stitches will be loose and sloppy, but the middle stitches will give you a good indication of your gauge!
If you'll have plenty of yarn, for the project, we recommend cutting the long floats before blocking so the knitted fabric lays flat. To measure your gauge, block the swatch by submerging in cool water and laying flat to dry. Once dry, place a ruler on top of the fabric and count the number of stitch across the middle 2-3"/5-7.5 cm of the swatch. Divide the number of stitches you count by the number of inches, then multiply by 4 to compare with the listed gauge.
To calculate gauge when measuring over 2 inches:
((#of stitches)/2”) x 4
To calculate gauge when measuring over 3 inches:
(#of stitches)/3”) x 4
Stranding with 3 Colors
Overview
We've heard from a lot of new colorwork knitters that they're intimidated by stranded knitting - they worry that it won't be perfect. We'd like to give you all a little gift right now and say "It won't be perfect, yay!" If you're new to colorwork, recognize that you're learning a new skill and it will improve a LOT with practice. Think about your project as the **first** colorwork project you'll make - it's a journal that will document your growth!
Knitrino recommends knitting stranded colorwork with two hands. For most knitters, the strand of yarn that is carried lower than the other on the wrong side will create larger stitches and can appear more dominant on the right side of the fabric, so carry the float of the background color in the highest position on the wrong side, and the color you most want to pop in the lowest position. For most right handed knitters knitting with 2 hands, you'll carry the background color in your right hand and the contrasting or motif color in your left hand.
Everyone knits differently. Many knitters knit tighter when stranding and so often, patterns suggest going up a needle size. Some knitters, though, kit more loosely with colorwork. The goal is to have floats that lie flat without being taut when the stitches are well stretched out across the needle. Here are some tips you can try to improve your colorwork:
As you're knitting, spread the stitches out to keep the floats from being too tight. You can also adjust the tension of the carried yarn, if necessary.
Occasionally stretch the knitted fabric along the diagonals to even out stitch sizes.
Keep the working yarns in the correct positions, and arrange the yarn balls to match.
You can try turning the work inside out so the floats are facing you. This can help you see your tension issues and adjust as needed.
If a stitch is pulled too tight and appears too small on the right side, you can fix it at the end by making a duplicate stitch over top in the correct color.
And don't forget that blocking forgives a multitude of sins. :) If you're worried about your tension, try steam blocking or wet blocking before you're finished to see how your cowl will look.
Stranding with 2 Hands (2 colors at a time)
This video shows how to implement some of the tips above, and then shows techniques for stranding and locking floats (around the 1:15 mark).
You don't have to worry too much about what the inside looks like. It won't be visible! But if you're curious, here's what Alison's looked like:
Using Duplicate Stitch for the 3rd Color
There are some rounds where there are only a few stitches of the 3rd color, like the sheep legs and the bricks behind the pavilions. For these rounds, you may choose to knit with the 2 main colors, and go back at the end to add the 3rd color using duplicate stitch.