Free KNIT Pattern: Sunset Spiral Knit Cowl

This pattern is suitable for advanced beginners who want to try something new, the Kitchener Stitch joining method. This avoids a noticeable seam, making your work look flawless. Don’t be intimidated. Although there are many steps, you’ll get the hang of it quite quickly. Plus it’s only the last part of the pattern. The rest is easy working in alternating Stockinette and Reverse Stockinette Stitch with simple increase and decrease on odd rows. When you’re finished you will have a beautiful cowl with the colors of a majestic sunset to savor.

The FREE pattern follows BELOW in this blog post.

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Materials:

· 1/2 skein, 125 yards, #4 weight Red Heart Super Saver Stripes yarn – “Flamenco Stripe” colorway Or approx. 125 yards of worsted weight (# 4) yarn of your choice.

· 3 yards of contrasting color worsted weight yarn.

· 6.5 mm needles

· 6.5 mm crochet needle

· Scissors

· Yarn needle

· Measuring tape

Size and Gauge

Final measurements: One size fits all. You can always make it taller by casting on more stitches and you can make it wider by knitting more rows.

· Neck: 20 inch circumference

· Height: 9 inches.

Gauge

4” x 4” =

24 rows and 12 stitches in pattern

Difficulty Level

Easy Projects using yarn with basic stitches, repetitive stitch patterns, simple color changes, and simple shaping and finishing.

Stiches Used and Abbreviations

K= knit

P= purl

K2tog = Knit 2 stitches together = 1 decrease

KFB = Knit front and back of same stitch = 1 increase

Ch = chain

RS = right side of work

WS = wrong side of work

St = stitch

Stockinette Stitch:

Row 1 (RS) Knit
Row 2 (WS) Purl

Reverse Stockinette Stitch:

Row 1 (RS) Purl
Row 2 (WS) Knit

Provisional Cast On (see instructions below)

Kitchener stitch joining (see instructions below)

Stitch Guide

Provisional Cast On: With crochet hook and contrasting color yarn make a chain of the number of cast on stiches. Pick up each chain stitch by the back loop and knit a stitch with your knitting needles.

Kitchener Stitch joining method: creates a knit row connecting two edges of fabric

Step 1. Remove the provisional chain and transfer stitches onto second needle a few stitches at a time until all row1 stitches are on the second needle.

Step 2: Using a yarn needle with the same yarn you used to work your project, hold the needles with the live stitches parallel in your left hand (for right hand knitters). Insert the yarn needle through the first stitch on the front needle as if to PURL. Pull the yarn through, leaving a tail that you will weave in later. Leave the stitch on the front needle.

Step 3: Insert the yarn needle through the first stitch on the back needle as if to KNIT, pull the yarn through, leaving the stitch on the back needle.

(Repeat Rows)

Step 4: Insert the yarn needle through the first stitch on the front needle as if to KNIT, pull the yarn through, removing the stitch from the front needle.

Step 5: Insert the yarn needle through the first stitch on the front needle as if to PURL, pull the yarn through, leaving the stitch on the front needle.

Step 6: Insert the yarn needle through the first stitch on the back needle as if to PURL, pull the yarn through, removing the stitch on the back needle.

Step 7: Insert the yarn needle through the first stitch on the back needle as if to KNIT, pull the yarn through, leaving the stitch on the back needle.

Repeat Step 4 – Step 7 until all stitches have been worked. Every few stitches, check the tension of your work, making sure it matches your work’s tension. This is important because you are making an extra row of knitting rather than sewing together a tight seam.

Important Notes

All Odd rows are Right Side rows.

All Even Rows are Wrong Side rows.

ON ALL RIGHT SIDE ROWS: Decrease 1 stitch using K2tog at beginning of row, and increase 1 by using KFB at the end of the row. You can place a pin marker on one side so to make it easy to remember if it is an increase/decrease row.

All Wrong Side Rows: simply knit or purl across according to the pattern below.

This pattern CAN be made without using the Kitchener stitch. You would simply cast on in the working yarn and at the end you will bind off and sew the two edges together. I have made it both ways and the the sewing method is passable, but the Kitchener stitch is a superior finished look.

Instructions

Begin: Ch 40 with contrasting color yarn. (this gets removed and discarded at the end so color doesn’t matter. You just want to be able to distinguish it from your cowl.)

Make provisional cast on using the back loops of the chain. (40 stitches)

All Wrong Side Rows: simply knit or purl across according to the pattern below.

Step 1: R1 (RS)-R2 (WS): Work Stockinette Stitch.

Step 2: R3-R6 Work 4 rows Reverse Stockinette Stitch.

Step 3: R7-R10 Work 4 rows of Stockinette Stitch.

Step 4: Repeat Step 2 and Step 3 nine more times.

Step 5: Work 4 rows of Reverse Stockinette and 2 rows of Stockinette Stitch. DO NOT BIND OFF.

Step 6: Fold the two edges in towards each other forming a tube. Using the Kitchener stitch instructions above, knit the two edges together.

Finishing

With yarn needle sew in loose ends.

Enjoy your Sunset Stripe Cowl!

Construction Images