Do you want to ease into the world of designing? Cowls are a great place to start! In this class, explore ways to create close-fitting as well as infinity sampler cowls.

Technique Requirements: knit/purl, cast on/bind off, working in the round, beginner lace, easy colorwork

Using any smooth, worsted weight or DK weight yarn, knit three or four 6" square swatches in various stitch patterns. Please choose lace, cables, mosaic patterns, interesting textures, etc—anything you might like to include in a cowl design. Bind off your swatches, and measure your stitch and row gauges over 4". Then, block your swatches, and remeasure your gauges.

You can use any stitch patterns you love. Here are some of my favorites:

Picket Fences
(multiple of 5 + 4 stitches)
Rows 1, 3, and 5 (RS): *K4, p1; repeat from the * across, ending with k4.
Row 2 and all WS rows: Knit the knit sts and purl the purl sts.
Rows 7, 9, and 11: *P4, k1; repeat from the * across, ending with p4.
Row 12: As Row 2.
Repeat Rows 1-12 for the pattern. 

Lacy Triangles
(multiple of 10 + 9 stitches)
Row 1 (RS): K3, *k1, yarn over, ssk, k7; repeat from the * across, ending with k1, yarn over, ssk, k3.
Row 2 and all WS rows: Purl across.
Row 3: K2, k2tog, *yarn over, k1, yarn over, ssk, k5, k2tog; repeat from the * across, ending with yarn over, k1, yarn over, ssk, k2.
Row 5: K1, k2tog, yarn over, * k2tog, yarn over, k1, yarn over, ssk, k3, k2tog, yarn over; repeat from the * across, ending with k2tog, yarn over, k1, yarn over, ssk, k1.
Row 7: K3, *k6, yarn over, ssk, k2; repeat from the * across, ending with k6.
Row 9: K3, *k4, k2tog, yarn over, k1, yarn over, ssk, k1; repeat from the * across, ending with k6.
Row 11: K3, * k3, [k2tog, yarn over] twice, k1, yarn over, ssk; repeat from the * across, ending with k6.
Row 12: As Row 2.
Repeat Rows 1-12 for the pattern. 

Sailor's Cables
(multiple of 26 stitches plus 14 stitches)
Row 1 (RS): *P1, slip the next 2 sts onto cn and hold in front, k2, k2 from cn, p4, slip the next 2 sts onto cn and hold in back, k2, k2 from cn, p1, k12; repeat from the * across, ending with p1, slip the next 2 sts onto cn and hold in front, k2, k2 from cn, p4, slip the next 2 sts onto cn and hold in back, k2, k2 from cn, p1.
Row 2: Knit the knit sts and purl the purl sts.
Row 3: *P1, k12, p1, slip the next 2 sts onto cn and hold in front, k2, k2 from cn, p4, slip the next 2 sts onto cn and hold in back, k2, k2 from cn; repeat from the * across, ending with p1, k12, p1.
Row 4: As Row 2.
Repeat Rows 1-4 for the pattern.
 

Approximately 500 yards of worsted-weight yarn (multiple coordinated colors fine); appropriate-size circular knitting needle, 16" and 29"; calculator; tape measure.