Sunday, January 15, 2012

Infinity Hooded Cowl

Infinity Hooded Cowl

This super bulky hood with twisted scarf attached, can be worn as a big drape cowl, or wrapped around the shoulders for a loose thick shoulder cowl. The hood can be up or down on the neck for more shoulder warmth. I used 10mm (US15) needles to make sure the stitches were a bit loose and to create more stretch and drape to the fabric. Gauge is less important than the soft drape.

Yarn: Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick, 3 – 170 gms balls. (mine is cranberry)

Needles: 10mm

A couple of safety pins to mark spots.

One size, adult.

Scarf: Cast on 18 stitches. Work in garter stitch (knit every row) until 70 inches have been worked. Cast off all stitches. Laying the scarf flat, put one twist in the middle. Each end as it now lays is the right side up. (put a safety pin on the right side so you don’t twist it back).

Hood: pick up 18 stitches from the right side of one end of the scarf. Cast On 10 new stitches, then pick up 18 stitches from the right side of the other end of the scarf. **there are close up photos below to show these details, including the 2x2 ribbing at the neck created by the next four rows***

Next four rows: Rows 1& 3: Knit 4 stitches, [Purl 2, knit 2] 9 times, purl 2, knit 4.

Rows 2&4: knit 4,[knit 2, purl 2] 9 times, knit 2, knit 4

Rest of hood: Knit all stitches in every row (garter stitch)

Work until hood (from 10 cast on stitches) measures 12 inches. Mark center of row (23 stitches, marker, 23 stitches).

Decrease row: Knit to 2 stitches before marker, knit 2 together, move marker, knit 2 together, knit to end. Work next row all knits.

Repeat the 2 row decrease pattern until hood is 16 inches from cast on edge. Cast off all remaining stitches.

Sew the top of head seam (last cast off stitches folded in half to form a hood.) That’s it!

worn as an infinity scarf... look! We finally got some snow in Canada! Jan 13th. Latest snow day that I can ever remember.

see the single twist in the scarf....

detail of the back of neck cast on 10 stitches, and the ribbing to define the neck...

Little birds find the chunky stitches really easy to climb!

22 comments:

Ruth McMullan said...

It looks gorgeous!!!!! i must try! Thank you Chris! You are amazing!!!!!

My name WAS Female, I shit you not! said...

THIS , I am copying and hope to try!
Love it and all your handwork.
(((hugs)))Pat

Anonymous said...

I have never worn a cowl but I love the idea with the hood!

Halcyon said...

I have a ton of bright green chunky yarn left over from another project. Think I'm going to put it to use making this cowl. It looks lovely on you. :)

Unknown said...

I love this pattern! I am still a novice however, and I can't quite figure out how to pick up stitches and then cast on. I know how to pick up, but casting on in between I can't seem to get right. Any help?

chris said...

Pick up... you know that, then turn the right hand needle to the left side and add stitches (just like you do at the start of a project) to tip of the needle. If this does not help, it is best to go to a yarn shop, or experienced knitter, or you tube... better to SEE it than read about it... hope that helps.
Chris

Unknown said...

It definitely helped. I am now almost done. Thanks a bunch, Chris! Maybe next, if I'm feeling REALLY ambitious, I'll try that cape. It looks fantastic!

Unknown said...

I absolutely loved this pattern. Found it on Friday and have been knitting it from stom stash yarn. Great job!!!

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for this pattern. I made it for my daughter using Sirdar Big Bamboo in grey (we're in the UK) It has turned out brilliantly and am so pleased - I really can't thank you enough xxx

Abby said...

Thank you so much for the pattern!! My only question is how many yards of yarn did you use?

chris said...

Yards: each ball of 170 grams has 106 yards (96m), so three balls is about 318 yards of super chunky yarn.
Hope that helps, Chris

Susan said...

EEK! I'm almost done and I just realized that I forgot to put the twist in the scarf part when I picked up the stitches for the hood! What do you think - should I go back and fix it? It seems to me it will still be wearable as is, no? Perhaps the drape will just be a bit less interesting?

chris said...

It's OK Ruth, without a twist it will still be fine... you will just have a different drape on the front of the cowl. No worries! Stress free knitting! Carry on :)

Susan said...

Thanks Chris! I am loving this pattern!

Polly said...

Wonderful pattern! Thank you so much. I can't wait to get started.

Anonymous said...

How necessary is it to cast off the scarf if you're just picking up the same number of stitches?

chris said...

It is not necessary to cast off then pick up again, but I did it this way so that 1: the twist is easier to lay out and pick up correctly, and 2: so that both sides look the same where the hood starts (one side will be picked up anyway, so doing both sides makes for a balanced look)
Good question, though, and you may do it whichever way makes you happy!
:)

Unknown said...

I'm knitting a cape for fall. I'll try to fit the hood on it. I'll you pictures. Thank!

Unknown said...

I'm knitting a cape for this fall and I'll try to fit the good on it. I'll send you done pictures. Thanks

Unknown said...

Hello Chris,
I love this scarf. I am making it for myself and one for my adopted daughter. Only have one question its about moving the marker. Once you have knitted the 2 stitches together before the marker do I just transfer the marker to the other needle and then knit the next 2 stitches together or am I reading this incorrectly.
By the way I just found this pattern and looked at your cape. Its amazing
Thanks Julia Syracuse, N.Y.

chris said...

Hi Julia, that is exactly right. Move Marker means slide it from the left needle to the right (new stitch) needle, thus keeping it in the same spot at you do the decrease rows.
Easy, right?
Cheers, Chris

Maggie Mack said...

Hi Chris,
I made your hooded cowl last year, in a Red Heart discontinued chunky yarn. It turned out gorgeous! The only problem was that I'm not very big (well tall is probably more correct) and it just overwhelmed me. Luckily one of my taller friends saw it and it was perfect on her. Win, win! Thank you so much for the pattern.
Maggie