Rusty Keyhole Cowl
- nataliapleshko
- Mar 1, 2023
- 4 min read
Knitting pattern for a cowl with mohair accents
The pattern Rusty Keyhole Cowl brings together fun variegated colors of hand-dyed yarn with a fluffy texture of mohair.
Inspiration
The idea for this cowl started with a call for submissions for a magazine. They asked for neon colors, texture, and some layers within the knitted fabric. They had a moodboard with several interesting pictures. Here are a few images from that moodboard, which gave me inspiration for the design and stitch pattern.
Image 1 gave me an idea of the shape for the stitch pattern. Image 2 added extra texture on top of it. Image 3 inspired me to add an extra touch of second yarn over the knitted fabric to amplify the effect of layers.
So I began playing with a cable stitch pattern called Keyholes, using yarn in fun, bright colors from my stash. And to bring extra layers to the fabric, I added the surface stitches in mohair yarn.
My proposal wasn't accepted by a magazine, but I like the look of the swatch and was eager to use this variegated yarn, so I made the sample, created a couple of video tutorials, and wrote the pattern.
Yarn
As I already said, for the sample I used yarn from my stash, and I hope it will be a great, almost one skein project for you too. You probably have in your stash 1 skein of variegated DK yarn, which you don't know what to use for :). This is your chance to put it to use, just add a little bit of mohair into it in different solid or tonal color.
The main color/yarn for my sample is Qing Fibre Merino DK, 100% Merino, 246 yds (225 m)/100g in super fun color Bronx. This exact yarn is discontinued, but you can find different versions of DK yarn on the Qing Fibre website. And of course, you can choose different hand-dyed yarn for this project.
For contrast color/yarn I used Ella Rae Silky Kid, 76% Mohair, 24% Silk, 219 yds (200 m)/29 g, in color Chestnut. This yarn is a lace weight, and to give a little more fluff over the main DK yarn, I held mohair double.
Construction
The construction of this cowl is simple and straightforward. The cowl is knitted in the round top down with the main yarn using a cable stitch pattern, and the lower edge is finished with several rounds of garter stitch in mohair yarn. The different gauges of merino and mohair yarns give the cowl a trapezoidal look without increasing stitches. The decorative stitches are added on top of the knitted fabric after the cowl is finished.
Stitch patterns
Here we have a few stitch patterns:
Ribbing, just a few rows at the beginning, to set up for the main stitch pattern.
Keyhole stitch pattern is used mainly throughout the whole cowl. This is cable stitch pattern, and you need to know how to cross stitches to the right and left. If needed, use a cable needle for the crossings, or if you know cables without a cable needle, it'll work here too (only 2 sts are crossing). The stitch pattern is written for the work in the round and also has a chart.
Garter stitch is used for the mohair bottom hem.
And last but not least, surface stitches. I gave you 2 options on how to make those stitches, and both video tutorials are included in the pattern: 1) surface slip stitch using a crochet hook; 2) embroidery chain stitch using a tapestry needle. You can work surface stitches all over the cowl from top to bottom, or you can choose only to do it in the front and partially cover the cables. like the sample.
Skills needed to make the cowl
The pattern difficulty is marked as Easy. You need to know how to knit and purl, work in the round, and work cables. Able to learn to add decorative stitches with a crochet hook or tapestry needle.
Size
It is one-size pattern, but the pattern includes suggestions on how to change the circumference and the length of the cowl.
The measurements: upper circumference 22.5” (56 cm), lower circumference 29.5” (74 cm), length from top to bottom 9.5” (24.5 cm).
What do you need to make the cowl
Yarn: DK weight yarn and lace mohair (held double) or fingering mohair
Sample made with Qing Fibre Merino DK, 100% Merino, 246 yds (225 m)/100g and Ella Rae Silky Kid, 76% Mohair, 24% Silk, 219 yds (200 m)/29 g.
MC: 1 skein or 210 yds (190 m)
CC: 1 skein or 65 yds (60 m)
Needles: size US 7 (4.5 mm) circular needles 24 “ (60 cm) long
Notions: marker, tapestry needle, cable needle
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