Autumn Dreams Cowl: Free Pattern

  This is a project I designed about a month ago, when I was dreaming of cooler weather in the middle of a heat wave. The colors of the yarn just screamed “fall” to me. I actually don’t have too many scarfs, which is unusual for a knitter, and no drapey cowls. So, I thought this would fit in perfectly with my wardrobe for fall, and would elevate a simple outfit of an oversized top and yoga pants (Yes, I am one of those people who thinks leggings are pants). I’ll try to add some pictures of the scarf on me, when the weather is finally cool enough to wear a scarf.
  It is a great travel project because it only requires 1 ball of yarn and is a pretty easy pattern, but the color changes in the yarn and the bias knitting and dropped stitches keep it interesting. It would also be a good pattern for a relative beginner, looking to venture beyond basic the knit stitch. Or for Christmas gifts because the drop stitch knits up so quickly.
IMG_1872
One size, 10.5 inches wide, and 76 inches in circumference, which is long enough to loom around the neck twice.
1 ball “Shawl in a Ball” yarn by Lion Brand, I used the “Calming Desert” color way, and either 5.5 mm (US size 9, UK size I) straight or circular knitting needles.
Special Techniques: Drop Stitch
If you’ve never worked in drop stitch, here is a tutorial video I found on YouTube. This tutorial uses 3 wraps per stitch, and my patten only uses two wraps per stitch.
Co 51 sts
Knit
Knit, kfb, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, knit
Knit, wrapping yarn twice in each st
Knit, working the first wrap in each stitch and dropping the second
Repeat this 4 row pattern until your scarf is 76 inches long, or whatever your desired length is.
Cast off, and loosely sew the two ends together. I didn’t block my scarf, I like the drapey, scrunchy look of it.
Ravelry: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/autumn-dreams-cowl
As always, I’d love to see pictures if you make this scarf, and feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

15 thoughts on “Autumn Dreams Cowl: Free Pattern”

  2. Gail

    i’m starting this..and i assume you mean ..when you say K at the beginning of the row ..you mean Knit 1?..thnkx lovely pattern

    1. RyanMcGurl Post author

      Yes, I do mean knit, and I’ve edited the pattern to clarify that. Thanks!

  3. Lorraine Fleck

    Can’t wait to try this! I’ve been looking for a good pattern for that yarn. One question – on the wrap row, do you wrap the first and last stitch, or just knit? Thanks!

    1. RyanMcGurl Post author

      Hi Lorraine, sorry its taken me a few days to answer your question.
      Yes, I did wrap the first and last stitches.
      Can’t wait to see your finished scarf!

  4. Eileen halek

    Love this cowl, it’s a beautiful pattern. Great Christmas present. One clarification please . Size of the needles .thank you.

    1. RyanMcGurl Post author

      Hi Eileen, I used 5.5 mm, also refered to as a size 9 in the US or I in the UK

      Can’t wait to see it!
      Thanks, Ryan

    1. RyanMcGurl Post author

      Hi Kim, there is just one only one increase on row 2,

      so you would knit the first stitch,
      knit into the front and back of the second stitch, for a 1 stitch increase,
      and knit every stitch until you get to the last three stitches,
      then you knit 2 together to decrease,
      and knit the last stitch.

      The single increase at the beginning of the row and the decrease at the end create the diagonal direction of the knitting.
      Congratulations on being a new knitter! I hope this explanation helps and let me now if you have anymore questions, or send me a link to you finished project!

      Thanks,
      Ryan

  6. Veronica

    When you say, work the first wrap and drop the second does that mean you knit the first wrap together with the adjacent stitch? Sorry, I’m not an experienced knitter and I’m trying to figure out how complete that row without dropping the first wrap and not increasing the stitch count!!! Thank you for your help!!

  7. Tammy

    I think this means you are wrapping the yarn twice, so knit into the first wrap and then drop the second one off your needle.

    1. Valerina

      I am a new knitter too and still don’t understand that row. Where do you wrap the yarn twice so you can knit into it? If you can point to a tutorial/video that would be great. Lovely pattern. Would really like to make it!

  8. Cassie

    I am curious ….being a new knitter with somewhat old brain, why in the second do you increase in the second row (but at the end you decrease?(Knit, kfb, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, knit)

    1. RyanMcGurl Post author

      This scarf is knit on the bias, so the increase and decrease give the rows a diagonal direction.

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