Cinetico (Kinetic) is a fitted cowl. With its dynamic play of black and white it is reminiscent of Opt (or Kinetic) Art. The illusion of a curved zig-zag is obtained simply changing the place where to perform the decrease in a classical chevron pattern. So much movement added with this easy trick!
Skill Level: Easy
Size: 22” / [55 cm] circumference x 8” / [20 cm] tall
Size is easily customizable, either using different yarn weight and needle sizes or working more repeats.
- Gauge: 16 sts and 28 rows = 4” [10 cm] in Garter stitch with MC
Materials
Yarn:
Rowan Superfine Merino DK (100% Wool; 126 yards [115 meters]/50 grams): 145 Black (MC), 1 ball; 141 Polar (CC), 1 ball.
Needles: US size 6 (4 mm): circular or size needed to obtain gauge
Notions: 3 markers; tapestry needle; four 0.75” [2 cm] buttons
Special Stitches
I-Cord
*K3 sts, do not turn the work, just slide the sts to the opposite end of the needle. Now the working yarn is at the “wrong” side of the row, knit next row, pulling the working yarn up the back of the piece; rep from * until desired length reached.
I-Cord BO
*Slide 3 sts to the other end of needle, k2, then k tog the rem st from I-cord and one picked up st from the body; rep from *.
Knitted (or Cable) Cast-On
Knit a stitch as you normally would, but do NOT slip the stitch from left needle. Place the newly formed stitch back on right needle back on left needle, without twisting it. Rep Steps 1-2 until the desired number of stitches reached.
For more information: Tutorial (here is called Cable Cast-On) and Video
Selvedge (or Selvage) Stitches
(On both the WS and RS) slip the first st purlwise with yarn in front, work in pattern, knit the last st tbl.
Cinetico Stitch
Row 1 (RS): With MC, m1, k6, sl1, k2tog, psso, k6, m1, k1 – 16 sts
Row 2 (WS): With MC, knit.
Row 3: With CC, m1, k5, sl1, k2tog, psso, k7, m1, k1.
Row 4: With CC, knit.
Row 5: With MC, m1, k4, sl1, k2tog, psso, k8, m1, k1.
Row 6: With MC, knit.
Row 7: With CC, m1, k3, sl1, k2tog, psso, k9, m1, k1.
Row 8: With CC, knit.
Row 9: With MC, m1, k2, sl1, k2tog, psso, k10, m1, k1.
Row 10: With MC, knit.
Row 11: With CC, m1, k2, sl1, k2tog, psso, k10, m1, k1.
Row 12: With CC, knit.
Row 13: With MC, m1, k3, sl1, k2tog, psso, k9, m1, k1.
Row 14: With MC, knit.
Row 15: With CC, m1, k4, sl1, k2tog, psso, k8, m1, k1.
Row 16: With CC, knit.
Row 17: With MC, m1, k5, sl1, k2tog, psso, k7, m1, k1.
Row 18: With MC, knit.
Row 19: With CC, m1, k6, sl1, k2tog, psso, k6, m1, k1.
Row 20: With CC, knit.
Row 21: With MC, m1, k7, sl1, k2tog, psso, k5, m1, k1.
Row 22: With MC, knit.
Row 23: With CC, m1, k8, sl1, k2tog, psso, k4, m1, k1.
Row 24: With CC, knit.
Row 25: With MC, m1, k9, sl1, k2tog, psso, k3, m1, k1.
Row 26: With MC, knit.
Row 27: With CC, m1, k10, sl1, k2tog, psso, k2, m1, k1.
Row 28: With CC, knit.
Row 29: With MC, m1, k10, sl1, k2tog, psso, k2, m1, k1.
Row 30: With MC, knit.
Row 31: With CC, m1, k9, sl1, k2tog, psso, k3, m1, k1.
Row 32: With CC, knit.
Row 33: With MC, m1, k8, sl1, k2tog, psso, k4, m1, k1.
Row 34: With MC, knit.
Row 35: With CC, m1, k7, sl1, k2tog, psso, k5, m1, k1.
Row 36: With CC, knit.
Rep Rows 1-36 for pattern.
Pattern Notes
Cinetico is worked sideways so to better display the pattern. When the piece measures enough to be worn around the neck (20” / [50 cm]), the cowl is closed with an I-cord bind-off, forming little loops at the top of each “wave”. On the other side of the cowl, matching buttons are sown along a diagonal line so to ensure that the top of the cowl is more fitted than the bottom.
Pattern
With MC and preferred cast-on method, CO 50 sts.
Next Row (WS): Knit.
Work 1 selvedge st, *1 repeat of Cinetico Pattern (16 sts), PM; rep from * twice more, work 1 selvedge st.
To obtain a cowl more or less deep, it’s possible to add another repeat of the pattern or to work one repeat less. Each repeat is (2.5” / [6.5 cm]) wide and is worked over 16 sts.
Continue as established until 4 repeats of the pattern have been worked (22” / [55 cm]).
I-Cord Border and Buttonholes
When the last repeat has been worked, change to MC and using Cable Cast-on method, CO 3 sts.
Loop
Knit 12 “free” I-Cord rows, then put the last st from the first “free” I-Cord row on left needle, passing through both legs of the st, slip the I-Cord sts on the other side of the needle, k2, k the last I-Cord st together with the picked up st, passing all its legs. This closes the loop and forms a buttonhole.
Work one I-Cord BO row on the selvedge st, *work one loop, k 16 I-Cord BO rows; rep from * twice more, ending with one loop, one I-Cord BO row on the last selvedge.
Finishing
Weave in ends. Wash and gently block the piece.
Sew buttons on the opposite side of the cowl along a diagonal, starting from the bottom edge and ending on the first row of the second repeat. This allows the cowl to seat more gently on the neck, being larger at the bottom/shoulder and tighter on the top/neck. Each button has to be placed along the lines formed by the separation between the Cinetico repeats so to correspond perfectly to the I-Cord “loops” worked as buttonholes.
Is it possible to adjust the pattern for circular needles?
Cast on 2 stitches knitted (usually the way your mom taught you). Then put your R needle between these 2 st, yo and pull that yarn over to the front, and then put it on your L needle, making 3 cast on st. put R needle between stitches 2 and 3, yo, pull it through, put it on the L needle; 4 st now. Continue until you have the required cast on stitches. It makes a cast on that looks like a crochet chain.
It’s a bit fiddly, but if you keep your tension relaxed, everything will be easier.
Thanks for a lovely pattern. Its beautiful. Shall make it for my daughter.
This is soooo sweet – but could you explain the cable cast on a little simpler for me please? I’m lost with Place the newly formed stitch back on right needle back on left needle, Back on one needle is OK but then back on the other? Thank you for the pattern – thank you for your time. If I can’t get this figured out, I will simply cast on as usual and hope it works.