A delicate cowl that combines rounds of detailed lace leaves worked in the round, starting with a provisional cast on, is a sigh of “re-leaf” for knitters everywhere. This gives a visually different pattern look to each half of cowl tube. It’s designed to fit snug around the neck but can easily be customized for longer length.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Size: 11½” height x 32” in circumference.
Gauge: 24 sts and 36 rows = 4” [10 cm] in St st after wet blocking
1 repeat = 2” in Petiole Leaf Lace Chart pattern.
Materials
Yarn:
Araucania Botany Lace (100% Merino Wool; 450 yards [415 meters]/100 grams): 111 Grass (MC) 1 skein; Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light Gilded (CC), 20 yards [18 meters]
Needles: US size 5 (3.75 mm): 24” circular.
Notions: Stitch markers (1 of different color to mark the beginning of the rnd); waste yarn for provisional cast-on; tapestry needle.
Abbreviations
BOR: beg-of-round
CO: cast on
K: knit
K2tog: knit 2 sts together
P: purl
m: marker
Rnd: round
sm: slip marker
ssk: slip 2 sts individually as if to knit, then knit them together through the back loops
St st: stockinette stitch
st(s): stitches
Yo: Yarn over
Petiole Leaf Lace Chart (worked over a multiple of 12 sts)
Rnd 1: *Yo, ssk, k7, k2tog, yo, p1; rep from * to end.
Rnd 2: *K1, yo, ssk, k5, k2tog, yo, k1, p1; rep from * to end.
Rnd 3: *K2, yo, ssk, k3, k2tog, yo, k2, p1; rep from * to end.
Rnd 4: *K3, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k3, p1; rep from * to end.
Rnd 5: *Yo, ssk, k3, p1, k3, k2tog, yo, k1; rep from * to end.
Rnd 6: *K1, yo, ssk, k2, p1, k2, k2tog, yo, k2; rep from * to end.
Rnd 7: *K2, yo, ssk, k1, p1, k1, k2tog, yo, k3; rep from * to end.
Rnd 8: *K3, yo, ssk, p1, k2tog, yo, k4; rep from * to end.
Rnds 9-12: Rep Rnds 5-8
Rnd 13: *Yo, k3, k2tog, p1, ssk, k3, yo, k1; rep from * to end.
Rnd 14: *K5, p1, k6; rep from * to end.
Rnds 15-18: Rep Rnds 13-14 twice.
Rnd 19: *K3, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k4; rep from * to end.
Rnd 20: *K2, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, ssk, k3; rep from * to end.
Rnd 21: *K1, k2tog, yo, k5, yo, ssk, k2; rep from * to end.
Rnd 22: *K2tog, yo, k7, yo, ssk, k1; rep from * to end.
Rnd 23: *K3, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k3, p1; rep from * to end.
Rnd 24: *K2, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, ssk, k2, p1; rep from * to end.
Rnd 25: *K1, k2tog, yo, k5, yo, ssk, k1, p1; rep from * to end.
Rnd 26: *K2tog, yo, k7, yo, ssk, p1; rep from * to end.
Rnd 27: *Ssk, k3, yo, k1, yo, k3, k2tog, p1; rep from * to end.
Rnd 28: *K11, p1; rep from * to end.
Rnds 29-32: Rep Rnds 27-28 twice.
Rnd 33: *Yo, k2tog, k7, ssk, yo, p1; rep from * to end.
Rnd 34: *K1, yo, k2tog, k5, ssk, yo, k1, p1; rep from * to end.
Rnd 35: *K2, yo, k2tog, k3, ssk, yo, k2, p1; rep from * to end.
Rnd 36: *K3, yo, k2tog, k1, ssk, yo, k3, p1; rep from * to end.
Rnd 37: *Yo, k3, k2tog, p1, ssk, k3, yo, k1; rep from * to end.
Rnd 38: *K5, p1, k6; rep from * to end.
Rnds 39-42: Rep Rnds 37-38 twice.
Rnd 43: *K3, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k4; rep from * to end.
Rnd 44: *K2, k2tog, yo, p1, k1, p1, yo, ssk, k3; rep from * to end.
Rnd 45: *K1, k2tog, yo, k5, yo, ssk, k2; rep from * to end
Rnd 46: *K2tog, yo, p3, k1, p3, yo, ssk, k1; rep from * to end.
Rnd 47: K to end.
Rnd 48: *P5, k1, p6; rep from * to end.
Rnds 49-52: Rep Rnds 47-48 twice.
Rnd 53: K to end.
Rep Rnds 1-53 for patt.
Pattern
Using method of your choice and MC, provisionally CO 192 sts. Join to work in rnd and place a marker for the beginning of the rnd.
Knit 1 rnd.
Next Rnd: Starting with Rnd 1 of Petiole Leaf Lace Chart, work the 12-sts rep over all sts.
Cont as est until all 53 rnds of Petiole Leaf Lace Chart have been completed. (You can choose to put different color marker after each set of 12 sts).
Bind off.
Now unravel the provisional CO and place the live sts on the circular needle. Replace the BOR marker back to its original position.
With MC, knit 1 rnd.
Change to CC and knit 1 rnd.
Estonian Braid (or Lateral Braid)
To start: Sl BOR marker, CO a new st using the cable cast-on method (1 extra stitch created). The new st should be placed on the left needle.
*Ktbl of the second st on the left needle but do not slide the sts off the needle, k the first st on the left needle, and now slide both sts off needle.
Sl the last worked st from the right needle back to the left needle; rep from * to last st.
Work one more rnd of Estonian Braid.
When you get to the last st, k1, then pass the second st on the right needle over (one extra stitch previously made for Estonian Braid dec’d).
Switch to MC, knit 1 rnd.
Next Rnd: Starting with Rnd 1 of Petiole Leaf Lace Chart, work the 12-sts rep over all sts.
Cont as est until all 53 rnds of Petiole Leaf Lace Chart have been completed.
Bind off.
Finishing
Weave in all loose ends and gently steam block the cowl.
I do an SSK1 of 2 ways either I slip one purlwise & slip another one purlwise, Now they’re both on the right hand needle, so I slide the left hand needle in the front of both slipped stitches and knit both together as usual.
The other way I sometimes do it (as it is a little neater looking) is I, slip the first stitch knitwise and the second stitch purlwise and then, same as above, slide the left hand needle in the ❤front of both slipped stitches and knit them together as usual.
I would like to know more about your SSK – how do you knit them together when they’re on the right hand needle???? Do you turn your work somehow or do as usual and get them back on the left-hand needle first? I’d sure like to see an answer soon, as I KNOW my DIL would love this! It’s beautiful!
how many stitches do you start out with ??
The pattern says to “provisionally cast on 192 stitches”. 🙂
How many stitches are u starting with to CO??? You don’t say–
Beautiful! Thanks very much!