Category: Knitting projects

Knitting projects I have completed or have in progress. My thoughts and review of the pattern, yarn, and outcome. Also knitting project ideas to consider or find for free.

The Night and Day Cowl is Wearable Texture

After seeing the Night and Day Cowl in person at Harrisville Designs in Harrisville, New Hampshire, my daughter requested that I knit it for her. The designer (Andrea Mowry) is not one of my personal favorite designers, but I looked at the cowl and thought it definitely looked easy enough to knit.

The Night and Day Cowl (pattern page on Ravelry) is knit using two contrasting colors of a DK weight yarn. The cowl is knit flat (back and forth) and when finished knitting, one of the short sides is seamed to create the neck opening.

Knit a Swatch

I’ll admit that I do not always knit a swatch, and especially for something like a scarf or cowl. In this case, I suggest you do make that swatch. I had plenty of yarn and it is one reason I decided to swatch. But, making this swatch also gave me a chance to try out the design using the two colors and creating the texture. This is good practice. Also, if your measurements are way off, change the needle size.

I decided to knit a swatch to make sure I was close to the measurements. I used the recommended needle, size 6US. On page 4 of the pattern, we have a section called Stitch Pattern for Swatching – but the swatch gauge numbers are listed on page 2. I’m not sure why those numbers couldn’t have also been included where the swatch knitting rows are listed. So, be sure to look at page 2 for all details of the project.

I cast on 27 stitches (20 needed for the 4 inch measurement) and knit about 34 rows, which is the number needed to measure 4″ tall. The swatch really curled up, but after washing and blocking it was fine. (Knitters complained about this for the cowl, but also mentioned blocking helped.) My swatch measurements are pretty close, so I will use the size 6 needle. (Do you see my mistakes?)

Knitting swatch in two colors for the Night and Day cowl project

Casting On To Begin the Cowl

Once the swatch is finished, it is time to cast on and knit. I chose to use yarn from Pascuali. The Sayama yarn is half llama and half wool. It feels very soft and I think it will be perfect for this project. My colors are black and light blue-gray. My daughter chose the colors which are Black and Glacier.

Andrea Mowry (the pattern designer) chose Harrisville Designs wool to make her sample cowl. I love HD wool, and use it often, but it is not the softest for something worn close around the neck – in my opinion.

The project begins at a corner so the cast on is small and then expands outward. My needle choice is size 6US (4mm) and I’m using a 32″ long circular needle. *To have more control over the yarn, I suggest using wooden needles, even DPNs would work, for the cast-on and first twelve rows.

Night and Day cowl beginning rows 1-12

Another hint I want to offer is to count your stitches for each increase row. At the end of the twelve rows there is a count given, but I counted each increase row just to be sure I hadn’t messed up.

I had to concentrate on making these rows. You will be making one left – M1L and making one right- M1R, knitting, purling, slipping stitches, and holding yarn either to the front, or back. Check the abbreviations on page 4 which explain the stitches.

An I-cord edge is made along one side as you knit. All that means is that the last three stitches are slipped and when they are knit on the next row, they create a corded edging. It creates a nice finished look. The other edge, for now, is not an I-cord edge because it will end up being one of the cowl edges that will be seamed at the end.

More About the Pattern

After reading through the pattern, I see that it is divided into Sections. I think that is because you do something a little different all the way across this knit. In some places increases are made and in others we decrease. Just follow along and complete the number of repeats in each section.

Whenever we change colors the directions say “drop A (or B) to WS” which means just take that yarn and put it to the back of the work. Forget about it, and add the new color as stated. DO NOT cut the yarn, it is carried up the side.

So far, I am finding this project to be interesting and fairly easy to accomplish. I stopped buying patterns from this designer because of the lack of explanations and clear instructions. In a past pattern I tried knitting the Oxbow Cardigan. It was a nightmare. I ended up frogging the whole thing and decided to move on to other designers because of it.

If I find some questionable or tricky parts in the Night and Day Cowl as I knit, I will be sure to include them in future posts. I plan to blog about knitting each of the Sections – but first I need to get going and knit them!

Have you knit this pattern? If so, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Was it easy? Complicated? Do you wear your cowl? Your comments could help others (and me) who are curious about this project.

Happy knitting friends!

Other stories from the blog…

Cowl Knitting Project Discovered at Harrisville Designs

During my trip to New Hampshire I of course wanted to visit Harrisville Designs. It is where my daughter chose this cowl knitting project for me to make for her!

My daughter took me to the shop, and even though she does not knit, she always enjoys the ambiance of the old mill store.

She lives close enough to go to Harrisville whenever she wants, and she even used to have a job in that town. Now, we try to make it a tradition to make the short trip whenever I visit from Florida.

While we browsed the shelves of yarn and knitwear created from patterns, she pointed out the Night and Day Cowl, by Andrea Mowry, as something she liked and would wear. It was constructed from Harrisville Designs wool yarn; Daylights and Nightshades. Basically it is a black and white (or 2 contrasting colors) checkered pattern that is knit flat and then seamed up the short side.

I figured I could handle that, so we planned for me to make it for her. I didn’t have space in my suitcase for skeins of yarn, so I couldn’t buy it from the HD shop. I did buy a little notions case and some stitch markers, as I needed both. I couldn’t leave the store empty handed!

Sunskaara pouch, knitting notions bag and stitch markers by cocoknits

A Fun Story

Everyone who works at Harrisville Designs probably knits a lot. I mean wouldn’t only knitters or yarn crafters apply to work at a yarn shop? Anyway, the three ladies who were at the registers were all wearing beautiful, hand-crafted sweaters.

I wore my Simple Stripes sweater that day, and the woman waiting on me complimented me on it. She was especially interested in the cat pattern colorwork on one sleeve. In fact she asked if she could take a photo of my sleeve!

Simple stripes sweater knitting project
Simple Stripes

Pascuali Yarn and Colors

Because I couldn’t take yarn home with me, I shopped with my daughter online and found some DK weight yarn by Pascuali. My daughter wears a lot of alpaca clothing that is not hand-knit, so I thought she might like something from alpacas or llamas.

The Pascuali Sayama yarn is a half and half mix of baby llama and wool. It is DK weight and she chose black and glacier (a light gray-blue) colors online at Wool and Company. I ordered it, and it was already at my house in Florida when I arrived back home.

Pascuali Sayama yarn skeins in Glacier and black colors
Pascuali Sayama

Wool and Company will wind your yarn for free, so I asked for winding one of each color. This way I am ready to knit once I go through the pattern and decide on a size and knit a gauge swatch. Yes, I am knitting a swatch. I have plenty of extra yarn and I want to match gauge if possible. It will give me a chance to practice the pattern also.

This cowl is knit flat, back and forth, making increases and decreases along the edges. Once finished, two ends are stitched together to complete the cowl.

Once I begin the project I will write a page all about how things went. Along with this knitting project I will be trying to finish up my Knus Light Top which has been in the works for over a year!

It was sad to say good-bye to New Hampshire. I long to live there again, but I’ll take the visits when I can afford to go. I breathed in the beautiful, fresh air, I went hiking and enjoyed visiting my kids. If you want to read more about my quick visit, I wrote about my vacation here.

Harrisville, NH with brick buildings
Harrisville, NH general store

More knitting happening here…

Knitting the Cables on the Maine Cables Hat – Part 3

Part three of the knitting pattern Maine Cables Hat is all about making the cables. I can suggest an excellent cable needle that will make the knitting easier.

Now we are moving onto the third part of our cable hat project. The Maine Cables Hat is made up of cables all over the crown. We have finished the cast on and ribbing. We have finished the set up rows also (see Part 2 here), and are ready to knit the cables.

A cable is made by twisting stitches to the left or right. They will twist according to where those cable needle stitches are held – to the front, or back. This is the purpose of using an extra needle, or cable needle, some of the stitches will be slipped and ignored until we knit from the normal row of stitches. The stitches we slipped onto the cable needle will be knit after.

Our Maine Cables Hat pattern lists the cable section as Rounds 1-8. We have to repeat all those rounds five times. Mainly we are knitting and doing a couple of purls on most of the rounds. But, rounds 4 and 8 are where we make the cables.

Making the 3/3LC Cables in Round 4

In the Maine Cables pattern we first make a 3/3LC in round four of the top of the hat. This stitch is explained in the Abbreviations & Techniques section of the pattern. But, I will go over it here.

For the 3/ 3 LC: Three stitches are slipped purl-wise onto the cable needle and are held in front of our work (#1 photo below). The next 3 stitches are knit while we ignore the cable needle (#2 photo below). Next, the three stitches on the cable needle are knit (#3 photo below). This twists the stitches to the left – LC = left-leaning cable.

knitting a cable holding three stitches to the front
Making a cable stitch by knitting behind the cable.
Finish knitting the cable stitch by knitting off the cable needle.

Making the 3/3RC Cables in Round 8

The other cable stitch is 3/3RC meaning “right leaning cable”. It also uses three stitches on the cable needle but they will be held to the back of the work.

Below I am knitting the 3/3RC cable row. The 3 stitches on my little cable needle are held behind the normal knitting. Then, I knit the next three stitches, ignoring the cable needle. Last, I knit the 3 stitches from the cable needle. The RC makes a right-leaning cable. *Very Pink Knits has a quick video about knitting this exact 3/3RC cable. (I think she is using the Brittany cable needle – see below.)

Knitting the right leaning cable on Maine Cables hat
Close-up of a hand holding knitting needles with yellow yarn, focusing on the stitches being worked.

Get a Good Cable Needle

If cable knitting seems daunting, remember that many rows are simply knits and purls, while the cable rows only show up twice in eight rounds (for this pattern). You can do it!

Making a cable stitch is not difficult but it can be a little wonky feeling. Here is what I have found will help the most. Use a wooden needle so the held stitches won’t slip! This is so important for keeping your sanity.

I used to use some old, metal cable stitch holders that were my grandmothers, but the stitches would slip off and really annoy me. The old needle was also long and would get in my way. I’ve tried many styles of cable needles and hated them all – with stitches slipping off completely, or slipping when trying to knit back onto the normal needle.

When I heard about the Brittany brand, wood cable needles, I got some. It was love. I’m no longer afraid of cables making me crazy.

Buy Brittany cable needles image with text

A cable needle does not need to be the same size as your knitting needle, just close. Too thin and the stitches will easily slide off. Too tight and it will be hard to knit them. The wooden needles by Brittany come in three sizes which can be used for many knitting needle sizes.

Here Come the Cables!

After finished the first round of of the hat crown – rows 1-8 – This is what we have (photo below). As we work the remaining rows the cables will grow.

I’m on my last set of rounds for the cables (photo below right).

How each of the cable rows make the stitches lean right and left.
Maine Cables hat part 3 - knitting the cables

I will be writing the last blog post (Part 4) about knitting the Maine Cables Hat next. We will cover the decreases at the crown, weaving in the ends, and trying our new hat on!

Keep knitting friends! I’d love to hear how it’s going.

knitting needles image - divider

Extra Info

Examples of What We Can Do With Cables

This hat pattern (Maine Cables Hat – get the FREE pattern here) has very simple cables. But they will make this hat look so nice. Cables can do that. And cables can create some very fun designs on all kinds of projects.

I have a cabled cardigan in my knitting queue – the Bookclub Cardigan, by Sari Nordlund. I know it will take all my concentration and dedication to finish, so I need to wait until the right time – but it is so beautiful, and I want a cabled sweater.

Many years ago I found the Norrland hat pattern. At the time, I’m sure it was too difficult for me. This unique pattern is knit in two colors, with cables and colorwork combined. The hat looks like branching trees going up to the crown! It is really stunning, and I think I should knit it soon!

The Skiff Hat by Jared Flood is the most intricate cabling I have done. I had to go through the knitting chart and color code everything to keep the cables straight. I’ve knit that hat a couple of times and plan to knit it again one day. It does tend to come out large as I remember.

Cable Hats I Have Knit

Here are some other cabled hats I’ve finished. Both Habitat and Skiff, by Jared Flood, have intricate, entwined cables. If you want to knit a hat like this, see my notes at the hat links below. It’s one row at a time, and before you know it, you have a beautiful new hat that will amaze everyone!

Skiff hand knit beanie with cables
Skiff beanie in gray
Skiff Hat with cables
Skiff in blue
Cabled beanie in bright orange Habitat pattern
Habitat Hat
divider sweaters on lion, koala, and tiger

Keep reading more knitting stories…

Knitting the Maine Cables Hat, Cast-on and Ribbing – Part 2

We are getting ready to knit the Maine Cables Hat. Grab your needles, yarn and stitch markers and let’s begin!

If you are ready to knit the Maine Cables Hat, here we go.

My last post was about gathering the things you’ll need to knit this free pattern. If you need to know about that, go back there and read Part One.

For everyone else, grab the needles and your yarn, and let’s cast on some stitches.

Cast On With Long Tail

I hope you have decided which hat size you will make. I’m making the small size so my cast on will be 88 stitches. I will follow the pattern which says to begin by using the Long Tail cast-on to get our stitches onto our 16″ circular needles. That video is SLOW and great for anyone just learning – remove the slip knot and do not count it as a stitch. I do my cast on without a slip knot – like this video.

For this type of cast-on make sure your tail end is 3-4 times longer than the circumference of your project. Do a general measure of three and add a little more.

Join in the Round – Three Ways

There are many ways to join in the round. Once all my 88 stitches are on the needle the first and last stitch will be swapped. Then I add a BOR (beginning of round) marker. This should be a unique marker, different from the ones you will use later to mark off the cable sections.

Here is a short list of quick videos showing different ways to join in the round. Once all stitches are on your needle, straighten them to face the same way and connect the first and last stitch. This is called joining in the round.

Next, Knit the Hat Ribbing

The ribbing is a knit 2, purl 2 alternating stitch (2×2 rib). The pattern says to knit 10 rounds, which will create a short brim that does not fold. The pattern says to knit 20 rounds, or approximately 3 inches for a folded brim. *This is where I will make an adjustment to the pattern.

I like a brim that folds, but three inches total is not long enough. I decided to knit 4 inches, which will give me a 2 inch folded brim. I’m hoping it will be long enough for my liking as I usually knit at least 6 inches for the fold.

Casting on and knitting ribbing for Maine Cables hat.

Below I am sharing photos of other hats I’ve knit showing the nice, big folded brim. If the ribbing is too short, it won’t fold well. I suggest making that ribbing longer for the Maine Cables Hat if you want a nice, folded brim.

Hats With Long Brims I Have Knit

Watchcap in fingering rib in bright orange with black at the top of the brim fold.
Beanie in 2x2 rib and bright blue color, with folded brim
Curly Snowflake colorwork hat with pompom, in gray and off-white

Ribbing Done, Do Set-up Rounds

Once you have knit your desired length of 2×2 ribbing, there are two set up rounds. This creates the sections for the top of the hat where the cables will be. Get your 10, or 11 stitch markers. They will go between those sections of stitches all the way around.

Set up round 1: *(knit 1, increase 1, knit 1) – do this 3 times, then purl 2 and place marker. *Repeat all of this, all the way around. Each section will have 11 stitches. You will end up with 121 stitches for the small size, or 132 stitches for the large size. Need a backward loop increase refresher? Check out this video.

Set up round 2 is pretty easy. Knit all the knits and increases and purl the two purls in each section.

Maine Cables Hat knitting with cable sections marked with stitch markers

Cable Section / Top of Hat

Next we will knit the cable part of the hat. I need to get going and knit this part myself, so more to come in my next post.

Happy knitting! Hope you are having fun, because that is what knitting should be.

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