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?)
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.
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. Have you knit this? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Happy knitting friends!
