Color My Cowl Tutorial

Color My Cowl VP

Color My Cowl is a good introduction to fair isle knitting, or a bit of fun if you’re experienced with fair isle. In the video, I demonstrate the basic techniques used for this and all stranded knitting projects. Free pattern, coloring page, and three-part video tutorial.

Get your free pattern HERE. This link will give you the option of downloading the coloring page and/or the pattern.

Size: 28” long (folded double, after seaming) 56” long before seaming, 7” wide
Needles: Size 7 US (4.5mm) 16” circular needles (please see note on needles below), another 16″ circular or double-pointed needles in the same size (for Kitchener stitch)
Yarn: 2 or more colors of worsted weight wool or wool blend, superwash is fine
Additional Materials: Size G or H crochet hook, scrap yarn, tapestry needle
Gauge: 6.5 stitches per inch (exact gauge is not very important in this pattern)

Note on Needles: I demonstrate this cowl using 16” circular needles, which are the easiest to use for keeping even tension with the “floats” in fair isle. You can, however, use a longer cord and the magic loop method, or double-pointed needles. Just pay special attention to the tension of the floats when they’re carried between the magic loop halves or double-pointed needle gaps.

You can find more information about Knitter’s Pride needles, as well as retailers using these links:
Bryson Distributing
Accessories Unlimited
Knitter’s Pride Shop finder

The Knitter’s Pride Platina needles I’m using can be found here.

The yarn I used in my cowl in the photo above – Berroco Vintage Worsted (100 gram hanks) in the following colors:
2 hanks Butter Cream
1 hank Caribbean Sea
1 hank Misty
1 hank Sunny
1 hank Macaron

Some other yarns I recommend, because they are smooth, plied yarns; wool or wool blend; and offer a wide palette of colors:
Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Worsted
Knit Picks Swish Worsted
Cascade 220 Worsted

Information on things you’ll see in the video:
The artist who drew the coloring page is Paula Pertile, Etsy shop DrawingsofKnitting.

The nail polish I’m wearing is by Julep, color “Janie”.

A slideshow of all of the #colormycowl posted on Instagram – this feed is updated every ten minutes.
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Color My Cowl Coloring Page

coloring page vp

We have something very new – a knitting pattern that also includes a free, downloadable coloring page. Be sure to watch the video below for more info, and scroll down to see the Instagram slideshow of everyone’s posted coloring page. To get your photo in the slideshow, just post to Instagram with the hashtag #colormycowl.

Download and print your Color My Cowl coloring page HERE, and be sure to check back on June 8 for the free knitting pattern and tutorial. Note – for the easiest knitting, only use two colors per row!

The artist who drew the coloring page is Paula Pertile, Etsy shop DrawingsofKnitting.

Color My Cowl VP

The yarn I used in my cowl in the photo above – Berroco Vintage Worsted in the following colors:
2 hanks Butter Cream (background color)
1 hank Caribbean Sea
1 hank Misty
1 hank Sunny
1 hank Macaron

Some other yarns I recommend, because they are smooth, plied yarns; wool or wool blend; and offer a wide palette of colors:
Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Worsted
Knit Picks Swish Worsted
Cascade 220 Worsted
Feel free to share more wool and wool blend worsted-weight yarns that have a vast color palette in the comments below.

Instagram Slideshow, #colormycowl
The feed is set to refresh with new photos every ten minutes!
[instagram-feed]

Giveaway! Knitter’s Pride Nova Platina Interchangeable Deluxe Set

Since not everyone can win, you can find these needles for sale here.

You are welcome to comment here, but to enter the contest, please comment on the YouTube watch page.

Please watch the entire video for instructions on how to enter the giveaway. This contest is open to US and international viewers (customs charges may apply outside the US). The contest is open until 12:01 am (US Central Time), June 1, 2016; and the winner will be announced in video on June 2, 2016. The winning comment will be chosen by random number generator.

Tesserino Cowl

Tesserino 2 VP

Many thanks to Louet for sponsoring this free pattern and video tutorial! The Tesserino Cowl looks complicated to knit – it is a surprisingly simple slipped-stitch pattern, appropriate for advanced beginners (knitters comfortable with basic stitches, and getting good and even tension).

Click HERE to sign up for the Louet mailing list and get your free pattern. Just enter your email address, and your pattern will be emailed to you. (It is mailed instantly and automatically, but please give it a few minutes. Also be sure to check your spam folder if you do not see it.)

Tesserino Cowl can be found HERE on Ravelry – be sure to like and queue!

tesserino 3 vp

Yarn: Louet Gems Worsted Weight, 100% Merino Wool
Smaller Size – one skein each of two colors
Larger Size – two skeins each of two colors
Needles: US 6 [4 mm] 24 (32)” circular knitting needles
Notions: Stitch markers, tapestry needle
Gauge: 17 sts x 20 rows = 4” in pattern after blocking Note: Gauge is not essential for this pattern, but differences in gauge will affect the overall size of your cowl and the amount of yarn required.

Tesserino Cowl vp

You can see the colors of the Louet Gems Worsted yarn on their website here.

This cowl is designed by Mari Chiba, you can see more of her designs here on Ravelry.

Information on things you’ll see in this video:

The Gems colors I used in my cowl are Pewter and Champagne.

The needles I used for demonstration in the video are Knitter’s Pride 16″ circulars from different interchangeable sets. (The needles I used to knit my cowl were 24″ circulars.)

The nail polish I’m wearing is by Julep, color “Janie”.

Portuguese Knitting Style

Even if you’re perfectly happy with the way you knit, I encourage you to give this video a looksie. Portuguese knitting is kind of mind-blowing, and the resulting stitches are identical to Continental/English/American knitting, which means you can work a row of Portuguese knitting or purling in your current project, if you like.

The needles I’m using for demonstration are Knitter’s Pride Bamboo DPNs.

The pink yarn I’m using is Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Bulky, in color Crush.

The nail polish I’m wearing is by Julep, color “Janie”.

My silver ring is actually a knitting needle gauge, and can be found here.

SKEINO Spring Bloom Cardi Tutorial

SBC for VP

Wondering what to knit as the weather warms? This lace cardi is good for both knitting and wearing in warmer weather. The yarn in the Spring Bloom Cardi kit is a merino/bamboo blend, which gives great definition to the lace stitches, and a little sheen from the bamboo.

To get your Spring Bloom Cardi kit and follow along with the video tutorial, visit the SKEINO site here.

The free pattern can be found here on Ravelry, be sure to like and queue!

lace wip

SKEINO ships from the US, to locations worldwide.

Information on things you’ll see in the video:

The colorway I used on my sweater is Purple Iris.

The colorway in the finished sweater example is Shamrock.

The needles I used are Knitter’s Pride Platinas.

The nail polish I’m wearing is by Julep, color “Janie”.

SKEINO Spring Bloom Cardi Kit Giveaway

SBC for VP

To see the colorways available in the Spring Bloom Cardi kit or to purchase a kit, visit the SKEINO site here.

You can download a copy of the free pattern on the Spring Bloom Cardi Ravelry page.

SKEINO ships from the US, to locations worldwide.

Please watch the entire video for instructions on how to enter the giveaway. This contest is open to US and international viewers (customs charges may apply outside the US). The contest is open until 12:01 am (US Central Time), May 9, 2016; and the winners will be announced in video on May 10, 2016. The winning email addresses will be chosen by random number generator.

SKEINO Giveaway Signup & Newsletter

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Giveaway! Knitter’s Pride Platina Cubics Needle Set

Since not everyone can win, you can find these needles for sale here.

You’re welcome to comment here, but please click through to the YouTube watch page to enter the giveaway.

Please watch the entire video for instructions on how to enter the giveaway. This contest is open to US and international viewers (customs charges may apply outside the US). The contest is open until 12:01 am (US Central Time), May 4, 2016; and the winner will be announced in video on May 5, 2016. The winning email address will be chosen by random number generator.