Soft and Fuzzy Kentia Cowl
The Kentia Cowl, designed by Australian designer Ambah O’Brien, is a soft and fuzzy delight!
This pattern was released in January and is brand new! Ambah’s marvelous cowl uses slipped stitches to create texture and pattern. It’s a fun introduction to the mosaic colorwork technique. Mosaic colorwork is so easy because only one color is used per row or round.
Kentia calls for Biches & Buches Le Gros Lambswool but our sample was knit with Biches & Buches Le Gros Silk and Mohair. Either can be used but the mohair gives it a fuzziness that is incredible and the 28% silk content gives it a lovely shine.
This pattern is where that one skein of Spincycle Dream State you’ve been eyeing will be phenomenal! Pair it with a Biches & Buches that you like and you’ll have a reason to love cold weather! You may never want winter to end!
Ambah provides us with both charted and written instructions. After reading over the instructions and comparing them to the chart, we encourage you to think about using stitch markers to keep your mosaic pattern repeats straight. We’d put them in on the first row, with the first marker after the kfb, and every 24 stitches after. Then add one marker for every set of 24 stitches added.
If you look at the blue box on the charted pattern, the markers would delineate that set of 24 stitches and you’d know if you were off. Of course, if you like to live dangerously, just keep careful track of what you’re doing without the markers!
Besides increases and decreases, this pattern uses only knit and slipped stitches. Some stitches are slipped with the yarn in front, some with the yarn in back and that’s what makes this gorgeous design. The fluffy mohair on top of the Spincycle creates an incredible visual effect!
You’ll need to pick up and knit edge stitches to create the bind off. This tutorial by Kate Atherley is a good one and so is this one by Stacey of Very Pink Knits .
The schematic may seem a little daunting but if you follow the directions step by step you’ll understand what to do! If not, we have knitting help available on a reservation basis. Call the shop at 970.407.1461 to reserve your spot.
We can’t wait to see what colors you choose for this project; there are so, so many possible combinations!
Happy Knitting!
Jenny