Ombre cowl - free pattern

I showed you the cowl before, and today I'll share the pattern. Well, not much of a pattern really, but I'll tell you what I did in case you want to make your own. It is a simple cowl, that narrows towards the top to create a snug fit by the neck for extra coziness.

Yarn: 70 gm of laceweight in three colors - 21gm of color A, 28gm of color B and 21gm of color C (I used Malabrigo Silkpaca in Natural, Polar Morn and Pearl Ten) Note: this pattern is designed to use up every last bit of the yarn. If you'd like to have some wiggle room, or you knit more loosely, or use a different yarn, you will need to adjust the amount - just remember you will always need 1/3 more of the middle color than you will of the top and bottom colors (so for every 3 parts of colors A & C, you need 4 parts of color B - e.g. 30gm of A & C and 40gm of B).

Needles: 3.5mm (US 4) round, 16" long

Gauge: 28sts x 33 rounds = 4" in stockinette (the gauge is not critical for this project, but remember to adjust the number of cast-on stitches to get the cowl to the size you need)

Finished size: 10.5" across at the bottom, 9" across at the top, 16.5" tall

With color A held double, cast on 138 stitches. Join in the round being careful not to twist; purl 3 rounds, then knit all stitches until the cowl measures 3.3".

Drop one strand of color A and join one strand of color B (no decreases here = 138 stitches). Keep knitting until the piece measures 6.6".

Finish color A, join second strand of color B. Decrease 6 stitches spacing evenly around (i.e. knit every 22nd and 23rd st tog) = 132 sts.  Knit until piece measures 10".

Drop one strand of color B, join one strand of color C. Decrease 6 stitches around (i.e. knit every 21st and 22nd st tog) = 126 sts. Knit until piece measures 13.3".

Drop color B, join second strand of color C. Decrease 6 stitches around (i.e. knit every 20th and 21st st tog) = 120 sts. Knit until cowl measures 16.5".

With color C, purl 3 rounds. Bind off loosely.

Wash, block, weave ends.

This "pattern" can easily be adjusted for any amount of yarn, and any number of color changes. Just remember the porportions of the yarn needed: for every 3gm of the bottom and top colors, you will need 4gm of the "inside" colors.

*Pssst! See other fun free-pattern cowls in this post.