Tapestry Yarn Cowl FREE Knitting Pattern

I had an itch to use up some stuff, I get this itch a lot like a kind of creative eczema if you will. Some craft supplies just hang around for years 'just in case'. But in reality, lots of materials are often given to me as a way to ease the conscience of the giver that they are not being wasteful but the sentiment is always friendly and also welcome.

Two hauls of tapestry yarn are an ideal example of this scenario. They have been in my yarn basket for more than four years. I see it as a challenge to find the most creative way I can use them. I looked at them for quite a few evenings. I started to knit them into a stripey little hat for a baby and then thought, "Who wants to give a newborn an itchy head?" and proceeded to unravel it.

Then I designed a fairisle pattern over 24 stitches on a piece of squared paper to make a neck warmer. The same itchy problem would occur surely? but I planned to line this garment for comfort.

After knitting the pattern chart four times I also realised that by lining it, I would not have to sew in the gazillion ends - just tie them off! I knitted them in a little to move the ends away from the very edge.

I lined it with a left over piece of jersey fabric but you could use fleece, an old sweatshirt or an old T-shirt.

Sometimes I followed the chart, sometimes I made a mistake and just carried on with that mistake and other times I added an extra plain row to use up a length of yarn or break up the contrasting colours- that is the beauty of a pattern over 24 stitches, so many multiples of 24. My favourite was the little rows of Tulips.

Essentially, it is so random that you just keep knitting the chart over and over adding a few plain rows here and there and repeating your favourite phrases.

The short rows are worked horizontally then designed to be worn by seeing the patterns in the fabric vertically as the snood wraps round your neck. Short rows were needed to use up short lengths of wool. I do however think there might be an interesting pattern to be had from knitting it in the round until each colour is used up. I'll put that one into the creative filing system for another day.

A black and white filter also shows how you need to select your yarns with contrast in mind. This makes the colours stand out. Putting green and blue next to each other doesn't necessarily give the desired effect unless it is say: pistashio and navy for example.

The colourways vary on each set of 20 rows as each little skein runs out but there are no dramas here, just the joy of creating colourful work using contrasting yarn.

I have loved the wonder of making something out of nothing. Here is the chart if you want to play along too.

Thanks for calling in. Enjoy.Jo x