Peppermint Candy Cowl

The Peppermint Candy Cowl is something I whipped up in about a night and a half to go with my mom's brand new running jacket. It uses just 1 skein of Malabrigo Chunky (plus about 32 yards of the same for the contrast color), US 13 needles, and a couple of episodes of your favorite podcast or tv program, and you're done! The stitch pattern is called "Swedish Weave", is from Barbara Walker's Treasury of Knitting Patterns, and involves flipping your contrast yarn from front to back while you're knitting to create those little woven pops of color.

The semi-solid nature of the pink Malabrigo made things interesting -- I got varying shades of pink in each little piece that popped up. I think it would be really neat to try this out with a heavily variegated yarn on a solid background.


This was such an fun and quick little knit that I've written up the pattern, which you can find below.



(Oh, and I have this odd habit of associating Malabrigo with various kinds of food...this particular combo reminded me of the peppermint taffy my family always gets at Christmastime, which is just as squishy and yummy as the yarn.)

Yarn: Malabrigo Chunky (100% Merino wool, 104 yards/95 meters per 100 grams/3.53 ounces) - 1 skein in Natural (MC) and 32 yards/29 meters of Cactus Flower (CC)
Needles: US 13 (9mm) circular needle
Gauge: 10 sts per 4"/10cm
Finished size: 24"/61cm circumference at bottom, 21.25"/54cm circumference at top; 10.5"/27cm high

Abbreviations:
BO - bind off
CC - contrast color
CO - cast on
EOR - end of round
k - knit
k2tog - knit 2 sts together
MC - main color
p - purl
RS - right side
st(s) - stitch(es)

Pattern:
Note: This cowl is knit with the RS facing, then turned inside out once you're done.

With MC, CO 61 sts and join to work in the round, being careful not to twist sts, and placing EOR marker.
K 1 round.
P 1 round.
Repeat last 2 rounds 2 more times.

Next, get out your CC and begin Swedish Weave. This stitch pattern does not actually require knitting with the CC; rather, you will flip it from front to back as you knit with the MC, thus weaving it through the knit fabric. To start, place your CC yarn in between the last st of the last round and the first st of the next round, with the yarn end on the inside of your knitting.

Round 1: *With CC in front, k1 with MC; move CC to back, k1 with MC, then move CC to front again. Rep from * to last st, k1 with MC with CC in front, move CC to back.

Round 2 is worked the same way, but offset by 1 st from the previous row so the weaving is staggered: *With CC in back, k1 with MC; move CC to front, k1 with MC, then move CC to back again. Rep from * to last st, k1 with MC with CC in back, move CC to front.

Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 until piece measures 6.75"/17cm from your cast on edge, ending with Round 2.



Next round, decrease: Work first 11 sts in Swedish Weave as before, k2tog with CC in back, k2tog with CC in front, work 31 sts in Swedish Weave, k2tog with CC in front, k2tog with CC in back, work last 11 sts in Swedish Weave - 57 sts.

Work 3 rounds in Swedish Weave, beginning and ending with Round 2.

Next round, decrease again: Work first 11 sts in Swedish Weave, k2tog with CC in back, k2tog with CC in front, work 27 sts in Swedish Weave, k2tog with CC in front, k2tog with CC in back, work last 11 sts in Swedish Weave - 53 sts.

Beginning with Round 2, work in Swedish Weave until piece measures 9"/23cm from cast on edge.

P 1 round.
K 1 round.
Rep last 2 rounds 1 time.
P 1 round.

BO all sts knitwise.

Weave in all ends, turn cowl inside out, and enjoy!

Alternately, if you like the look of the right side...


...feel free to wear that way!