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As the dark days of winter blossom into spring, it’s time to Brighten Up! This happy cowl is the perfect transitional piece for your wardrobe— a light layer that will add color and flair to any outfit! This bandana-style cowl is unlike any you’ve knit before. It’s filled with stitches that are easy to work, though the unique construction will require a leap of faith to see it all come together in the end. I’ve created a video tutorial to guide you through the challenging parts, and the results are unmistakably joyful! Shop for yarn or dive into your stash, choosing colors from dark to light! Happy days are ahead, let’s Brighten Up together!

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What to expect:
This design was created to bring JOY to your needles by playing with color and simple textures. All of the stitches are easy to work, but the unique construction will introduce both challenges and surprises. I’m always hoping to guide your knitting skills to the next level, so I’ve created video tutorials and diagrams to help along the way. It’s an intermediate pattern, but I love helping adventurous beginners level up! I want this to be a FUN and HAPPY cowl, and a knitting experience that will BRIGHTEN UP your day!

Needles:
US 4 (3.5mm) needles, or as required to meet gauge:

• 40”/100cm or 47”/120cm circular (or similar length)
• 24”/60cm (or similar length)
• DPNs or preferred needles for small circumference knitting

Gauge:
24 sts and 48 rows = 4”/10cm in garter stitch before blocking
22 sts and 40 rows = 4”/10cm in garter stitch after blocking
(NOTE: If wet-blocking a swatch, you can pin it in place, but do not stretch it aggressively like you would for a shawl. Gauge is not crucial, but it will affect finished dimensions and yardage.)

Notions:
Required: 8 stitch markers in color A, 16 stitch markers in color B, tapestry needle, and a smile
Optional: blocking pins and mats

Yarn Requirements:
Fingering weight yarn in 5 colors; a gradient set of solid or semi-solids recommended
C1: 55 yds / 50 m
C2: 120 yds / 110 m
C3: 105 yds / 96 m
C4: 70 yds / 64 m
C5: 50 yds / 46 m

The sample for this design uses Miss Babs Yummy 2-ply (100% superwash Merino; 400yd/3.9oz) in Bougainvillea (C1), Zinfandel (C2), Bottle Ring (C3), Sugar Maple 3 (C4), Coreopsis (C5). Other dyers from around the world have created kits to give you LOTS of options. This project also works great with stash and leftover yarns! Included is information on arranging your colors for beautiful results.