The quiltmakers of Gee’s Bend are extraordinary craftswomen and artists. This design took flight from their freestyle interpretations of the traditional flying geese quilt block, paired with a yarn that is at once rustic and sophisticated.

The pattern was crafted with the knitting experience in mind - you start out with some simple garter to get your groove on, and just as that gets dull, you test the waters with a little bit of intarsia - just two bobbins per row. As the pattern progresses, you add bobbins until you’re working six across a row. Fancy! Just around the time you get really sick of wrangling all those strands, it all drops off and you’re back down an entirely manageable three-bobbins-per-row, as you slide toward the finish line.

You could use two colors, as in the sample, or you could make like the women of Gee’s Bend, and use the scraps you have to hand, a different color for each patch. This pattern is a particularly good option for strongly variegated yarns, paired with a tonal or semi-solid for the ‘background.’

Sizing
42.5”/ 108 cm circumference by 7.5”/ 19 cm wide.

Yardage Requirements
Fingering weight wool or wool-blend yarn in two colors, in the following quantities:
Color A (main): 300 yards/ 274 m
Color B (contrast) 238 yards/ 218m

Tools
US 3 (3.25 mm) straight or circular needle, or size needed to obtain gauge.

2 yards scrap fingering weight yarn for provisional cast on

Darning needle to weave in ends

Pattern Format
Written instructions for the cowl construction. The intarsia instructions are provided in a combination of written instructions and charts, depending on the complexity of the row.

Difficulty Level
Advanced beginner/ intermediate. Involves a provisional cast on and grafting, making and decreasing stitches, and intarsia. It would make a great first intarsia project!