This cowl features a simple Fair Isle pattern inspired by the shimmering mirrie dancers (Shaetlan for aurora borealis) on a clear winter’s night, moving from light to dark and from dark to light. The cowl is knitted in jumperweight but in the round, which makes for a nice, cosy fabric that will keep you warm in the cold season. It can be worn either in a double loop around your neck or as a hood to cover both neck and head.

The pattern is for jumperweight yarn, but can also be applied to double knit, though this will affect the size, dimensions and thickness of the cowl.

Yarn
This cowl uses JW (jumperweight) yarn:
A: Beremeal (175g)
B: Selfheal (50g)
C: Speedwell Heath (50g)
D: Bilberry Heath (50g)
E: Ling Meal (50g)

Needle size
3-3.5mm circular needles or DPNs, depending on your tension. You’ll need two sets when grafting the piece together.
Crochet hook for casting on, 4.5mm (or at least +0.5 the size of your knitting needles). If you alter the yarn weight and needle size, make sure that your crochet hook is at least 0.5mm bigger than your knitting needle size.

Other materials
Stitch markers
Tapestry needle
A length of scrap yarn, preferably smooth cotton
Scissors

Tension
28 sts and 32 rounds over pattern in the round (after blocking) = 10 cm.
It is always wise to do a swatch to establish your tension; adjust your needle size accordingly.

Size after blocking
Finished circumference: ca 145 cm
Width: ca 22 cm
Size can be adjusted by using larger or smaller needles. Size and width can also be adjusted slightly when blocking.
You can also alter the length by adding pattern repeats, but bear in mind that this will consume more yarn.

Techniques
Knitting in the round, knit stitch, stranded colour work, chart reading, crochet cast-on, crocheting single stitches, crocheting chain stitches, grafting.