Oeufs de Pâques ~ Easter Eggs Cabled Cowl

Written line by line (abbreviated) instructions and Chart.

Intermediate Skills: K, P, Inc, Dec, Cabling, Grafting (mixed purls and knits).

Worked in Round in 2 identical pieces, outer edges inward with a (horizontal) center-line graft of mixed knits and purls. Can use a 3 needle BO but it will leave a more visible line.

Notice: Has a long graft of many stitches that must be done in segments ~ recommend working with no more than a 20” (50 cm) yarn length at a time.

Long cowl for single or doubled looping.

There is an addendum section of optional builds (for chart users only ~ NO fully written instructions) see end of description for more…

~ Yarn ~

Sample used 280 yd (256 m) 220 g
(2.2 Hanks) of
Malabrigo Mecha in Arapey

Have on Hand and Substitution Rec’s

312 yd (285 m) 240 g Bulky Single-ply
Merino Superwash
@ 130 yds per (3.5 oz) 100 g

Note that single ply is fatter than plied yarn of the same yds per 100 g.
If substituting plied Merino Superwash recommend 100 yds per 100g.
Other fiber content will also affect gauge.
When in Doubt Swatch.

~ Materials ~

2 US 10 (6 mm) Circular Needles
with 32” (80 cm) cord
~ Extra for “on hold” sts & Graft

Cable Needle
Row Counter
Stitch Markers (20 + 1 Different)
Tapestry Needle

~ Measurements ~

Circumference = 53.5” (136 cm)
Height = 7” (17.75 cm)

~ Gauge ~

Gauge not critical but will affect size and yarn usage.

Sample Gauge
16 sts x 24 rows = 4” (10 cm) square
in Blocked Stockinette in Round.

Oeufs de Pâques is French for Easter Eggs

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Addendum for Optional Builds of Œufs de Pâques ~ Chart Readers Only (1 extra Chart provided for Options 2 & 3)

Option 1 Build: ~ This option is my personal preference and the main instructions are for this Build.

(Sample) 2 identical pieces CO up (R1 – R20) with (Horizontal) center-line being grafted (Graft making Chart R21).

Pros: Gives purl ‘wedges’ at edges a turned under appearance allowing a curved-cable-line-following undulation to edge. Pleases my OCD by having identical CO & BO edge lines + my CO is always tidier and stretchier than my BO.

Cons: A long graft of many stitches so must be done in segments ~ tails to sew. Small offset along center-line = most noticeable during blocking but hides itself with the curve of cable ridge after.

Adjustments to Circumference: by +/- multiples of 9 sts to CO #.

Option 2 Build:

2 identical pieces (Horizontal) center-line down (R22 – R42) worked from a Provisional CO (Initial project yarn row of Prov CO equaling R21)
CO Count is 231 (11 sts x 21 reps)

Pros: No grafting. Identical edges.

Cons: Edges do not roll as nicely as Option 1 with graft. BO can easily be too tight.
BO Tips for Option 2 Build: BO Purl wise – purl sts then pass over. Or turn work to BO knit wise.

Adjustments to Circumference: by +/- multiples of 11 sts to CO #.

Option 3 Build:

One piece bottom up R1 – R42.

Pros – No graft or provisional CO to give the slight offset @ center-line.

Cons: Top and bottom edges will not be exact match. The 5 to 1 Decrease looks different than the 1 to 5 Increase (the larger ‘hole/space’ of k yo k yo k is not achievable and so also makes the following BO Row lay different. The centered 3 to 1 Decrease will also sit differently than the 1 to 3 Increase. ~ These cons are not the end of the world, but my own OCD itchy mind favors exact symmetries.

Adjustments to Circumference: by +/- multiples of 9 sts to CO #.