Prime Cowl is worked in the round using three colours of DK yarn. It uses the stacked stitches technique, exemplified by Xandy Peters, where multiple increases or decreases stack up on top of each other whilst only working with one yarn at a time.

Prime cowl develops the skill of working with these multiple increases and decreases, building the increases through prime numbers (1 st increasing to 5, then 7, 11 and 13).

The pattern includes two options: one with a tabbed lower edge and one with a straight lower edge. The tabbed lower edge is my favourite and is easier to work! If you work the tabbed version you also have 13 tabs around the lower edge - another link to prime numbers!

Yarn
Three colours of DK yarn. I used Midwinter Yarns “Black and Blue DK” (100% Bluefaced Leicester Wool, 210m per 100g) for my samples. This yarn is no longer available. Treat yarn quantities given below as minimum requirements.

Quantities used for Tabbed Version
Yarn A (purple): 65m
Yarn B (blue): 70m
Yarn C (green): 53m

Quantities used for Straight-edged Version
Yarn A (purple): 72m
Yarn B (green): 87m
Yarn C (blue): 53m

Needles
4mm circular needles, 60cm long 5mm needle for cast off only

Notions
1 stitch marker
Tapestry needle

Tension
10cm = 18 sts x 40 rnds over garter stitch on 4mm needles after blocking

Sizing
Tabbed Version: 58cm circumference x 20cm height (to end of tabs)
Straight-edged Version: 58cm circumference x 22cm height