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This cowl uses layered and colour-shifting yarns to suggest the secrets and surprises of the changing seasons; first buds, or layers of fallen leaves. The rhythmic stitch pattern is as satisfying and addictive as a walk in the woods, while creating a wonderfully squooshy fabric that traps air for maximum warmth.

You can use two different colours, or play a colour-changing yarn against itself, as seen in the chunky version. The cowl is highly adaptable; besides the chunky or fingering weight versions shown, guidance is provided for choosing any weight of yarn.

Difficulty: adventurous beginner
Skills: working in the round; stranded colourwork; Estonian gathered stitches; slipped stitches

Yarn
Use a warm, soft yarn with long colour changes.
Chunky:
100 m / 110 yds of colour A
60 m / 65 yds of colour B
Sample uses GGH Joker (53% wool, 47 % acrylic; 90 m / 98 yds per 100 g ball): 2 balls in shade 13.

Fingering:
265 m / 290 yds of colour A
225 m / 245 yds of colour B
Sample uses Whimzy Sokkusu O (100% merino; 396 m / 433 yds per 120 g skein): 1 skein in Lime & Basil, and Ito Hana (60% wool, 20% alpaca, 20% silk; 125 m per 25g ball): 2 balls in shade 243.

Full guidance is given for working in other weights; 200g should be a generous allowance for any yarn.

Notions:

• stitch marker
• tapestry needle

NOTE: some knitters have found their edges are loose even when worked on smaller needles, according to the pattern. Awesomeking recommends casting on three-quarters of the full stitch count and increasing in the first pattern round by working 3-into-2 instead of 3-into-3 stitches; similarly you will decrease by a third in the last pattern round by working kfb into the k3togs, rather than a triple increase.