I’ve been experimenting recently with Brioche knitting. This ribbed, often two-tone style of knitting has always reminded me of patterns we encounter in nature: the bark of an old maple or oak, the delicate lines seen in coral, ferns and prehistoric fossils.

This cowl was knitted for a friend who rides motorcycles (yes, that’s her in the pictures). The idea was that the broad base of the cowl could go over her shoulders and under her riding jacket, which would help hold it in place. At the same time, the cowl looks perfectly feminine. Because of the nature of Brioche stitch, the cowl is also fully reversible.