Color Theory: Gradient Ribbed Cowl
THE GRADIENT RIBBED COWL IS AN EXCLUSIVE PATTERN MADE IN MY BRAND NEW YARN, COLOR THEORY, PRODUCED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LION BRAND YARN. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE YARN AND COLLABORATION HERE!
Who doesn’t love a fade? Grab three blend-able colors and an accent and stitch up this mesmerizing squishy ribbed cowl. Scroll down for the free pattern, purchase a printer-friendly PDF of the Gradient Ribbed Cowl pattern, or purchase the kit with all the Color Theory yarn you’ll need!
When developing the Color Theory Palette, I made sure that there would be several fade options available. Each hue has a partner shade, tint, or tone and either a warm or cool neutral or two to go along with it - perfect for a 3-4 color fade.
For this project I chose to keep the fade in the background in a neutral color combo while having the more vibrant color stand out as the component tying it all together. I’ve never been much of a purple fan, but recently I’ve come to really appreciate its power to accent other colors, and the Color Theory palette has not one but TWO purples!
Worked in the half fisherman’s rib stitch, every wrong side row of this cowl needs to be knit to keep the pattern consistent. But because I chose to work this design in the round to avoid seaming, that meant that the wrong side would still be worked from the right side, and therefore these “wrong side” rounds would have to be purled. Now I may be a big fan of purling, but I recognize I am probably the minority in that regard so I did a little work around and designed this piece to worked from the wrong side - so that the alternating row could be knit instead. You’re welcome.
This is an easy level knitting pattern and the techniques involved are knitting and purling, k2tog through the back loop only, purling into the row below, and working in the round.
MATERIALS
1 skein each Lion Brand Color Theory in Amethyst (619-147R) for color A, Ivory (619-098AW) for color B, Bone (619-122X) for color C, and Nutmeg (619-124AD) for color D
(worsted, weight 4; 246yds/225m per skein)
Size US 10.5 (6.5mm) circular knitting needles, 16”/40cm long
Stitch marker
Tapestry needle
GAUGE
17 13 sts + 26 rounds = 4”/10cm in half fisherman’s rib stitch in the round
FINISHED DIMENSIONS
(A) Circumference: 27”/68.5cm
(B) Height: 21”/53.5cm
ABBREVIATIONS
*All Two of Wands patterns are written in standard US terms.
CO – cast on
K – knit
K2tog tbl – knit 2 together through the back loop
P – purl
P1B – purl 1 below
Rep – repeat
Sl – slip
St(s) – stitch(es)
Notes: Cowl is worked in the round from the wrong side, alternating colors every round. For a seamless color change at the end of each round, leave color A at the front (wrong side) of the work and colors B, C, and D at the back (right side) of the work.
Pattern:
With color A, CO 88 sts. Being careful not to twist sts, join in the round and place marker for beginning of round.
Round 1 (set up round): K.
Round 2: *K 1, P1B, rep from * around.
Change to color B.
Round 3: K.
Rep rounds 2 and 3, alternating colors A and B each round, until work measures 7”/18cm from CO, ending with a round 2 in color A.
Change from color B to color C.
Rep rounds 2 and 3, alternating colors A and C each round, until work measures 14”/35.5cm from CO, ending with a round 2 in color A.
Change from color C to color D.
Rep rounds 2 and 3, alternating colors A and D each round, until work measures 21”/53.5cm from CO, ending with a round 2 in color A.
Bind off with color A as follows: *K2tog tbl, sl st purlwise back to left needle, rep from * around.
Secure and weave in all ends.
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Purchase the kit from Lion Brand here.
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