Introducing the Tango Braided Cowl! I can’t remember the last time I finished a project as quickly as I did this one. It’s truly one of my new favorite designs and I cannot wait to incorporate this style in more projects in the future! Although this looks super complicated, I promise it’s such an easy and quick knit and I can’t wait to see all of the color combos everyone comes up with for this one. Scroll down for the free pattern, purchase a printer-friendly PDF of the pattern here, or purchase the kit with all the Hue + Me yarn you’ll need here.

I’ve used a Latvian braid in a past design (the Hearthstone Wrap) and remember loving it so much, I’m not sure why it took me several more years to use it again. Well I’ve learned my lesson and I can pretty much promise you that you’ll see this technique again sooner rather than later! It is such a beautiful detail that looks super complicated but is actually incredibly easy - my favorite combo!

What I love about this design is that you get to see how each color plays with every other one. It’s not simple striping or a specific motif of color work - in this project, every color gets individually paired with every other color to really showcase the mix-and-matchable quality of Hue + Me. I love how dynamic this makes the braids! For my color story with the sample, I chose the classic "Two of Wands” palette of neutrals and blues and it really re-ignited my love for this combo I used to predominantly use in my designs.

Although I am truly in love with the colors I chose, I’m also DYING to see a warm tone version of the Tango Braided Cowl and I might just have to whip one up for myself. Or maybe I’ll choose a warmer combo for the next design where I use a Latvian braid. One of my favorite parts of seeing finished pieces of my designs, especially multi-colored ones, is getting to see all of the color choices you all make to customize and personalize your projects, and this one has me SO excited for that!

This is an easy level knitting pattern, and the techniques involved are knitting, purling, Latvian braids, and working in the round.

MATERIALS

1 skein each Lion Brand Yarn Hue + Me in Whisper (617-121P) for color A, Magic Hour (617-108AD) for color B, Toast (617-124AF) for color C, Ozone (617-105AQ) for color D, and Werewolf (617-152AB) for color E
(bulky, weight 5; 137yds/125m per skein)

Size US 11 (8mm) circular knitting needles, 24”/60cm long
Stitch marker
Tapestry needle

GAUGE

11 sts + 14 rows = 4”/10cm in stockinette in the round

FINISHED DIMENSIONS

Circumference: 26”/66cm
Height: 15”/38cm

ABBREVIATIONS
*All Two of Wands patterns are written in standard US terms.

CO – Cast on
K – Knit
P – Purl
Rep – Repeat
Rnd(s) – Round(s)
St(s) – Stitch(es)

Notes: Cowl is worked in the round from the bottom up. Carry color A up the back of the work but cut other colors as indicated after use.

CO 72 sts with color A. Being careful not to twist sts, join for working in the round. Place marker for beginning of round.

Rnd 1: P around.

Rnd 2: K around.

Rnd 3: P around.

Rnd 4-7: K around.

Begin Latvian braid #1:

Join colors B and C.

Rnd 8: *K 1 in color B, K 1 in color C, rep from * around.

Bring colors B and C to front of work.

Rnd 9: *P 1 with color B, P 1 with color C, rep from * around crossing the new color under the previous color to work each st. Note: yarns will become very twisted on this round but will untwist on the following round. Keep floats loose to prevent puckering.

Rnd 10: *P 1 with color B, P 1 with color C, rep from * around crossing the new color over the previous color to work each st.

Cut colors B and C and continue with color A.

Rnds 11-15: K around.

Begin Latvian braid #2:

Join colors D and E.

Rnd 16: *K 1 in color D, K 1 in color E, rep from * around.

Bring colors D and E to front of work.

Rnd 17: *P 1 with color D, P 1 with color E, rep from * around crossing the new color under the previous color to work each st. Note: yarns will become very twisted on this round but will untwist on the following round. Keep floats loose to prevent puckering.

Rnd 18: *P 1 with color D, P 1 with color E, rep from * around crossing the new color over the previous color to work each st.

Cut colors D and E and continue with color A.

Rnds 19-23: K around.

Begin Latvian braid #3:

Join colors B and D.

Rnd 24: *K 1 in color B, K 1 in color D, rep from * around.

Bring colors B and D to front of work.

Rnd 25: *P 1 with color B, P 1 with color D, rep from * around crossing the new color under the previous color to work each st. Note: yarns will become very twisted on this round but will untwist on the following round. Keep floats loose to prevent puckering.

Rnd 26: *P 1 with color B, P 1 with color D, rep from * around crossing the new color over the previous color to work each st.

Cut colors B and D and continue with color A.

Rnds 27-31: K around.

Begin Latvian braid #4:

Join colors C and E.

Rnd 32: *K 1 in color C, K 1 in color E, rep from * around.

Bring colors C and E to front of work.

Rnd 33: *P 1 with color C, P 1 with color E, rep from * around crossing the new color under the previous color to work each st. Note: yarns will become very twisted on this round but will untwist on the following round. Keep floats loose to prevent puckering.

Rnd 34: *P 1 with color C, P 1 with color E, rep from * around crossing the new color over the previous color to work each st.

Cut colors C and E and continue with color A.

Rnds 35-39: K around.

Begin Latvian braid #5:

Join colors C and D.

Rnd 40: *K 1 in color C, K 1 in color D, rep from * around.

Bring colors C and D to front of work.

Rnd 41: *P 1 with color C, P 1 with color D, rep from * around crossing the new color under the previous color to work each st. Note: yarns will become very twisted on this round but will untwist on the following round. Keep floats loose to prevent puckering.

Rnd 42: *P 1 with color C, P 1 with color D, rep from * around crossing the new color over the previous color to work each st.

Cut colors C and D and continue with color A.

Rnds 43-47: K around.

Begin Latvian braid #6:

Join colors B and E.

Rnd 48: *K 1 in color B, K 1 in color E, rep from * around.

Bring colors B and E to front of work.

Rnd 49: *P 1 with color B, P 1 with color E, rep from * around crossing the new color under the previous color to work each st. Note: yarns will become very twisted on this round but will untwist on the following round. Keep floats loose to prevent puckering.

Rnd 50: *P 1 with color B, P 1 with color E, rep from * around crossing the new color over the previous color to work each st.

Cut colors B and E and continue with color A.

Rnds 51-54: K around.

Rnd 55: P around.

Rnd 56: K around.

Rnd 57: P around.

Bind off with a slightly tight tension to cinch the top of the cowl in a bit.

Secure and weave in all ends.

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Purchase the kit from Lion Brand here.

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Hue + Me: Tango Braided Cowl