Instructions for Improvising a cowl pattern.

OK, if you are one to only blindly follow written patterns or charts, this may not be for you, but read through to see it is not as bad as it sounds.

I wouldn't say I'm any kind of knitting rebel when it comes to patterns and adapting them, or any kind of math wiz. . But, I do like to make the same sorts of things using different needles, yarn, and patterns than the original pattern I first used. This is how I do that.

Let's say I had a pattern for a knitted cowl. One that I followed stitch for stitch and it created a lacy effect that made a cowl that slouched wonderfully at the neck or could be pulled up as a hood with ample still around the neck. That was fun, but I don't want to do it exactly again nor look for another pattern. So I take the most basic information from the pattern such as this:

Finished circumference is 32", the height is 19". The gauge is 15 st  and 21 rows = 4".

All right. I used US size 7 last time and sport weight yarn and it gave me that gauge. I can cast on the same number if stitches I did for that one or I can choose a different weight yarn and different needles and knit a 5x5" swatch to measure out the gauge. Then decide how many stitches makes an inch, which we will call x.  So, x multiplied by the number of inches required will indicate how many stitches to cast on. Say we measured  18.5 stitches 4 inches. 18.5 divided by 4 equals 4.6 sts per inch. So, in order to get the finished circumfrence of 32", we have to multiply 32 x 4.6= 148 st. If we want to use a pattern with a repeat of 6 stitchs,  we need to know if 148 st. will do it.  148 divided by 6= 24.6 repeats  Since we can't have .6 of a repeat because it will screw up the pattern, we have to decide to add a few or take away a few st.  In this case, it won't make much difference to add or subtract because it is a cowl. I tend with something like this to add a few stitches. The extra inch or so won't matter. So play with the math a little like 25 repeats  x 6 stitches =150. If you cast on 150 sts, it will give you 25 repeats of the pattern, evenly and only add 1/2" or so. In this case, the vertical gauge is not important, just knit until you get to the proper length.

Just remember you need to cast on and bind off very loosely to allow for the maximum stretch over the head.

The important part here, is experiment. It is very satisfying to create something unique and new by just adapting a basic pattern. Who knows, it may give you an understanding of patterns and working them to create your own.