Orry Yarn – Eglinton Houndstooth Cowl Knitting Kit
Designed by Tilde Olsen – Orry Yarn
The Eglinton Houndstooth Cowl is worked in the round from the bottom up in two colours, from an eight stitch charted repeat.
There is no shaping anywhere in it. That is the point. The chart is the only thing to follow, which is why we suggest starting here rather than with the beanie if stranded knitting is new to you.
The kit is knitted in Orry Yarn Merino DK, our own soft, springy, ethically sourced merino. Stranded knitting wants a yarn with clear stitch definition and a little grip, so the two colours sit evenly against each other rather than one sinking into the other.
Skill Level:
Intermediate ★★★ (3 out of 5)
You should be comfortable casting on, knitting and purling, working in the round and reading a straightforward pattern. Carrying two colours is taught here from scratch. The pattern is worked from a chart, and as with any colourwork, keeping track of which row you are on is what matters. A row counter, or a pen and paper, is worth having beside you. With no shaping to follow alongside it, a mistake is easy to spot and easy to put right.
Size:
One size.
The Kit Includes:
- 3 × 50g balls of Orry Yarn Merino DK in your chosen colourway: 2 balls in the main colour and 1 ball in the contrast
- Printed pattern in English
The two shades shown beneath each photo are the yarn you will receive in that colourway. The first is the main colour, the second the contrast.
You'll Also Need:
- 3.25mm circular needles, 60cm long, for the ribbing
- 4mm circular needles, 60cm long, for the body
- Stitch marker
- Row counter, or a pen and paper
- Wool needle
A note on the needles:
60cm is the right cable length for the stitch count. There are no double-pointed needles anywhere in this one and no switching part way through, so a single pair of tips and a 60cm cable in each size will see you through the whole cowl.
Techniques used:
- Casting on and joining in the round
- Reading a colourwork chart and keeping track of your rows
- Stranded colourwork in two colours
- Catching floats so they sit flat and do not pull
- Colour dominance, and how it changes the way the pattern reads
- Casting off in rib, and weaving in ends
Why You'll Love It:
- The gentlest way into stranded colourwork, with no shaping competing for your attention
- Both shades included, paired so the houndstooth reads clearly
- Yarn School video support for floats and colour dominance
- A tips and modifications section at the back of the pattern, drawn from years of teaching
- Pairs with the Eglinton Houndstooth Beanie once you have the hang of it