This collaboration of indie-dyed yarn and pattern design was initiated by Jon Giswold of Knit in the Pit. KITP was Jon’s brainstorm, starting with a handful of knitters meeting together in the sunken sofa lobby at the Asbury Hotel in Asbury Park, NJ. He was a genius at connecting people and including people, and to date the group has grown to over 400 members online who proudly share their personal handmade projects in addition to knitting/crocheting for various charities. In Jon’s memory, the sales of this pattern will be donated for the month of October to, It Gets Better Project, an organization he strongly supported.

The name was inspired by the summer themed colorways and a quote from Henry David Thoreau,
“…maintain a kind of summer in the midst of winter.”

To me, summer is a state of mind: the best of my childhood days, the warmth of the sun on my skin, the rhythmic sound of the ocean when it meets the sand. Andrea, of Woolen Women Fibers, created two beautiful colors inspired by the summertime beach in Asbury Park, NJ. Using her colorways, I designed this cowl so I can now wear a little bit of summer around my neck all year long.

My design is a simple bandanna style cowl that looks like a shawl, but because it’s a cowl, always stays in place.
The pattern is written for both DK and fingering weights of yarn, each version only taking one skein. The cowl is an off-center triangle, knit on the diagonal for extra drape. A traditional feather and fan stitch pattern is worked along two of the edges with a knot stitch punctuating the body. Both stitch patterns compliment variegated yarn well. The cowl is knit flat and a short seam is sewn up the back. The instructions are written, not charted.

Included in the pattern are photos, a complete list of abbreviations, a stitch glossary, and a schematic.

Specifications for DK version
Needles & Notions
US 9/5.5mm needles, straight or circular of any length
6 stitch markers, 1 locking stitch marker, tapestry needle
Gauge, unblocked: 20sts and 24 rows = 4in/10cm in stockinette stitch
WOOLEN WOMEN FIBER, DK (100% superwash merino; 230yds; 100g), color: Fifth Avenue; 1 skein

Specifications for fingering version
Needles & Notions
US 6/4mm needles, straight or circular of any length
6 stitch markers, 1 locking stitch marker, tapestry needle
Gauge, unblocked: 24sts and 32 rows = 4in/10cm in stockinette stitch
WOOLEN WOMEN FIBER, Fingering (100% superwash merino; 400yds; 100g), color: Asbury Tides; 1 skein