Bimble noun/verb: to go for a short, leisurely walk in the outdoors. “I went for a bimble today”. This cowl is small and compact, perfect for bimbling out and about in the autumn weather. It knits up quickly using only knit, purl and slipped stitches. It’s an ideal introduction to mosaic knitting.

Difficulty: Advanced beginner (easy). You need to be able to knit in the round, purl and slip stitches.

This pattern uses the technique of mosaic knitting. As it is worked in the round, all rounds are right side. It is worked by alternating the colours – working one round in each colour. On a main colour round, all main coloured stitches are knit and all contrast coloured stitches are slipped. On a contrast colour round, all contrast coloured stitches are knit and all main coloured stitches are slipped. You only work with one strand of yarn at a time.

The finished size of the cowl is approximately 28cm/ 11inches deep by 56cm /22inch circumference. You could work this pattern to a different size by using a different weight yarn, or varying the number of repeats of the motif. More information about adapting the pattern can be found on my website Brambles and Bindweed.

I used Scheepjes Riverwashed XL. You will need two balls of the main colour and one ball of the contrast colour. If you knit loosely you may need additional yarn in the contrast colour. The stronger the contrast between the yarns the more the design will pop. Solid, heathered or tweedy yarns would all work. You may consider having one solid yarn and the other variegated. This could be a good pattern for using up scraps from your stash for one of the colour options.

Any yarn fibre should work for this pattern. Be aware that the different properties of the yarn will result in a different feel to the cowl. Animal based fibres will give a warm, squishy fabric, plant-based fibres will give a cooler, smoother finish. I would avoid very fluffy yarns, such as mohair, as this may obscure the colour work.

You will also need 1 set of 5mm (US8) cable needle 40cm /16inch long, stitch markers and a yarn needle.

Gauge
18 stitches and 24 rows to 10cm/ 4 inches in stocking stitch after blocking.
Note that the slip stitches result in a dense fabric. You should expect the finished cowl to be worked to a different gauge than the swatch. My cowl was 20 stitches and 30 rows to 10cm/ 4cm in the mosaic pattern.

Huge thanks to my test knitters: vedendo and silpancho9.

Contact me:
bramblesandbindweed@gmail.com
Find me:
bramblesandbindweed.com