The Ella Improv is an improvisational cowl using a simple swirl from sequence knitting and two-strand marl stripes. It has been included in many of my 2020 classes on Marls and Color, and is now also available as a separate pattern.

The working yardage is 200-225 yards, which means 400 - 450 yards are needed since the yarn is held double.

Six colors can be combined into 15 unique marl stripes, and these stripes are worked as an improvisational marl sequence. Making microswatches of the 15 possible marls is a big help in deciding the order to work the marls. Take this as a recipe more than a pattern to play and experiment with marls as colorwork.

The sample shown is made from six colors of Ito Kinu. Kinu is a tweedy looking silk noil yarn from Japan and comes in a wide range of colors. It works up doubled into a feather-weight drapey fabric. You can also substitute your own yarns, and adjust the cast on if your gauge is different.