Hollywood Cowl

Sparkly and fabulous fun, the Hollywood Cowl is a glamorous addition to your “out on the town” accessories. The yarn is light worsted weight, which has a shimmery component in the strand. Adding beads to it just proves that more is, indeed, more.:)

It’s a moebius cowl, with beads placed in a specific pattern; consequently, the beads are on every surface of the cowl. The Moebius has a 180-degree twist, which is created at the join of the special cast on. Rounds of knitting grow from the center of the work to the outsides.

Moebius cast on directions are included in the pattern. I use Cat Bordhi’s cast on method. You will need size 8, 47” cable needles.

I recommend TOHO seed beads because of their uniformity and smoothness. Using a dental floss threader, prestring 40 grams of size 6/0 seed beads (approximately 600 beads) onto the yarn. (It is easier to manage the beads if half of them are strung at a time, but it will be necessary to break the yarn to add more beads, resulting in a join.)

This is a helpful U-Tube video for stringing beads onto the yarn using a dental floss threader: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtTCeehuSFw
I use a fleece mat on a flat table surface rather than hold the beads in my hand. Fleece fabric is available at any fabric store. Cut a small square to use for bead stringing.

While knitting the cowl, the beads are slid up to the base of the last stitch, one at a time in pattern. They are positioned in the “u” shaped area between stitches. The pattern direction is PB for Place Bead. The beads will be placed alternately facing you and away from you as the pattern is knit.

Enjoy!