This colourwork cowl is inspired by a piece of music called Tundra by Ola Gjeilo. The music of Tundra is Gjeilo’s homage to the Hardangervidda mountain plateau from his homeland Norway.

I wanted to create a sense of the barren and sparse landscape of the tundra that inspired Gjeilo’s music whilst also capturing the beautiful and atmospheric music he composed. With this in mind, the colourwork patterns are deliberately sparse themselves, creating patterns from small clusters of stitches worked on alternate rounds. The repeating individual stitches mimic the two-note ostinatos that continue throughout the composition and the flowing shapes created through the larger combined clusters of stitches reflect the more lyrical vocals.

CONSTRUCTION
The cowl is worked in the round to form a long, straight tube. A provisional cast on is used to start with so that once the cowl is complete, the ends can be grafted together using kitchener stitch for a neat and seamless finish. Stranded colourwork is used on alternate rounds to form a geometric pattern.

SIZING
This accessory is available in one size, although both circumference and length are customisable.
Cowl Height / Depth: 9.5” / 23.5cm.
Cowl Length / Circumference Around Neck: 25.5” / 63.5cm.

GAUGE
Using 2.75mm / US size 2 needles, or needle size required to meet gauge, 30 stitches over 44 rounds in stockinette stitch, blocked, creates a 4x4”/10x10cm square.

YARN
The cowl design requires fingering / sock weight yarn.
The sample has been worked using Grundl’s Hot Socks (75% Wool / 20% Polyamide / 5% Cashmere; 200m / 219yds per 50g) as the main colour (colourway #10) and The Urban Purl’s Namaste Sock base (60% Superwash Merino / 20% Silk / 20% Yak; 366m / 400yds per 100g) as the contrast colour (colourway Mantra Mill).

YARDAGE (includes ~10% excess)
MC: 549 metres / 600 yards / 137 grams.
CC: 125 metres / 137 yards / 31 grams.

TOOLS & NOTIONS
2x 2.75mm / US size 2 circular needles (cable length ~18”/45cm, or use a longer cable and magic loop). A smaller needle size (e.g.: 2.5mm / US size 1.5) could be substituted for the second set if necessary.
3mm / size D / 3 crochet hook
1 marker
scrap yarn (something smooth and without too much grip is preferable, although any yarn will work)
tapestry needle for kitchener stitch and to weave in ends

SKILLS REQUIRED:
-crochet chain
-provisional cast on
-reading stranded colourwork charts
-working stranded colourwork with two colours
-grafting using kitchener stitch