This pattern is the first in a small collection of patterns that are inspired by the hard-working bees that my husband keeps in our back garden. This cowl is covered with big bright polka dots that look like the large balls of pollen our honey bees collect on their legs.

The background for this cowl is a gentle contrast to the dots, just different enough to show the dots clearly but not so different that the final cowl is hard on the eyes.
I created it using the most gorgeous super bulky yarn by Yarn Therapy, run by Jo of Clementine and Thread. I knew on sight that the squashy skeins needed to be a cowl that I could tuck close to my chin. The stranded pattern is very easy to work and it is incredibly satisfying to do this kind of colour work in a really bulky yarn.

The cowl that is shown has a lining worked for the inside that is knitted in 4 ply yarn. The pattern includes full instructions for working this but the cowl looks equally lovely with the lofty floats of yarn exposed on the inside of it.

To make this cowl you will need 150 m / 164 yards of super bulky yarn and if you do work the lining you will need a approximately 200 yards of 4 ply / fingering weight yarn.