Soft, light, and small enough to tuck in your pocket, Porcupine Ridge lets you transform a small amount of yarn into a bit of luxurious warmth to wear on chilly days. Named for the view from my sister’s home, this cowl’s stitch pattern evokes the mountains and rivers around Whitehorse, Yukon Territory. Geometric lace makes the most of your yardage, while columns of 2 stitch cables give some structure to the cowl, Instructions include tips for choosing a yarn that works with the design, adjusting the pattern if you run out of yarn, and working the 2 stitch cables without a cable needle. Skills required include working in the round, basic decreases, and yarn overs. Pattern includes both charted and written instructions.

Yarn

• Shibui Knits Pebble: 1 skein (shown in Bordeaux) OR
• Nunavut Qiviut Arctic Fox Lace: 1 skein, OR
• Approx. 190 yds/174m heavy lace/light fingering weight yarn

Needles

• US4/3.5mm circular, 16 in/40cm long

Gauge

• 27.5 sts & 40 rnds = 4 in/10cm in geometric lace pattern (see Pattern Notes)

Exact gauge is not essential, though differences in gauge will affect size and amount of yarn required.

Notions

• 1 stitch marker
• yarn needle
• kitchen scale (optional, for measuring yarn usage in case you’re running short)

About the yarns
I came up with this design for a skein of Nunavut Qiviut that my sister and I bought as a souvenir of my visit to Whitehorse, Yukon Territory. The yarn is incredibly special, and Nunavut Qiviut supports Inuit traditions; it was a rare privilege to be able to work with one of their yarns. What makes a skein special is different for different people, and precious doesn’t have to mean expensive, so I’ve worked the pattern in a couple of yarns to show its adaptability. If you’re using a different yarn than the ones listed, choose a heavy lace to light fingering weight yarn that gives a fabric you like at the pattern’s gauge. A yarn with some memory can help the cowl retain its shape: some wool content, for instance, can give yarn a bit of bounce. Fibres such as angora, alpaca, or mohair can provide some halo, while silk or linen in the blend will give a crisper look.