Here in Victoria, BC, we have rocky hillsides that are blanketed in verdant moss and ferns wherever there are shady spots, and adorned with pebbly stonecrop in the sunshine. Those sunny havens are where little snakes love to spread out and warm up. Snakes in the Stonecrop cowl is a joyful meditation on the small plants and critters that share our favourite hiking trails. I designed it to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of Spincycle Yarns, their stunning colours, and all the delight they’ve brought to the fibre world.

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Construction
Cowl is worked as a tube in the round, beginning with a crochet provisional cast-on. After completing the knitting, provisional stitches are removed, the tube is turned in a half-twist, and the ends are joined with three-needle bind-off.

Finished Dimensions
Cowl Circumference: 22.5 in/57 cm
Tube Circumference: 15 in/38 cm

Yarn
Yarn quantities are approximate.

450 yd/412 m sport weight yarn

Main Colour: 390 yd/357 m
Contrast Colour: 90 yd/83 m

Shown in
Spincycle Yarns Dyed in the Wool
(100% superwash American wool; 200 yd/183 m)

Main Colour: Good Omen; 2 skeins
Contrast Colour: Scranton; 1 skein

Blocked Gauge
30 stitches/40 rounds = 4 in/10 cm in Stockinette stitch with smaller needle

30 stitches/32 rounds = 4 in/10 cm in colourwork with larger needle

Needles
Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain correct gauge. Use set DPNs, long circular needle for magic loop method, or other preferred small circumference knitting method.

Old Shale and Single-colour Stockinette stitch:
Suggested Size US 3/3.25 mm needles

Colourwork:
Suggested Size US 5/3.75 mm needles

Notions

• fingering weight waste yarn
• size D-3/3.25 mm crochet hook
• stitch markers
• spare circular needle 16 in/40 cm or longer in same or smaller size than smaller needle
• tapestry needle
• blocking wires, pins, and pinnable surface
• spare DPN size US 3/3.25 mm

Skills
I consider this an intermediate level pattern. Techniques used include provisional cast-on, working colourwork from charted instructions, working lace from written and/or charted instructions, and three-needle bind-off.

Helpful Tutorials
Crochet Provisional Cast-on
7 Tips to Improve Your Colourwork
34
Weave in Your Ends with Duplicate Stitch
Removing a Provisional Cast-on
3-Needle Bind-Off on a Tube