Get your checkerboard on…… on a slant, that is, with this bias-knit bargello cowl. The deep jewel tones of luscious sport-weight merino swim beautifully in square pools of color.

Project begins by casting on waste yarn and joining with project yarn in side-by-side intarsia columns or “segments”. Increases are worked at the beginning of every right-side row. New strands of yarn are introduced as the stitch count increases, adding more and more segments to create a bias fabric. When the piece is worked to its full width, decreases at the end of every right-side row gradually finish off the edge. Another waste yarn segment is added to prepare the side edge for linked seaming—a clever trick with a crochet hook that mimics the intarsia join between segments.

Add more color repeats for a longer cowl; add more segments for a wider cowl.

Many sport weight hand-painted yarns with a distinct color repeat will work for this project. See www.pattysknits.com/bargello-knitworks/yarn for a comprehensive list of compatible yarns.