This sampler-style cowl is knit in the round from the top to bottom opening. It features a fun-to-knit selection of lace and textured patterns representing aspects of the beech tree and its leaves.

The cowl is worked in the round from the top down in one piece. Note that the different motifs are present in CHART FORM ONLY. You will need approximately 425 yards of a fingering-weight yarn to knit this pattern as written. You may wish to purchase a second skein for insurance as the sample used almost all of the skein. If substituting yarns, choose one with a nice drape without too much halo to show the lace and textured patterns off to their best effect.

The beech tree has many different species, with the most common one in Europe and the UK being Fagus sylvatica. Beech trees were associated with areas of power and their arching branches are said to have influenced the design of cathedral roofs and their supporting structures. In druidic lore, the beech is known for her generosity, providing edible nuts and a wide protective canopy of leaves and branches, as well as pieces of the tree’s wood, which were considered good luck charms.