Rom-Com Revival of the ’90s – oh my! I don’t know about you, but I am an ’80s kid and a ’90s bitch, which means I navigated through that decade on a hormone-filled rollercoaster, indeed trying to find a middle-ground between the sweetness of a Meg Ryan and the brutal darkness of a Kurt Cobain.

When Knitty called for designs for this issue, I tried to remember where I searched for romance during that time… and honestly, it was at the halfpipe. At 13, my mum and I moved to a small town in the middle of nowhere. It was very dull, so I tried to fit in with the cool kids (spoiler alert: it never worked).

However, at the halfpipe, the guys were friendly and chill, it was fun to watch them skate, and one of my girlfriends, well, you can guess…

What still connects me to that time is a fondness for casual, comfortable clothes that make me look effortlessly stylish and a particular pair of shoes – Vans with a black and white checkerboard pattern, to be exact.

My checkerboard Vans and the need from my knitters for a simple colorwork beginner pattern are the inspiration for these designs.

If you already know how to knit stranded colorwork, making this matching set will be a walk through the park – relaxing with a breeze of fresh air. If you are a beginner, this is your best pattern to start – pinky swear!

Don’t forget – skateboarding is not a crime – and knitting stranded colorwork isn’t either!

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SIZE
Hat
Toddler (Child, Teen-Small Adult, Med-Large Adult)
Fits head circumference of approx
17-18 (18-20, 20-22, 22-23) inches
43-45.5 (45.5-51, 51-56, 56-58.5) cm.
shown in Size Teen-Small Adult

Cowl
One size

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Hat
Circumference:
15.25 (16.5, 19.5, 21) inches
39 (42.5, 49.5, 53) cm
Height:
8.75 (9.75, 11.25, 12.25) inches
22 (25, 28.5, 31) cm

Cowl
Width:
6.5 inches/16 cm wide
Cowl Circumference:
52 inches/132 cm

MATERIALS

Yarn
John Arbon Textiles Appledore DK 40% Devon Closewool / 40% Romney / 20% Exmoor Blueface; 273 yd/250 m per 100g skein
MC color: TomPutt; 2 skeins
CC1 color: Sheep’s Nose; 2 skeins

CC2 John Arbon Textiles Alpaca Supreme Heavy Lace 40% Superfine Alpaca / 40% Organically Farmed Falklands Merino / 20% A1 Mulberry Silk; 328 yd/300 m per 50 skein; color: Pearl; 1 skein

To make the hat only, you need 1 skein each of the MC and CC1.
To make the cowl only, you need 2 skeins of the MC, and 1 skein each of CC1 and CC2.

Recommended needle size
(always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter’s gauge is unique)

Note: This pattern uses multiple needle sizes to accommodate the different yarns and fabrics.

Cowl
1 US #5/3.75 mm
(or size needed to obtain gauge for stockinette stitch worked with MC and CC2 yarns held together)
12-14 inch/30-35 cm circular needle
OR your choice of needles for small circumference in the round (smaller needle)

1 US #6/4 mm
(or size needed to obtain gauge for stockinette stitch worked with MC yarn only and Small Check Stranded Colorwork Pattern)
12-14 inch/30-35 cm circular needle
OR your choice of needles for small circumference in the round (middle needle)

1 US #7/4.5 mm
(or size needed to obtain gauge for big check stranded colorwork pattern worked with MC and CC1 yarn)
12-14 inch/30-35 cm circular needle
OR your choice of needles for small circumference in the round (bigger needle)

Hat
1 US #6/4 mm
(or size needed to obtain gauge for stockinette stitch worked with MC yarn only and Small Check Stranded Colorwork Pattern)
16 inch/40 cm circular needle
OR your choice of needles for small circumference in the round (middle needle)

1 US #7/4.5 mm
(or size needed to obtain gauge for big check stranded colorwork pattern worked with MC and CC1 yarn)
16 inch/40 cm circular needle
OR your choice of needles for small circumference in the round (bigger needle)

Notions
waste yarn in DK weight and contrasting color (a yarn that is easy to unravel, e.g. smooth cotton)
G/4 mm crochet hook or size close to this (for the provisional cast-on)
4 stitch markers (one of them differing)
yarn needle

GAUGE
Note: gauge is always taken after blocking.

23 sts/30 rounds = 4 inches/10 cm
in stockinette stitch worked with MC yarn
US #6/4 mm needles

23 sts/30 rounds = 4 inches/10 cm
in Big Check Stranded Colorwork pattern worked with MC and CC1 yarn
US #7/4.5 mm needles

29 sts/26 rounds = 4 inches/10 cm
in Small Check Stranded Colorwork Pattern

Note: The small check section at the cowl is intentionally worked tighter to give the visual impression of a shawl cuff.