Varulv, the werewolf.
In the Sami folklore of Northern Europe, when bitten and changed against his will the varulv attaches himself to mankind and drowns his sadness and misery in beer.
As the wolf in its skin, you too can stay warm and in hiding by knitting yourself a cozy hoodie. This wool and alpaca “hide” is humane and guaranteed to keep you satisfied this cold season, like you’d curled up against the mother wolf in the den.

Abbreviations
BO = Bind off
CO = Cast on
Cdd = Central double decrease = Slip 2 sts from left-hand needle to right-hand needle knit wise, k1, pass both sl sts over the knitted st.
Cddp = Central double decrease purl = With yarn in front slip 2 sts from left-hand needle to right-hand needle knit wise, p1, pass both sl sts over the knitted st.
K = Knit
K2tog = Knit two sts together
M1 = with left-hand needle, pick up the horizontal strand between sts from front to back. Using right-hand needle, knit it through the back loop
P = Purl
P2tog = Purl two sts together
Rep = Repeat
RS = Right side of work facing
Sl = Slip the st from left-hand needle to right-hand needle knit wise
Sl1yo = Slip one st with a yo = Bring the working yarn in front, sl st purl-wise, bring the working yarn to the back. On the next row k the st together with its yo
St(s) = Stitch(es)
WS = Wrong side (or back side) of work facing
Yo = yarn over

Final measurements
Total height: 125 cm / 49 inch
Hood height: 40 cm / 16 inch
Hood width: 34 cm / 13.5 inch
Tail length: 85 cm / 33.5 inch
Tail width: 40 cm / 16 inch
Rib width: 6 cm / 2.5 inch

The fabric is very stretchy. Please allow a 2.5 cm / 1 inch variance.

Yarn
Approximately 750 meters /820 yards of aran weight yarn.
Sample uses: DROPS Nepal by Garnstudio (65% wool, 35% alpaca - 75 meters (82 yards) / 50 g (1.76 oz)) 10 skeins in colorway 4311 Grey Purple.

Needles
7 mm / 10.75 US (or size to obtain gauge) straight knitting needles or favorite type for knitting flat, for the body, and
7 mm / 10.75 (or size to obtain gauge) 120 cm (47 inch) long circular needle to knit the rim.
If you don’t have 10.75 US needles, swatch with a 10 US or 13 US and use the needles that result in less sts per inch.

Notions
Scrap yarn or stitch holder
6 mm / 4 UK / J/10 US Crochet hook (optional)
Tapestry needle

Notes
Varulv is worked top down, first the hood, then each side of scarves.
The stitch pattern is called Faux Brioche.
The rib runs along the tails in the back, tails and the rim of the hood in the front.

To get the perfect stitch count for the ribbing, pick up every stitch along the edge, mark the middle stitch at the neck (it’s the 2nd stitch that is bound off in the neck) with scrap yarn and count how many stitches you have on each side. On the first knit row, decrease by k2tog/p2tog evenly to ensure the correct stitch count. It is crucial to have the same amount of sts on each side so the neck decreases end up in the right place. Repeat this process for the front ribbing, using the hood seam as the middle point.

Original design uses single cast-on method, but any other stretchy cast-on method can be used. If you absolutely hate seaming, using Judy’s Magic Cast-On will save you from that, but then you wont get the line of single crochet at the top of the hood.

This pattern has been test knitted and tech edited.