…….
Payment for this pattern is optional.
To download it for free, enter code FreeWBC at checkout!
…….

I had no intention of publishing such a simple and easily-figure-outable design - simply because I thought there was no need to! But the frequency with which I get asked for the pattern continues to surprise me - and so finally, here it is. 



It is called the Welcome Back Cowl, because this was the first thing I made when I returned to knitting twelve years ago after a long break from the craft. I wanted something practical and simple to ease me back into the swing of things, but more than just plain stockinette. I ended up absent-mindedly knitting a scarf in double seed stitch. After I finished, it struck me that the fabric looked more interesting turned on its side. So I sewed the ends together and turned it into a cowl. I still wear it today. In fact, the cowl in the photos is the very one I made in 2009. 



If you have recently returned to knitting after a long absence, welcome back. This cowl will give you a chance to practice knit and purl stitches, as well as to brush up on your grafting skills - or else use the easier alternatives if you don’t quite feel up to it. The double seed stitch offers the familiar comfort of an old classic, while the sideways construction infuses it with a fresh aesthetic. Even experienced knitters will appreciate the meditative nature of this project, as well as the final result. Take it easy and enjoy!

…….

MATERIALS & INFORMATION



SIZING
Size 1 (2, 3)
to fit Child (Adult Standard, Adult Wrapped Double)
measures as follows in height x circumference:

30cm/ 12” x 55cm/ 22” (35cm/ 14” x 60cm/ 24”, 40cm/ 16” x 120cm/ 48”)

Yarn
suitable for DK yarns 

approximately 200-260m/ 220-280y per 100g/ 3.5oz
project requires 1-2 100g/ 3.5oz skeins


Gauge
18 sts x 25 rounds = 10cm x 10cm (4”x4”)
in pattern, blocked



Needles

circular or straight needles, 3.5mm (US 4) in diameter, 

or as needed to meet gauge

Notions
measuring tape, tapestry needle
, scrap yarn

Special Techniques

provisional cast-on, grafting (Kitchener stitch) 



Construction
worked flat, then connected to form a tube

…….

Sample Info.


The cowl pictured is the Adult Standard size. I do not recall the brand of yarn used, but it is an undyed DK-weight worsted-spun 100% wool.
 
 


Notes on Yarn Selection
This design will work with anything from minimally processed rustic yarns, to super wash and synthetics.
 For maximum warmth, opt for a non-superwash yarn. 
For optimal visibility of the stitch motif, choose a solid colour.
Choose a worsted-spun yarn for crisp stitch definition, or choose a woollen-spun yarn for a softer look.If preferred, you can work with a yarn in any weight and alter the gauge accordingly. 


…….

What’s the deal with the optional payment?

This is a system I use for all of my patterns that are available for free. And here is my reasoning: As a designer who makes her living entirely from pattern sales, the simple fact is I cannot afford to sit down and create even a very simple pattern without at least paying myself minimum wage for the time it took to do this. So, if even a tiny percentage of people who download this pattern decide they prefer to pay for it, it will make releasing it financially viable for me while keeping it free for the majority. That said, please do not feel pressure to pay. Optional means optional! I am delighted that people are downloading this pattern and using the code. I had very realistic expectations of what percentage would choose to pay when I decided to make the pattern available on this basis. Thank you to all for your interest in this pattern and I hope you enjoy it!