INTRODUCTION

A Gift of Thistle

by Tanis Gray

A Gift of Thistle is a matching cowl and hat set worked in the round from the bottom up. Using two different sets of gradient yarn, one set of colors goes from light to dark, while the other goes dark to light. When worn together, this set creates an interesting effect!

Knit in the traditional stranded colorwork Fair Isle technique, A Gift of Thistle will satiate any colorwork knitter’s appetite!

model: Elizabeth

photos: Tanis Gray

SIZE

One size fits most adult women

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Cowl
Depth: 16 inches/40cm
Circumference: 21 inches/53.5cm

Hat
Depth: 8 inches/20cm
Circumference: 21 inches/53.5cm

MATERIALS

Yarn
The Copper Corgi Ogeechee Sport Gradient Set [100% superwash merino wool; 60yd/55m per 17g skein]; color:
[CC1] Saffron Tiger Lily (yellow to orange); 1 package: 6 mini skeins
[CC2] Teal Midnight (purple to blue); 1 package: 6 mini skeins

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter's gauge is unique]
For Cowl:
1 24-inch US #3/3.25mm circular needle
1 24-inch US #4/3.5mm circular needle

For Hat:
1 16-inch US #3/3.25mm circular needle
1 16-inch US #4/3.55mm circular needle
US #4/3.5mm needles for small circumference: DPNs, 1 long circular or two short circulars

Notions
stitch markers
yarn needle

GAUGE

28 sts/36 rounds = 4 inches/10cm in stockinette stitch with larger needles, blocked
26 sts/29 rounds = 4 inches/10cm in colorwork pattern with larger needles, blocked

PATTERN NOTES

[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]

Wind all yarn and arrange in color order. Teal Midnight gradient set (purple to blue) will be worked from darkest to lightest. Saffron Tiger Lily gradient set (yellow to orange) will be worked from lightest to darkest. Tag colors if necessary to keep in order. Cowl and hat are worked in the round from the bottom up. Cowl is worked first, then hat to continue color flow.

You will start with the darkest of the Teal Midnight set, and the lightest of the Saffron Tiger Lily color. When one yarn in the color progression runs out, join next color in gradient.

DIRECTIONS

Cowl
With smaller 24 inch circular needles and darkest teal midnight color, CO 144 sts, pm and work for working in the round.

Garter Edge:
*Using Teal Midnight color, knit 1 round, purl 1 round.
Using Saffron Tiger Lily color, knit 1 round, purl 1 round.
Repeat from * twice more for 6 stripes.

Body of Cowl
Change to larger 24 inch circular needle.
Knit 1 round in Teal Midnight color

Next round: Work Thistle Chart 12 times around.

Note: It may be helpful to place markers between the repeats across round.

Work rounds 1-75 of Thistle Chart, then rounds 28-51 once more.
Knit 1 round in Teal Midnight color.
Change to smaller needle.
*Using Saffron Tiger Lily color, knit 1 round, purl 1 round.
Using Teal Midnight color, knit 1 round, purl 1 round.
Repeat from * twice more for 6 stripes.

BO loosely knitwise in Teal Midnight color.

Hat
With smaller 16 inch circular needles and Teal Midnight, CO 144 sts, pm and work for working in the round.
[Knit 1 st in Saffron Tiger Lily, purl 1 st in Teal Midnight] across round for 1.75 inches.
With larger 16-inch circular needles, knit 1 round in Teal Midnight color.

Next round: Work Thistle Chart 12 times around.

Note: It may be helpful to place markers between the repeats across round.

Work rounds 1-27 of Thistle Chart.
Cut Saffron Tiger Lily.

Continue working even in Teal Midnight until work measures 7.5 inches/19cm from CO edge.

Crown
Switch to small circumference method when necessary.
Round 1: [K10, k2tog] to end of round. 132 sts.
Round 2: [K9, k2tog] to end of round. 120 sts.
Round 3: [K8, k2tog] to end of round. 108 sts.
Round 4: [K7, k2tog] to end of round. 96 sts.
Round 5: [K6, k2tog] to end of round. 84 sts.
Round 6: [K5, k2tog] to end of round. 72 sts.
Round 7: [K4, k2tog] to end of round. 60 sts.
Round 8: [K3, k2tog] to end of round. 48 sts.
Round 9: [K2, k2tog] to end of round. 36 sts.
Round 10: [K1, k2tog] to end of round. 24 sts.
Round 11: [K2tog] to end of round. 12 sts.
Round 12: [K2tog] to end of round. 6 sts.

Break yarn, leaving long tail, weave through remaining sts and cinch shut, securing on WS.

FINISHING

Weave in all loose ends with tapestry needle.
Block well.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

A graduate of RISD, Tanis Gray lives in Fairfax, VA. Having worked at places such as Martha Stewart, HBO, Focus Features, in the art department in the film and TV industries, Vogue Knitting and teaching frequently at her LYS, it’s a safe assumption to make that she’s addicted to knitting.

Tanis has 9 published knitting books, over 450 knitting designs and is a regular guest on Knitting Daily TV. Visit her website for more information.

Pattern & images © 2016 Tanis Gray. Contact Tanis