INTRODUCTION

XORN

by Sarah McClarkum

XORN was inspired by the monster of the same name found in the Dungeons and Dragons Monster Manual. They are creatures that are native to the Elemental Plane of Earth that subsist on a diet of gems and precious metals. They are three legged, three armed creatures with a single eye between each arm and it's mouth opening at the very top of its body. While normally a neutral creature, it seems like this wooly one is starved and angered, so more likely to eat you.


XORN is worked in simple garter stitch, knit on the bias with a small taste of colour changes. It's a good piece to practice a few techniques that might be new to you, or a quick little palate cleanser for those more practiced.

model + photos: Sarah McClarkum

SIZE

One

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Depth: 6.7 inches/18 cm
Circumference: 17 inches/44cm

MATERIALS

Yarn
[MC] King Cole Big Value DK 50g [100% acrylic; 158 yd/145 m per 50g skein]; color: 4046 Jade; 1 skein

King Cole Big Value Baby DK 50g [100% acrylic; 158 yd/145 m per 50g skein]; color:
[CC1] color: 4062 Petal; 1 skein – est. 20 yds/18m
[CC2] color: 4065 Cream; 1 skein – est 25 yds/22m
Optional: about 10 yd/9 m of red DK yarn for bloody tooth

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter's gauge is unique]
1 set US #6/4mm needles for working flat

Notions
scrap yarn for provisional cast on
crochet hook
stitch marker
yarn needle

GAUGE

21 sts/40 rows = 4 inches/10 cm in garter stitch

PATTERN NOTES

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

The cowl is knit on the bias with an increase in the second stitch of the right-side row and a decrease in the third and second last stitches. This will create the bias lean while ensuring the cowl remains the same width.

You can change the size of the cowl by adding or subtracting the number of teeth sections as desired. Each tooth section is 1.3 inches/3.5 cm long; 13 teeth works out to 9 inches/23 cm.

For a bit of fun, add in a tooth of a different colour. In the sample I used a bit of red to make a bloody tooth. You could also leave an extra-long end to embroider a blood droplet dripping from it.

Techniques:

• Provisional Cast Ons video tutorial
• Grafting: photo tutorial | video tutorial
• Grafting garter stitch photo tutorial

DIRECTIONS

Set Up
Using waste yarn, and a provisional method, CO 45 sts.

Join MC.

Row 1 [RS]: K to last 2 sts, switch to CC1 and k1, pm, k1. 45 sts.
Row 2 [WS]: Sl1p wyif, k1 CC1, k to end in MC.

Tooth Pattern
Note: On the WS rows, all stitches are worked in the same color as on the previous row.

Row 1 [RS]: Sl1p wyif, kfb, k to 2 sts from marker, switch to CC1 and k2tog, sm, work a kfb on the next stitch, working into front with CC1 and back of st with CC2. 1 st increased.

Row 2 [WS]: Sl1p wyif, k to end of row in matching color.

Row 3: Sl1p wyif, kfb, k to 2 sts from marker, slip next stitch and bring CC1 to back if not already there, slip stitch back to left needle, switch to CC1 and k2tog, sm, k1, switch to CC2 and knit to last stitch, kfb. 1 st increased.

Row 4: Sl1p wyif, k to end of row in matching color.

Row 5: Sl1p wyif, kfb, k to 2 sts from marker, slip next stitch and bring CC1 to back if not already there, slip stitch back to left needle, switch to CC1 and k2tog, sm, k1, switch to CC2 and knit to last stitch, kfb. 1 st increased.

Row 6: Sl1p wyif, k to end of row in matching color.

Row 7: Sl1p wyif, kfb, k to 2 sts from marker, slip next stitch and bring CC1 to back if not already there, slip stitch back to left needle, switch to CC1 and k2tog, sm, k1, switch to CC2 and knit to last stitch, kfb. 1 st increased.

Row 8: Sl1p wyif, k to end of row in matching color.

Row 9: Sl1p wyif, kfb, k to 2 sts from marker, slip next stitch and bring CC1 to back if not already there, slip stitch back to left needle, switch to CC1 and k2tog, sm, k1, switch to CC2 and knit to last stitch, kfb. 1 sts increased. There should now be a total of 6 sts after the stitch marker.

Row 10: Working stitch in their current color, BO 5 sts, slipping rather than working the first stitch, k to end of row. 45 sts.

Work Tooth Pattern repeats until desired circumference. Sample has a total of 13 teeth.

Final row: Knit across, with matching colors.

FINISHING

Cut yarn, leaving a tail 20 inches/50 cm long for grafting.

Wash according to the instructions on the ball band.

Return sts to needles and with RS facing, use garter stitch graft to join the two ends.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Sarah lives in Ontario with her musical husband and two cat children. She enjoys a good book, podcasts, knitting (obviously), video games, Dungeons and Dragons, and a bit of spinning.

She can be found on Ravelry, Instagram, and Twitter. You can also follow her Dungeons and Dragons adventures on Six Sides of Gaming Twitch.

Pattern & images © 2021 Sarah McClarkum