Mad for Plaid

Mad for Plaid cowl with pompoms, a free knitting pattern from Knitty.com. Free knitting pattern for a checkered cowl with pompoms on either edge.

INTRODUCTION

Mad for Plaid

beauty shot

Tangy

I love accessories. I love designing them, making them and wearing them. So, for this Fall I wanted to create something cozy, something in plaid, something textured. Voila! Mad for Plaid!

A red and black plaid pattern was my #1 choice - it’s trendy, visually striking and could work for anybody with a wardrobe where the color black is predominate. Of course, you can substitute those two colors with YOUR favorites, or make a bunch of cowls in different color combinations to suit your every mood!

For the texture, I added pompoms. Those little fuzz balls make any garment or accessory fun and I have been pretty obsessed with them lately. For this design I made total of 26 pompoms, half in red, half in black, and attached them evenly on the edges. This way you have an interesting, fun and textured edging on your neckwear.

Have fun with this pattern and I hope my new design will find its way to your Fall wardrobe. Happy knitting!

spacer model: Eleanor

spacer photos: Alexandra Davidoff

SIZE

One

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Circumference: 30 inches/76cm
Length: 14 inches/35.5cm

MATERIALS

Yarn
Vice Brazen DK [100% Wool; 250 yd/228 m; 115 g];
spacer [A]: Hoochi Mama; 1 skein
spacer [B]: Grackle; 1 skein

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter's gauge is unique]
spacer One 24 inch/60cm US #5/3.75mm circular needle
spacer One 24 inch/60cm US #6/4.0mm circular needle

Notions
spacer stitch marker
spacer yarn needle

GAUGE

20 sts/24 rounds = 4 inches in stockinette stitch

PATTERN NOTES

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

This tutorial may be helpful when making pompoms.

CHARTS

DIRECTIONS

With smaller needles and yarn B, CO 156 sts. Join for working in the round, being careful not to twist sts; place marker for beginning of round.

Ribbing Rnd: [K1 tbl, p1] around.
Work Ribbing Rnd as set for 1 inch/2.5cm.

Change to larger needles and join yarn A.
Next round: Work Chart 13 times around.

Work 14 rounds of the Chart 5 times.
Switch to smaller needles and cut yarn B.

Work Ribbing Rnd as for lower edge.

BO in pattern.
Block and weave in ends.

FINISHING

Make 13 pompoms in each color (26 in total), each 1.5 inches/4cm in diameter.
Attach evenly around: black pompoms to CO edge, red pompoms to BO edge.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Artist and designer, Alexandra Davidoff blends textures, colors, cultures and techniques to create unique pieces of wearable and decorative art. Her designs appear in Knitters' magazine and she has a strong presence on a number of craft websites.

Before becoming an indie knitwear designer, she was designing garments and accessories for Cold Water Creek and Soft Surrounding. She lives and works in North Texas, together with her wonderful husband, two beautiful daughters and adorable cocker spaniel.

Find Alexandra on the web here.

 

Pattern & images © 2016 Alexandra Davidoff. Contact Alexandra