Black Light, a free knitting pattern from Knitty.com. Free knitting pattern for a striking colorwork cowl.

INTRODUCTION

Black Light

beauty shot by Shaina Bilow

Tangy

There's nothing more magical and eye catching than a concert of colors underneath the glow of a black light. This captivating cowl gives an incredible performance both on the needles and off.

The cowl is worked in the round using slip-stitch Mosaic knitting. To keep the texture of the chevron crisp and the backdrops bold, the mosaic shifts from stockinette to garter stitch and back again.

Mesmerizing, dramatic, and angular. Go ahead, knit yourself a showstopper.

spacer model: Shaina Bilow

spacer photos: Julie Friedman

SIZE

One

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Circumference: 26 inches/ 66 cm
Length: 11 inches/28 cm

MATERIALS

Yarn
Yarn Snob A Wondrous Worsted [100%superwash merino wool; 218y/200m per 100g skein];
[MC] Happiness; 1 skein
[CC] Blackout; 1 skein

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter's gauge is unique]
US #9/5.5mm circular needle, 16-24 inch/40-60cm length
US #7/4.5mm circular needle, 16-24 inch/40-60cm length

Notions
6 stitch markers (one of a distinct style or color)
yarn needle

GAUGE

16 sts/23 rounds = 4 inches/10cm in stockinette stitch
16.5 sts/39 rounds = 4 inches/10 cm in pattern stitch using larger needle

PATTERN NOTES

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

Changing Size:
To increase the length of the cowl, extra rounds can be worked in your choice of rounds.

To add length at the beginning and end of the cowl work additional repeats of rounds 1-8 and rounds 91-98.
To add extra length in the center of the cowl over the chevron pattern, work additional repeats of rounds 46-57.

To increase or decrease the circumference of the cowl, adjust CO sts as desired, making sure the number is a multiple of 18.

Markers:
Place markers every 18 stitches to help keep stitches in pattern.

Slipping Stitches:
All stitches are slipped purlwise with the yarn in the back of the work.

Black Light Pattern
Round 1: With MC, knit.
Round 2: With CC, [sl 1 wyib, k1] to end of rnd.
Round 3: With CC, [sl 1 wyib, p1] to end of rnd.
Rounds 4 and 5: With MC, knit.
Round 6: With CC, [k1, sl 1 wyib] to end of rnd.
Round 7: With CC, [p1, sl 1 wyib] to end of rnd.
Rounds 8 and 9: With MC, knit.
Rounds 10 and 11: Repeat Rounds 2 and 3.
Rounds 12 and 13: With MC, [k9, sl 1 wyib, k8] to end of rnd.
Round 14: With CC, [(k1, sl 1 wyib) 4 times, k3, (sl 1 wyib, k1) 3 times, sl 1 wyib] to end of rnd.
Round 15: With CC, [(p1, sl 1 wyib) 4 times, p3, (sl 1 wyib, p1) 3 times, sl 1 wyib] to end of rnd.
Round 16: With MC, [k8, sl 1 wyib, k1, sl 1 wyib, k7] to end of rnd.
Round 17: With MC, [k8, sl 1 wyib, p1, sl 1 wyib, k7] to end of rnd.
Round 18: With CC, [(sl 1 wyib, k1) 3 times, sl 1 wyib, k2, sl 1 wyib, k2, (sl 1 wyib, k1) 3 times] to end of rnd.
Round 19: With CC, [(sl 1 wyib, p1) 3 times, sl 1 wyib, p2, sl 1 wyib, p2, (sl 1 wyib, p1) 3 times] to end of rnd.
Round 20: With MC, [k7, sl 1 wyib, k3, sl 1 wyib, k6] to end of rnd.
Round 21: With MC, [k7, sl 1 wyib, p3, sl 1 wyib, k6] to end of rnd.
Round 22: With CC, [(k1, sl 1 wyib) 3 times, k2, (sl 1 wyib, k1) 2 times, (k1, sl 1 wyib) 3 times] to end of rnd.
Round 23: With CC, [(p1, sl 1 wyib) 3 times, p2, (sl 1 wyib, p1) 2 times, (p1, sl 1 wyib) 3 times] to end of rnd.
Round 24: With MC, [k6, (sl 1 wyib, k2) 2 times, sl1 wyib, k5] to end of rnd.
Round 25: With MC, [k6, (sl 1 wyib, p2) 2 times, sl1 wyib, k5] to end of rnd.
Round 26: With CC, [(sl 1 wyib, k1) 2 times, sl 1 wyib, k2, sl 1 wyib, k3, sl 1 wyib, k2, (sl 1 wyib, k1) 2 times] to end of rnd.
Round 27: With CC, [(sl 1 wyib, p1) 2 times, sl 1 wyib, p2, sl 1 wyib, p3, sl 1 wyib, p2, (sl 1 wyib, p1) 2 times] to end of rnd.
Round 28: With MC, [k5, sl 1 wyib, k2, sl 1 wyib, k1, sl 1 wyib, k2, sl 1 wyib, k4] to end of rnd.
Round 29: With MC, [k5, sl 1 wyib, p2, sl 1 wyib, p1, sl 1 wyib, p2, sl 1 wyib, k4] to end of rnd.
Round 30: With CC, [(k1, sl 1 wyib) 2 times, (k2, sl 1 wyib) 4 times, k1, sl 1 wyib] to end of rnd.
Round 31: With CC, [(p1, sl 1 wyib) 2 times, (p2, sl 1 wyib) 4 times, p1, sl 1 wyib] to end of rnd.
Round 32: With MC, [k4, sl 1 wyib, k2, sl 1 wyib, k3, sl 1 wyib, k2, sl 1 wyib, k3] to end of rnd.
Round 33: With MC, [k4, sl 1 wyib, p2, sl 1 wyib, p3, sl 1 wyib, p2, sl 1 wyib, k3] to end of rnd.
Round 34: With CC, [(sl 1 wyib, k1, sl 1 wyib, k2, sl 1 wyib, k2) 2 times, sl 1 wyib, k1] to end of rnd.
Round 35: With CC, [(sl 1 wyib, p1, sl 1 wyib, p2, sl 1 wyib, p2) 2 times, sl 1 wyib, p1] to end of rnd.
Round 36: With MC, [k3, (sl 1 wyib, k2) 5 times] to end of rnd.
Round 37: With MC, [k3, (sl 1 wyib, p2) 4 times, sl 1 wyib, k2] to end of rnd.
Round 38: With CC, [k1, sl 1 wyib, (k2, sl 1 wyib) 2 times, k3, (sl 1 wyib, k2) 2 times, sl 1 wyib] to end of rnd.
Round 39: With CC, [p1, sl 1 wyib, (p2, sl 1 wyib) 2 times, p3, (sl 1 wyib, p2) 2 times, sl 1 wyib] to end of rnd.
Round 40: With MC, [(k2, sl 1 wyib) 3 times, k1, (sl 1 wyib, k2) 2 times, sl 1 wyib, k1] to end of rnd.
Round 41: With MC, [k2, sl 1 wyib, (p2, sl 1 wyib) 2 times, p1, (sl 1 wyib, p2) 2 times, sl 1 wyib, k1] to end of rnd.
Round 42: With CC, [sl 1 wyib, k2] to end of rnd.
Round 43: With CC, [sl 1 wyib, p2] to end of rnd.
Round 44: With MC, [k1, (sl 1 wyib, k2) 2 times, sl 1 wyib, k3, (sl 1 wyib, k2) 2 times, sl 1 wyib)] to end of rnd.
Round 45: With MC, [k1, (sl 1 wyib, p2) 2 times, sl 1 wyib, p3, (sl 1 wyib, p2) 2 times, sl 1 wyib)] to end of rnd.
Round 46: With CC, [(k2, sl 1 wyib) 3 times, k1, (sl 1 wyib, k2) 2 times, sl 1 wyib, k1] to end of rnd.
Round 47: With CC, [(p2, sl 1 wyib) 3 times, p1, (sl 1 wyib, p2) 2 times, sl 1 wyib, p1] to end of rnd.
Round 48: With MC, [sl 1 wyib, k2] to end of rnd.
Round 49: With MC, [sl 1 wyib, p2] to end of rnd.
Round 50: With CC, [k1,(sl1 wyib, k2) 2 times, sl1 wyib, k3, (sl1 wyib, k2) 2 times, sl1 wyib] to end of rnd.
Round 51: With CC, [p1,(sl1 wyib, p2) 2 times, sl1 wyib, p3, (sl1 wyib, p2) 2 times, sl1 wyib] to end of rnd.
Round 52: With MC, [(k2, sl 1 wyib) 3 times, k1, (sl 1 wyib, k2) 2 times, sl 1 wyib, k1] to end of rnd.
Round 53: With MC, [(p2, sl 1 wyib) 3 times, p1, (sl 1 wyib, p2) 2 times, sl 1 wyib, p1] to end of rnd.
Round 54: With CC, [sl 1 wyib, k2] to end of rnd.
Round 55: With CC, [sl 1 wyib, p2] to end of rnd.
Round 56: With MC, [k1, (sl 1 wyib, k2) 2 times, sl 1 wyib, k3, (sl 1 wyib, k2) 2 times, sl 1 wyib)] to end of rnd.
Round 57: With MC, [p1, (sl 1 wyib, p2) 2 times, sl 1 wyib, p3, (sl 1 wyib, p2) 2 times, sl 1 wyib)] to end of rnd.
Round 58: With CC, [(k2, sl 1 wyib) 3 times, k1, (sl 1 wyib, k2) 2 times, sl 1 wyib, k1] to end of rnd.
Round 59: With CC, [(p2, sl 1 wyib) 3 times, k1, (sl 1 wyib, p2) 2 times, sl 1 wyib, p1] to end of rnd.
Round 60: With MC, [sl 1 wyib, k2] to end of rnd.
Round 61: With MC, [sl 1 wyib, p2] to end of rnd.
Round 62: With CC, [k1, (sl 1 wyib, k2) 2 times, sl 1 wyib, k3, (sl 1 wyib, k2) 2 times, sl 1 wyib)] to end of rnd.
Round 63: With CC, [p1, (sl 1 wyib, p2) 2 times, sl 1 wyib, k3, (sl 1 wyib, p2) 2 times, sl 1 wyib)] to end of rnd.
Round 64: With MC, [(k2, sl 1 wyib) 3 times, k1, (sl 1 wyib, k2) 2 times, sl 1 wyib, k1] to end of rnd.
Round 65: With MC, [(p2, sl 1 wyib) 3 times, p1, (sl 1 wyib, p2) 2 times, sl 1 wyib, p1] to end of rnd.
Round 66: With CC, [(sl 1 wyib, k2) 2 times, sl 1 wyib, k5, (sl 1 wyib, k2) 2 times] to end of rnd.
Round 67: With CC, [(sl 1 wyib, p2) 2 times, sl 1 wyib, k5, (sl 1 wyib, p2) 2 times] to end of rnd.
Round 68: With MC, [k1, (sl 1 wyib, k2) 2 times, (sl 1 wyib, k1) 2 times, (sl 1 wyib, k2) 2 times, sl 1 wyib] to end of rnd.
Round 69: With MC, [p1, (sl 1 wyib, p2) 2 times, (sl 1 wyib, p1) 2 times, (sl 1 wyib, p2) 2 times, sl 1 wyib] to end of rnd.
Round 70: With CC, [(k2, sl 1 wyib) 2 times, k7, sl 1 wyib, k2, sl 1 wyib, k1] to end of rnd.
Round 71: With CC, [(p2, sl 1 wyib) 2 times, k7, sl 1 wyib, p2, sl 1 wyib, p1] to end of rnd.
Round 72: With MC, [(sl 1 wyib, k2) 2 times, (sl 1 wyib, k1) 3 times, (sl 1 wyib, k2) 2 times] to end of rnd.
Round 73: With MC, [(sl 1 wyib, p2) 2 times, (sl 1 wyib, p1) 3 times, (sl 1 wyib, p2) 2 times] to end of rnd.
Round 74: With CC, [k1, sl 1 wyib, k2, sl 1 wyib, k9, sl 1 wyib, k2, sl 1 wyib] to end of rnd.
Round 75: With CC, [p1, sl 1 wyib, p2, sl 1 wyib, k9, sl 1 wyib, p2, sl 1 wyib] to end of rnd.
Round 76: With MC, [(k2, sl 1 wyib) 2 times, (k1, sl 1 wyib) 4 times, k2, sl 1 wyib, k1] to end of rnd.
Round 77: With MC, [(p2, sl 1 wyib) 2 times, (p1, sl 1 wyib) 4 times, p2, sl 1 wyib, p1] to end of rnd.
Round 78: With CC, [sl 1 wyib, k2, sl 1 wyib, k11, sl 1 wyib, k2] to end of rnd.
Round 79: With CC, [sl 1 wyib, p2, sl 1 wyib, k11, sl 1 wyib, p2] to end of rnd.
Round 80: With MC, [k1, sl 1 wyib, k2, (sl 1 wyib, k1) 6 times, k1, sl 1 wyib] to end of rnd.
Round 81: With MC, [p1, sl 1 wyib, p2, (sl 1 wyib, p1) 6 times, p1, sl 1 wyib] to end of rnd.
Round 82: With CC, [k2, sl 1 wyib, k13, sl 1 wyib, k1] to end of rnd.
Round 83: With CC, [p2, sl 1 wyib, k13, sl 1 wyib, p1] to end of rnd.
Round 84: With MC, [sl 1 wyib, k2, (sl 1 wyib, k1) 7 times, k1] to end of rnd.
Round 85: With MC, [sl 1 wyib, p2, (sl 1 wyib, p1) 7 times, p1] to end of rnd.
Round 86: With CC, [k1, sl 1 wyib, k15, sl 1 wyib] to end of rnd.
Round 87: With CC, [p1, sl 1 wyib, k15, sl 1 wyib] to end of rnd.
Round 88: With MC, [k2, (sl 1 wyib, k1) 8 times] to end of rnd.
Round 89: With MC, [p2, (sl 1 wyib, p1) 8 times] to end of rnd.
Rounds 90 and 91: With CC, [sl 1 wyib, k17] to end of rnd.
Round 92: With MC, [k1, sl 1 wyib] to end of rnd.
Round 93: With MC, [p1, sl 1 wyib] to end of rnd.
Rounds 94 and 95: With CC, knit.
Round 96: With MC, [sl 1 wyib, k1] to end of rnd.
Round 97: With MC, [sl 1 wyib, p1] to end of rnd.
Rounds 98-99: Repeat Rounds 94-95.
Rounds 100-01: Repeat Rounds 92-93.

CHARTS

DIRECTIONS

With MC and smaller needle, CO 108 sts. Place distinct marker and join for working the round.

Lower Edge
Rounds 1-3: [K1, p1] to end of rnd.
Round 4: Knit.
Change to larger needle.

Body Pattern
Using written or charted instructions as you prefer, work Black Light Pattern, working 18-stitch repeat 6 times around. Join CC at the start of Round 2.

Top Edge
Cut CC.
Change to smaller needle.
Knit 2 rounds.
Ribbing pattern: [K1, p1] to end of rnd.
Work 2 more rounds of ribbing as set.

Bind off in ribbing pattern.

FINISHING

Weave in tails. Wet block by soaking the cowl in tepid water using a wool-friendly woolwash. Rinse and then wring the piece in a dry towel to remove excess moisture. Shape the piece to measurements, and lay flat to dry. There’s no need to stretch or pin.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

designername Shaina has been living the knit & crochet life for the past 20 years in northern New Jersey. When she’s not knitting or teaching others the magic of knitting, she’s hanging out with her husband and toddler, baking cookies, or on a walk with her rescue dog, Katie.

You can see more of her work on Ravelry, Instagram, Facebook, and her website.