Antilles, a free knitting pattern from Knitty.com.

INTRODUCTION

Antilles

beauty shot by Tanis Gray

Tangy

Worked in the round seamlessly from the bottom up, this cowl is an ideal project for those looking to try stranded colorwork. There are never more than two colors per round, and knitting with aran weight means it won’t languish on your needles. Inspired by the calming blue of the water, the rich brown of the earth, and bright yellow sun found in archipelago of the Antilles Islands, this unisex design will keep you cozy all autumn long.

spacer model: Rose, Anna Maria

spacer photos: Tanis Gray

SIZE

One

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Circumference: 31 inches/79 cm
Depth: 11 inches/28 cm

MATERIALS

Yarn
The Knitting Boutique Anacostia [100% superwash merino; 160yd/146m per 113g skein];
[CC1] Goldenrod; 1 skein
[CC2] Chocolate; 1 skein
[CC3] Cyan; 1 skein
Note: This yarn has been discontinued. See below for our recommendation for a great alternate choice.

Halcyon Yarn Norumbega [100% US wool; 160yd/146m per 100g skein];

[CC1] #0410 yellow; 1 skein

[CC2] #0510 chocolate; 1 skein

[CC3] #0260 turquoise; 1 skein

Yarn Characteristics
The sample shown uses a discontinued aran-weight 2-ply superwash merino. The yarn is plied, warm and has excellent stitch definition. The suggested substitution is non-superwash, but otherwise an excellent match. The pattern will look best in solid or semi-solid colors; avoid busy variegated yarns.

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter's gauge is unique]
US #6/4mm circular needle, 20-30 inch/50-75 cm long
US #8/5mm circular needle, 20-30 inch/50-75 cm long

Notions
stitch markers
tapestry needle

GAUGE

16 sts/20 rounds = 4 inches/10 cm in stockinette stitch
18 sts/22 rounds = 4 inches/10 cm in stranded colorwork pattern in the round on larger needles

PATTERN NOTES

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

Construction method: Cowl is worked in the round from the bottom up seamlessly. Smaller needles are used on the bottom and top garter border, while the stranded colorwork portion is worked in larger needles.

You may find it helpful to place a marker between each chart repeat.

Techniques:

Long Tail CO: video tutorial
Fair Isle: photo tutorial | video tutorial

CHART

DIRECTIONS

Using smaller needles, with CC2 and long tail method, CO 140 sts. Place marker and join for working in the round.

Lower border
Work [knit 1 round, purl 1 round] three times.
Switch to larger needles.

Main Section
Next round: Work chart 5 times around.
Work as set until you have completed all 57 rounds.

Upper border
Switch to smaller needles.
With CC2, work [knit 1 round, purl 1 round] three times.
BO knitwise in CC2.

FINISHING

Weave in all loose ends.

With cold water and wool wash, soak approximately 15 minutes. To negate color bleeding, add white vinegar or a color-catcher sheet to the blocking bath. Roll in a towel to squeeze most of the moisture out, and lay flat to dry; there is no need to stretch or pin. To tidy the colorwork, you can apply a little light steam when dry.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

designername Tanis Gray is the author of 16 published knitting books and over 650 knitting patterns. She loves knitting and designing stranded colorwork the most, and lives with her family in Northern Virginia.

Find her on her website.