Carreau, a free knitting pattern from Knitty.com. Free knitting pattern for a DETAILS HERE.
INTRODUCTION
Carreau
Sometimes you need some instant gratification from your knitting. Whether you're a novice seeking a quick introduction to mosaic colorwork, or an expert seeking a break from your latest cobweb lace project, it's hard to say no to a quickie project in super bulky. The mosaic stitches keep the knitting just engaging enough, yet don't slow down the knitting too much…part of the fun of thick yarn is the speed after all!
The smaller cowl uses two contrasting colors of the same yarn. And if you use the suggested yarn for the smaller cowl, there will be enough left over to make a second cowl with reversed colors, or a coordinating slouchy sideways beanie. The larger cowl was designed to show off a gradient skein, and the contrast is a simple solid to ensure the gradient yarn is the star.
'Carreau' is French for 'tile' or 'square', and it also rhymes with 'chapeau', which is their word for hat.
model: Sarah Ellis
photos: Martha Ellis
SIZE
Small[Large]
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Circumference: 25[32] inches/ 64[81] cm
Depth: 7.75[8.5] inches/ 20[22] cm
MATERIALS
Lavender/dark blue small cowl (shown above)
Berroco Noble [98% extrafine merino wool/ 2% polyester elite; 98 yd/ 90 m per 3.5 oz/100 g skein]
[MC] 2070 black eyed susan; 1 skein
[CC] 2010 cosmos; 1 skein
Brown-green-blue ombre/black large cowl (shown below)
[MC] Knitwits Freia Handpaints Freia Ombré Super Bulky [100% wool; 87 yd/ 80 m per 5.28 oz/ 150g skein]; color: Woodsman; 1 skein
[CC] Rowan Big Wool [100% wool; 87 yd/ 80 m per 3.53 oz/ 100g skein]; color: 08 Black; 1 skein
Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter's gauge is unique]
For small cowl: US #13/9mm circular needle, 24-inch/60 cm
For large cowl: US #15/10mm circular needle, 24-inch/60 cm
Notions
jumbo yarn needle
stitch marker
GAUGE
small cowl:
9 sts/14 rows = 4 inches/10 cm in stockinette stitch
large cowl:
8 sts/12 rows = 4 inches/10 cm in stockinette stitch
PATTERN NOTES
[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]
The stitch pattern is a mosaic pattern. All slip stitches in pattern are slipped purlwise, with the yarn held to the back.
Because of the amount of yarn it takes to complete a round, the recommended bind off methods are either the decrease bind off or suspended bind off. Any method that takes more yarn than either of those two methods is not recommended, particularly if running short on yarn.
Techniques
CHARTS
Work from Chart or written instructions as you prefer.
Round 1: With CC, [k7, sl3] around.
Round 2: With CC, [p7, sl 3] around.
Round 3: With MC, [sl1, k1, (sl1, k3) twice] around.
Round 4: With MC, [sl1, p1, (sl1, p3) twice] around.
Round 5: With CC, [k3, sl3, k4] around.
Round 6: With CC, [p3, sl3, p4] around.
Round 7: With MC, [k2, sl1, k3, (sl1, k1) twice] around.
Round 8: With MC, [p2, sl1, p3, (sl1, p1) twice] around.
Round 9: With CC, [sl2, k7, sl1] around.
Round 10: With CC, [sl2, p7, sl1] around.
Round 11: With MC, [k2, sl1, k1, sl1, k3, sl1, k1] around.
Round 12: With MC, [p2, sl1, p1, sl1, p3, sl1, p1] around.
Round 13: With CC, [k5, sl3, k2] around.
Round 14: With CC, [p5, sl3, p2] around.
Round 15: With MC, [(sl1, k3) twice, sl1, k1] around.
Round 16: With MC, [(sl1, p3) twice, sl1, p1] around.
Round 17: With CC, [k1, sl3, k6] around.
Round 18: With CC, [p1, sl3, p6] around.
Round 19: With MC, [sl1, k3, sl1, k1, sl1, k3] around.
Round 20: With MC, [sl1, p3, sl1, p1, sl1, p3] around.
DIRECTIONS
Bottom Edge
With needles corresponding to selected size, MC, and the cable method, CO 60[80] sts. Place marker and join to work in the round being careful not to twist.
Round 1: Knit.
Round 2: Purl.
Main Pattern
Join CC.
Round 1, start chart: Work Mosaic Pattern 6[8] times around.
Work as set until Mosaic Pattern is complete, then work rounds 1-18 once more. Break CC.
Top Edge
Round 1: Knit.
Round 2: Purl.
Bind off using either the suspended or decrease bind-off.
FINISHING
Weave in ends and block.
ABOUT THE DESIGNER
Sarah Ellis learned how to knit when she was almost ten, and has scarcely spent a day without her knitting since then. Another hobby is honing her video production skills, in hopes that one day her cats might break Maru's world record for views. She is currently attending a coding bootcamp program to become a full stack developer.
You can find her on Instagram and Ravelry.
Pattern & images © 2017 Sarah Ellis.