Fair Isle cowl
Monica Russel’s dazzling cowl mixes and matches a variety of Fair Isle motifs.
Our colourful knit goes with everything in your wardrobe.
Are you ready for some Fair Isle? Colourwork fans will love this funky winter cowl, but if you haven’t yet caught the stranded knitting bug don’t be put off – the project breaks down into little sections, each worked in one or two colours, so it’s more manageable than you might think. Once you get going the stitches will fly off your needles and the hardest part will be tearing yourself away from your knitting! Note Yarn is held double throughout.
COWL
Cast on 40 sts using 7mm needles and Yarn A. Next row Ktbl into every stitch to form a neat edge. Row 1 Using Yarn A, knit. Row 2 Using Yarn A, K4, purl to last 4 sts, K4. Row 3 K4A, *K5B, K1A, K8B, K2A; rep from * to last 4 sts, K4A. Row 4 K4A, *P2A, P2B, P4A, P2B, P1A, P1B, P2A, P2B; rep from * to last 4 sts, K4A. Row 5 K4A, *K2B, K1A, K2B, K1A, K2B, K1A, K2B, K1A, K2B, K2A; rep from * to last 4 sts, K4A. Row 6 K4A, *P2A, P2B, P2A, P1B, P1A, P2B, P4A, P2B; rep from * to last 4 sts, P4A. Row 7 K4A, *K8B, K1A, K5B, K2A; rep from * to last 4 sts, K4A. Cut off Yarn B. Row 8 Using Yarn A, K4, purl to last 4 sts, K4. Row 9 Using Yarn A, knit. Row 10 Using Yarn A, K4, purl to last 4 sts, K4. Row 11 K4C, *K1D, K1C; rep from * to last 4 sts, K4C.
Row 12 K4C, *P1D, P1C; rep from * to last 4 sts, K4C. Work rows 11 & 12 twice more. Cut off Yarns C and D. Rows 17–20 Using Yarn E, knit. Row 21 Using Yarn F, knit. Row 22 Using Yarn F, K4, purl to last 4 sts, K4.
Row 23 K5F, *K1G, K1F, K1G, K2F, K3G, K2F; rep from * to last 5 sts, K5F.
Row 24 K4F, P1F, *P1F, P2G, P1F, P2G, P2F, P1G, P1F; rep from * to last 5 sts, P1F, K4F.
Row 25 K5F, *K1G, K1F, K1G, K2F, K3G, K2F; rep from * to last 5 sts, K5F. Cut off Yarn G.
Row 26 Using Yarn F, K4, purl to last 4 sts, K4.
Row 27 K5F, *K3G, K2F, K1G, K1F, K1G, K2F; rep from * to last 5 sts, K5F.
Row 28 K4F, P1F, *P1G, P2F, P1G, P2F, P2G, P1F, P1G; rep from * to last 5 sts, P1G, K4F.
Row 29 K5F, *K3G, K2F, K1G, K1F, K1G, K2F; rep from * to last 5 sts, K5F.
Row 30 Using Yarn F, K4, purl to last 4 sts, K4. Row 31 Using Yarn F, knit. Row 32 K4H, P1H, *P2H, P1J, P3H; rep from * to last 5 sts, P1H, K4H.
Row 33 K5H, *K2H, K1J, K1H, K1J, K1H; rep from * to last 5 sts, K5H.
Row 34 K4H, P1H, *P1J, P1H; rep to last 5 sts, P1H, K4H.
Row 35 K5H, *K1J, K1H; rep from * to last 5 sts, K1J, K4H.
Row 36 K4H, P1H, *P1J, P3H, P1J, P1H; rep from * to last 5 sts, P1H, K4H.
Row 37 K5H, *K1J, K5H; rep from * to last 5 sts, K1J, K4H. Work Rows 32– 37 twice more.
Row 50 Using Yarn H, K4, purl to last 4 sts, K4. Cut off Yarns J and H. Rows 51– 54 Using Yarn K, knit. Cut off Yarn K.
Row 55 K4L, *K2M, K2L; rep from * to last 4 sts, K4L.
Row 56 K4L, *P2L, P2M; rep from * to last 4 sts, K4L.
Row 57 K4L, *K2L, K2M; rep from * to last 4 sts, K4L.
Row 58 K4L, *P2M, P2L; rep from * to last 4 sts, K4L. Work Rows 55– 58 once more.
Row 63 K5C, *K1E, K5C; rep from * to last 5 sts, K5C.
Row 64 K4C, P1C, *P1E, P3C, P2E; rep from * to last 5 sts, P1C, K4C.
Row 65 K5C, *K1E, K2C, K1E, K2C; rep from * to last 5 sts, K5C.
Row 66 K4C, P1C, *P1C, P3E, P2C; rep from * to last 5 sts, P1C, K4C.
Row 67 K5C, *K1C, K2E, K1C, K2E; rep from * to last 5 sts, K5C.
Row 68 K4C, P1C, *P1E, P3C, P2E; rep from * to last 5 sts, P1C, K4C. Work Rows 65– 68 once more. Row 73 K5C, *K1E, K2C, K1E, K2C; rep from * to last 5 sts, K5C. Row 74 K4C, P1C, *P1C, P3E, P2C; rep from * to last 5 sts, P1C, K4C. Row 75 K5C, *K3C, K1E, K2C; rep from * to last 5 sts, K5C. Cut off Yarn E. Row 76 Using Yarn C, K4, purl to last 4 sts, K4. Cut off Yarn C.
Row 77 K6D, *K2J, K3D; rep from * to last 9 sts, K2J, K7D.
Row 78 K4D, P2D, P4J, *P1D, P4J; rep from * to last 5 sts, P1D, K4D.
Row 79 K5D, *K4J, K1D; rep from * to last 5 sts, K5D.
Row 80 K4D, *P3D, P2J; rep from * to last 6 sts, P2D, K4D. Row 81 Using Yarn D, knit. Row 82 Using Yarn D, K4, purl to last 4 sts, K4. Work Rows 77– 80 once more. Cut off Yarn J. Row 87 Using Yarn D, knit. Row 88 Using Yarn D, K4, purl to last 4 sts, K4. Cut off Yarn D. Knit 4 rows using Yarn A. Row 93 K4G, *K1F, K1G; rep from * to last 4 sts, K4G. Row 94 K4G, *P1F, P1G; rep from * to last 4 sts, K4G. Work Rows 93 & 94, 3 more times. Cut off Yarns G and F.
Row 101 Using Yarn H, knit. Row 102 Using Yarn H, K4, purl to last 4 sts, K4.
Row 103 K4H, *K5M, K1H, K8M, K2H; rep from * to last 4 sts, K4H.
Row 104 K4H, *P2H, P2M, P4H, P2M, P1H, P1M, P2H, P2M; rep from * to last 4 sts, K4H.
Row 105 K4H, *K2M, K1H, K2M, K1H, K2M, K1H, K2M, K1H, K2M, K2H; rep from * to last 4 sts, K4H.
Row 106 K4H, *P2H, P2M, P2H, P1M, P1H, P2M, P4H, P2M; rep from * to last 4 sts, P4H.
Row 107 K4H, *K8M, K1H, K5M, K2H; rep from * to last 4 sts, K4H. Cut off Yarn B. Row 108 Using Yarn H, K4, purl to last 4 sts, K4. Cut off Yarns H and M. Row 109 Using Yarn K, knit. Row 110 K4K, P1K, *P2K, P1A, P3H; rep from * to last 5 sts, P1K, K4K.
Row 111 K5K, *K2K, K1A, K1K, K1A, K1H; rep from * to last 5 sts, K5K.
Row 112 K4K, P1K, *P1A, P1H; rep to last 5 sts, P1K, K4K.
Row 113 K5K, *K1A, K1H; rep from * to last 5 sts, K1J, K4H.
Row 114 K4K, P1K, *P1A, P3K, P1A, P1H; rep from * to last 5 sts, P1K, K4K.
Row 115 K5K, *K1A, K5H; rep from * to last 5 sts, K1J, K4H. Work Rows 110–115 twice more. Row 128 Using Yarn K, K4, purl to last 4 sts, K4. Cut off Yarns J and H. Knit 4 rows using Yarn B.
Row 133 K4J, *K2C, K2J; rep from * to last 4 sts, K4J.
Row 134 K4J, *P2J, P2C; rep from * to last 4 sts, K4J.
Row 135 K4J, *K2J, K2C; rep from * to last 4 sts, K4J.
Row 136 K4J, *P2C, P2J; rep from * to last 4 sts, K4J. Work Rows 133–136 twice more. Cut off Yarns J and C. Row 145 Using Yarn E, knit. Row 146 Using Yarn E, K4, purl to last 4 sts, K4. Row 147 K5E, *K1M, K1E, K1M, K2E, K3M, K2E, rep from * to last 5 sts, K5E. Row 148 K4E, P1E, *P1E, P2M, P1E, P2M, P2E, P1M, P1E, rep from * to last 5 sts, P1E, K4E.
Row 149 K5E, *K1M, K1E, K1M, K2E, K3M, K2E, rep from * to last 5 sts, K5E. Cut off Yarn M.
Row 150 Using Yarn E, K4, purl to last 4 sts, K4. Row 151 K5E, *K3M, K2E, K1M, K1E, K1M, K2E; rep from * to last 5 sts, K5E. Row 152 K4E, P1E, *P1M, P2E, P1M, P2E, P2M, P1E, P1M; rep from * to last 5 sts, P1M, K4E. Row 153 K5E, *K3M, K2E, K1M, K1E, K1M, K2E; rep from * to last 5 sts, K5E. Row 154 Using Yarn E, K5, purl to last 4 sts, K4.
Row 155 K5F, *K1D, K5F; rep from * to last 5 sts, K5F.
Row 156 K4F, P1F, *P1D, P3F, P2D; rep from * to last 5 sts, P1F, K4F.
Row 157 K5F, *K1D, K2F, K1D, K2F; rep from * to last 5 sts, K5F.
Row 158 K4F, P1F, *P1F, P3D, P2F; rep from * to last 5 sts, P1F, K4F.
Row 159 K5F, *K1F, K2D, K1F, K2D; rep from * to last 5 sts, K5F.
Row 160 K4F, P1F, *P1D, P3F, P2D; rep from * to last 5 sts, P1F, K4F.
Work Rows 157–160 once more.
Row 165 K5F, *K1D, K2F, K1D, K2F; rep from * to last 5 sts, K5F.
Row 166 K4F, P1F, *P1F, P3D, P2F; rep from * to last 5 sts, P1F, K4F.
Row 167 K5F, *K3F, K1D, K2F; rep from * to last 5 sts, K5F.
Row 168 Using Yarn F, K4, purl to last 4 sts, K4. Cut off Yarns D and F. Row 169 and all RS rows to 175 K4G *K1K, K1G; rep from * to last 4 sts, K4G. Row 170 and all WS rows to 176 P4G, *P1G, P1K: rep from * to last 5 sts, P1. Rows 177–180 Using Yarn J, knit. Row 181 Using Yarn C, knit. Row 182 Using Yarn C, K4, purl to last 4 sts, K4.
Row 183 K6C, *K2H, K3C; rep from * to last 9 sts, K2H, K7C.
Row 184 K4C, P2C, P4H, *P1C, P4H; rep from * to last 5 sts, P1C, K4C.
Row 185 K5C, *K4H, K1C; rep from * to last 5 sts, K5C.
Row 186 K4C, *P3C, P2H; rep from * to last 6 sts, P2C, K4C.
Row 187 K4C, using Yarn D knit to last 4 sts, K4C.
Row 188 K4C, using Yarn D purl to last 4 sts, K4C. Work Rows 183–188 twice more. Row 201 Using Yarn A, knit. Row 202 K4B, using Yarn A purl to last 4 sts, K4B.
Row 203 K4B, *K5M, K1B, K8M, K2B; rep from * to last 4 sts, K4B.
Row 204 K4B, *P2B, P2M, P4B, P2M, P1B, P1M, P2B, P2M; rep from * to last 4 sts, K4B.
Row 205 K4B, *K2M, K1B, K2M, K1B, K2M, K1B, K2M, K1B, K2M, K2B; rep from * to last 4 sts, K4B.
Row 206 K4B, *P2B, P2M, P2B, P1M, P1B, P2M, P4B, P2M; rep from * to last 4 sts, P4B.
Row 207 K4B, *K8M, K1B, K5M, K2B; rep from * to last 4 sts, K4B.
Row 208 Using Yarn B, K4, purl to last 4 sts, K4.
Row 209 K4B, *K5M, K1B, K8M, K2B; rep from * to last 4 sts, K4B.
Row 210 K4B, *P2B, P2M, P4B, P2M, P1B, P1M, P2B, P2M; rep from * to last 4 sts, K4B.
Row 211 K4B, *K2M, K1B, K2M, K1B, K2M, K1B, K2M, K1B, K2M, K2B; rep from * to last 4 sts, K4B.
Row 212 K4B, *P2B, P2M, P2B, P1M, P1B, P2M, P4B, P2M; rep from * to last 4 sts, P4B.
Row 213 K4B, *K8M, K1B, K5M, K2B; rep from * to last 4 sts, K4B. Cut off Yarn B.
Row 214 K4B, using Yarn A purl to last 4 sts, K4B. Cut off Yarns B and M. Row 215 Using Yarn A, knit. Row 216 K4A, P1A, *P2A, P1E, P3A; rep from * to last 5 sts, P1A, K4A.
Row 217 K5A, *K2A, K1E, K1A, K1E, K1A; rep from * to last 5 sts, K5A.
Row 218 K4A, P1A, *P1E, P1A; rep to last 5 sts, P1A, K4A.
Row 219 K5A, *K1E, K1A; rep from * to last 5 sts, K5A.
Row 220 K4A, P1A, *P1E, P3A, P1E, P1A; rep from * to last 5 sts, P1A, K4A.
Row 221 K5A, *K1E, K5A; rep from * to last 5 sts, K5A. Work rows 216–221 twice more. Row 234 Using Yarn A, K4, purl to last 4 sts, K4. Cut off Yarns A and E.
Row 235 K4D, *K1F, K1D; rep from * to last 4 sts, K4D.
Row 236 K4D, *P1F, P1D; rep from * to last 4 sts, K4D. Work Rows 235 & 236 twice more. Rows 241–243 Using Yarn J, knit. Cast off sts leaving a long tail to sew up seam.
TO MAKE UP
Join ends together using mattress stitch with right sides facing. Weave in ends.