13 February 2010

Infinity Cowl

Ok...so this infinity was inspired by Outlander...I know...but it just was.  I wanted something vertical knit that I could wrap a couple of times for depth.  The yarn is handspun and very bulky...and very soft and fluffy.  There is no gauge, just make it as thick as you'd like.  It's very simple and scrumptious.

This one is knit with a size 17 needle in the round.  My version is 62" long by 10" wide and I doubled my handspun yarn to get it even bigger.  Make sure when you join your stitches in the round that the row is not twisted,  You want a straight edge.  The twist comes when you double wrap it.

Pattern:
Cast On 140 stitches.  Knit one row and place a marker.  Purl the next row being careful not to twist the row.  You want to make sure the stitches line up correctly.  Continue alternating until you have the width you'd like.  In this case, I had 40 rows in the round.  Then Bind Off.  Weave in your ends and enjoy!

Side Note:  I'm so used to knitting with much smaller needles that this felt like I was knitting with Lincoln logs...but it was done before I knew it.


55 comments:

Anonymous said...

What kind of yarn did you use?

Christina said...

The yarn is a handspun polworth wool.

Kathy said...

this is just what I'm looking for! How much yarn did it take? I want to use a fat/thin type yarn or possibly 2 different weight yarns together.

Christina said...

This yarn was handspun think. I used a total of 499 yard and held two strands together throughout. It is bulky and fluffy. Not knit tight. Good luck!

Tripp said...

What length circular needles did you use?

Christina said...

Not quite sure...never take note. I would bet it was 29". Good luck.

Anonymous said...

Trying to figure out if this is a straight knit stitch or pearl on next row to have it looking the same on both sides?

Christina said...

That is correct. In order to get the garter look in the round, you have to alternate a knit row with a purl row.

Thanks for letting me know. I have updated. Sorry for the confusion.

Anonymous said...

I have never used these kind of needles. Do I need to put a marker so I know where the new row begins. Is it connected all the way around and therefore does not need to be sewn together to join, just cast off?? Sorry I am a beginner!!

Anonymous said...

She says it is knitted in the round, so you would have to knit the last stitch to the first. I would put a marker on so you know when to switch from knit to purl. It looks really good. Good Luck.

Christina said...

Thank you. You basically just keep knitting round and round, but do place a maker at the beginning of the round when you start to keep track of your knit row, then when you begin purling. I'm going to put it in the pattern to hopefully help. Good luck.

Carla said...

Thanks for the clarification. I'm new to knitting in the round.

Christina said...

Good luck, Carla....enjoy.

KateW said...

Because you cast on 140 stitches with a #17 needles, I'm assuming the photograph is showing the cowl doubled over - how many times??

If I'm right, roughly where does the cowl reach down to before it's double over - nearly to your waist?

I understand this is all very inexact, but I'd like get the big picture a bit more - partly because I knit VERY loosely, and will probably be using a somewhat different yarn.

Thanks - gorgeous and easy pattern!

KateW said...

Oops - I just saw where you said you "double wrapped" it. So you doubled it up just once??

Would still like a better idea of where undoubled cowl would fall on an "average" person.

Thanks!!

Christina said...

Hi Kate...my version is 31" long x 10" wide. So 31' from the middle back of your neck.

Christina said...

Kate...I just got your prior post. Have I answered your question?

Anonymous said...

I do not see anywhere in the pattern that you carry two strands at a time. Is that how this was made?

Christina said...

I did but you don't have to. The key is very bulky yarn on large needles. I did not want to put it in the pattern so it seemed like a requirement. I've added what I did but not required.

Kathy said...

Just had to add! I made this using a wool roving and Paton's 'Misty'(acrylic,nylon,wool and mohair combo) yarn together. The result is an amazingly soft thick cushy scarf! Mine came out long enough to wrap 3 times if you desired. My daughter will love this...it gets cold running for the subways in NYC! I am SO pleased!! THANKS FOR SHARING!!

Christina said...

Thank you for posting, Kathy. I would love to see it. If you post on Ravelry or anywhere, please let me know.

Unknown said...

Very nice! 499 yards for both yarns or 499 yards for each yarn??? Thanks and Merry Christmas!!!����❤️

Christina said...

Thank you. I used 499 yards total....that was doubled to get the bulky finish.

Have a Merry Christmas!

Unknown said...

Is there anywhere I can find a more detailed explanation of this pattern/visual steps?

Christina said...

Hi Melissa....the pattern is basically garter stitch in the round. If you have questions I would be glad to answer the best I can, but there really are no more instructions at this point. I will keep in mind for the future to post more pictures of the steps.

Unknown said...

Hi Christina- I love this pattern thank you for posting it. I have one question I am starting to knit again after many years of not knitting and I am a little rusty so question is "when knitting in the round how do you do the first stitch so that it is smooth?" I just finished a shrug and it looks kind of sloppy. I love the Outlander series and am so happy you have made this cowl and shared with us.

Christina said...

Hi Lisa....thank you and I'm so glad to hear you're back to knitting. Enjoy! As for the cowl, there is a way to make the rows line up, but I don't do that here....you can probably find it on the internet. For me it wasn't off enough to go through the effort. If you're specifically speaking about the first stitch, then you need to do two things...make sure you have not twisted the row when you start or the entire piece will have a twist and knit that first stitch tightly. Afterward when you're weaving in your end you can use it to better bring the beginning together if it got away from you. Have fun...not long until more Outlander.

Barbara Miller said...

Hello! Would it be possible to knit this with size 11 needles and bulky weight (not super bulky) yarn?

Barbara Miller said...

Correction on previous comment: the yarn is super bulky - Lion Homespun. 11 is the largest circular needle i have.
thank you!

Christina said...

Barbara....if the yarn is super bulky then an 11 needle may make the work too tight and dense. You can always knit a swatch to see if you like the fabric. I did mine with a 17 needle because I like it loose enough to be comfortable and soft. Enjoy!

Christina said...

Hi Vicki...I held two strands of yarn together to get the bulkier yarn so I cast on 140 sts. If you're using super bulky yarn to start with or doubling something a little thinner then just 140 sts. If you're using a worsted weight you can cast on more. Just do a swatch of your yarn to figure out how many sts you will need for the size you want.

Anonymous said...

Hi, Can you tell me where you found/purchased the Polwarth yarn used in the Outlander cowl?

Christina said...

Hello.....the yarn is handspun by me. And bulky yarn will do for this pattern. I like that this yarn is lofty and light weight while being bulky. Good luck!

Unknown said...

Hi, I'm looking at Hometown USA for yarn. It's listed as a super bulky. Would it work without doubling? Or would I be better off using Color Clouds, which is considered a Jumbo weight?

Christina said...

I think either would work well. I doubled mine to make it super chunky. I didn't post a gauge because I think this can be done in any size, but my gauge was 8-9 for 4".

Enjoy!

baroque570 said...

Can it be done with straight needles instead of round ones?

Christina said...

No it cannot. This is knit in the round so it has no seams and it is knit lengthwise.

Unknown said...

Hi Christina,

Thank you for this lovely pattern. I'm new to knitting, only learned it 4 years ago. Haven't learned anything fancy yet and just learning how to use circular knitting needles after being an exclusive crochet person for 40+ years. Saw your lovely free pattern advertised and I can't wait to see if I can master it. I'm using a Fiji blue yarn, sort of a deep teal. Hoping there'll be a way to send you a picture of how it finally turns out!?! Can we post pictures here or send them to you? It's nice to share :-) It would be good to get critiques from other, more experienced knitters. Time will tell. Definitely fav'd your page though!

Unknown said...

I am anxious to attempt this... I have not knitted in years, and was not to good even then but want to give it a try. How many skeins in total did you use. I am concerned with dye lot so if it is more then one, which it appears to be how many. I missed it if you stated it. Thanks Gene

Kathy said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Christina said...

Hi Gene....I did not state how much because this can be made in any weight yarn and any size. I used 500 yds of handspun yarn....so that made it 250 yds of super bulky. Likely you will not find that much of this weight in one hank. Hope this helps.

Christina said...

Hi Kathy....I read you're comment before you removed it. Thank you for the compliment....I hope she gets many years of wear and enjoyment from it.

JannMarie said...

What in the world did I do wrong? I used the recommend weight yarn and size needles. Cast on 140 (which seemed like a lot) and followed directions, I thought, to a tee. I have a cowl to fit a cow! It's huge!!!!! What am I obviously missing????? :)

Christina said...

Probably nothing....maybe you expected it to be a small cowl rather than something you have to double as above. The complete finished length is 62", so it has to be doubled.

JannMarie said...

Thanks, Christina! :)

Unknown said...

I just saw this pattern on Pinterest and was wondering if it could be done on a knitting loom or board? It's beautiful.

Christina said...

Thank you. It's a simple garter stitch knit in the round with bulky yarn so it's a quick knit. If you can produce it another way in garter stitch you can seam it together.

Walter said...

Hi Christina, thank you for the wonderful pattern. It's my first time knitting in the round. Do I understand correctly - if you're saying the finished length is 62" (I'm assuming this means the circumference of the opening of the scarf?), does that mean I need circular needles with about 50" or so of the acrylic string thingie in between? Maybe longer, but I'm sure the stitches would bunch up a bit. Or maybe I'm misunderstanding something. I *think* an infinity scarf like this is basically a 62" by 10" cylinder... Thank you

Christina said...

Hi Walter....62" is the circumference. This was made with very thick yarn on size 17 needles, and I think I used a 32" or 40" circular needle. There are 140 stitches so that is all you have to worry about, not really the finished circumference since yours may be different depending on the yarn you use. I like to knit with my stitches a bit bunched up...no need to spread them all out. Hope this helps. Happy knitting.

Walter said...

Yes, helps perfectly. Thank you!

linda said...

Good morning. Wondering how much this cost you to knit. I'm currently beginning this project. With six balls of yarn I'm figuring 40 to 60 dollars. Just curious!!!

Christina said...

Hi Linda....I made this with handspun yarn...not sure the cost, just depends on the yarn you purchase. You could double something up or go ultra bulky. Enjoy!

Maureen said...

Are the needles US 17? I am Canada and we mostly go by mm which would be 12 mm needles

Christina said...

Hi Maureen. I checked just to make sure and the US 17 would be the Canadian 11mm. Thanks for checking.

Karsci said...

Hello Christina;
Thank you for the pattern. I would like to use a boucle yarn for this pattern. Do you suggest using a single strand of boucle or shall I double it as you have done for your scarf?
Thanks in advance.
Carson