***You can purchase an INEXPENSIVE AD-FREE PDF of this pattern on Etsy HERE and on LoveKnitting HERE This beautifully formatted PDF includes the step-by-step pictures and the patterns for BOTH the Cotton Candy Cowl & Cotton Candy Beanie. The PDF is a total of 5 pages including the cover page! These patterns can also be found in my Easy & Modern Knits Pattern Bundle found HERE (includes over a dozen of my knit patterns at a discounted price)! Furthermore, Lion Brand Yarn has put together a convenient kit HERE that contains all the yarn you need to make both the cowl and beanie along with the patterns!
Wool-Ease Thick & Quick Yarn has always been a perennial favourite of mine as it works up beautifully, and I love the 80% acrylic/20% wool composition. It is a super bulky level 6 yarn, and any design that uses this yarn works up very quickly! Lion Brand Yarn is always adding new colourways to this fan favourite, and this gorgeous colourway called “Carousel” absolutely took my breath away! As you know, I am typically a fan of neutral and solid colours (I don’t work too much with variegated yarns), but I fell in love with the blend of pastel pink, mint green, purple and grey. I knew I had to get my hands on this colourway and design a piece with it!
In my “Simple Garter Stitch Scarf” and “Chunky Ribbed Knit Blanket” designs, I held two strands of yarn together at the same time: Wool-Ease Thick & Quick and Homespun. I wanted to use this same technique as I wear my garter stitch scarf quite a bit during the cold winter months, but this time I wanted to make a seed stitch version. Thus, I gathered my supplies: 15 mm knitting needles (I love my Chiaogoo circular needles), 2 skeins of Wool-Ease Thick & Quick in “Carousel” and 1 skein of Homespun in “Hepplewhite”.
While holding one strand of Wool-Ease Thick & Quick and one strand of Homespun yarn at the same time, I casted on 19 stitches using the long tail cast on.
To give a cleaner side edge, I slipped the first stitch knitwise at the beginning of each row. Then, I began working the seed stitch.
To work the seed stitch, you alternate knit and purl stitches. On subsequent row, you knit all the purl stitches and purl all the knit stitches from the previous row. I have written a detailed step-by-step photo and video tutorial entitled “How to Knit the Seed Stitch” HERE, so be sure to check it out if you need a refresher! The seed stitch provides such amazing texture, and it is very easy to knit.
If you ever get stuck and do not remember whether you are supposed to knit or purl the next stitch in your pattern, take a look at the stitches from the previous row for a hint. if you see a bump (the horizontal line in picture below), that means you need to KNIT the next stitch since the stitch from the previous round was a purl stitch (called the purl bump). If you see a V, that means you need to PURL the next stitch since the stitch from the previous round was a knit stitch. If your pattern looks like ribbing, then you know that the knit and purl stitches are not being staggered row upon row!
After finishing up one skein of Wool-Ease Thick & Quick, this was how much I had completed! To add a new skein of yarn, I used the technique of felting the ends together (see my “How to Felt Yarn Ends Together” tutorial HERE). Thankfully only 1 skein of Homespun is needed, so you do not need to add a new skein when the Wool-Ease Thick & Quick needs to be added!
After using up both skeins of Wool-Ease Thick & Quick, I casted off the stitches. You could either leave the scarf long or seam the ends together into a cowl as I did! I like using a large crochet hook to help whip stitch the ends together. I insert my hook into the front and back loops of the stitches on either end and pull my yarn tail through.
Take a look at this quick video below in which I demonstrate the seed stitch and how to whip stitch the ends together into a cowl:
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Here is the free pattern for my beautiful Cotton Candy Cowl:
Materials:
- 2 skeins of the regular size Wool-Ease Thick & Quick in “Carousel” (super bulky level 6 yarn)– total 340 grams/212 yards needed
- 1 skein of Lion Brand Yarn’s Homespun Yarn in “Hepplewhite” (bulky, level 5 yarn)
- 15 mm needles (straight or circular- I use Chiaogoo 40″ needles HERE)
- Jumbo Point Protectors (optional)
- Large crochet hook to whip stitch ends together
- Clover Felting Tool (optional – to felt ends together)
Notes:
- Hold both strands of yarn together (1 strand of Wool-Ease Thick & Quick and 1 strand of Homespun) at the same time and treat them as one when knitting.
- We will slip the first stitch of each row knitwise to create a beautiful and clean edge.
- The scarf is worked flat in turned rows.
- Once the desired length is achieved, the ends of the scarf are seamed together using a large crochet hook to form a circular cowl.
Gauge: 6 sts and 10 rows = 4″ (10 cm) in seed stitch
PATTERN:
Holding one strand of Wool-Ease Thick & Quick and one strand of Homespun together,
Cast on 19 stitches using long tail cast-on (leave 38″ tail).
Row 1: Slip 1st stitch knitwise. *K1, P1* across.
Row 2-136: Repeat R1.
Cast off stitches. Leave long end for sewing. Using large crochet hook, whip stitch ends together. Hide ends.
Save left-over Homespun yarn to make pom pom for Cotton Candy Beanie.
Final Measurements: 12″/30 cm wide, 55″/140 cm circumference
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Aren’t the colours of this cowl absolutely amazing? The brightness, fluffiness and whimsical style reminded me of cotton candy, so I named this design “The Cotton Candy Cowl“!
The beautiful seed stitch and holding two different types of yarn provide such amazing texture! The long winter days can be drab, but this cowl helps to brighten the season up and inject some colour and whimsy!
I could not resist knitting a MATCHING BEANIE since I love this colourway so much- the free pattern can be found HERE! The Cotton Candy Beanie uses the exact same seed stitch pattern- how cute is it?
I love my matching Cotton Candy Cowl & Beanie set as they are not only warm, but so adorable and stylish as well! Here I am wearing my handknit set with my blush pink coat!
I love how I maximized the yarn with this beanie and cowl set- I used the left-over Homespun yarn to make the pom pom for the Cotton Candy Beanie! This set is so fun and quick to knit up! Lion Brand Yarn has put together a convenient KIT that contains ALL the yarn you need to make this matching Cotton Candy Cowl & Beanie set (3 skeins of Wool-Ease Thick & Quick in “Carousel” and 1 skein of Homespun in “Hepplewhite), so check it out HERE!
It makes me so happy wearing this Cotton Candy Cowl since the colours are so bright and beautiful. I know I will be wearing this set a lot during the cold winter months, and I hope you’ll give this design a try as well- the free pattern for the Cotton Candy Beanie can be found HERE! Subscribe to my e-mail newsletter HERE to keep up-to-date with my work! Thank you for following along!
This pattern is an original pattern by Stephanie Lau of All About Ami. Please do not claim this pattern as your own. If you wish to share this pattern, you may link to this pattern but please do not reprint it on your site. You may keep a copy for your own personal use but please DO NOT sell the pattern or distribute it.
You may sell products made from this pattern but please clearly credit the design to me, Stephanie Lau of All About Ami, and provide a link to my blog www.AllAboutAmi.com. Permission is NOT granted for mass production or factory manufacturing of any kind. Thank you for being respectful and for your understanding!
