Hell's Grannies: Best Friend Wedding Band Cowl

This cowl will end up being four interlocking rings for your neck. You knit two and your partner will knit two. Unfortunately, because we rely on the rings rolling into each other using a knit garter stitch in the round, there is not a crochet version I can think of for this swap. However, if you crochet, and know how to crochet rings like the swap picture (courtesy of Ellen Pass Brandt), I’m happy to have you join.

You will have one month to create the first two rings and mail them to your partner.

YARN: You can use 50-75 yards each of 3 colors of worsted weight yarn that will feel soft on your neck/your partner’s neck. You want approx. 4 – 4 ½ stitches to the inch to achieve a circumference of 21+ inches.

NEEDLES/GAUGE: US 10 (6 mm) size circular (16”) needle and was able to do approx. 4 stitches to the inch. You are aiming at about a “21 inch plus“final circumference.

PATTERN: Just knitting in the round with enough stitches cast on to give you a 21”+ circumference. (To fit over the head.) This picture was knit in 85 stitches. If you want a looser cowl, add stitches. You might need to communicate with your partner about whether you want a looser cowl so s/he casts on an appropriate number.

Cast On 85 stitches of FIRST color and work as follows:

Join the stitches in the round (place a marker if you wish) be really careful not to twist the stitches (this is not a mobius piece and will not play nice with the others).

Knit like mad until the circle is 7” high. Bind off really loosely and weave in ends.

Cast On 85 stitches of SECOND color and work as follows:

CAVEAT – before you join the needles in the round – put them through the center of the first finished ring (making sure you do not have twisted stitches) – this is the interlocking thing. Don’t worry about direction because each roll can be put in either an in or out direction afterward.

Knit like mad until the circle is 7” high. Bind off really loosely and weave in ends. MAIL YOUR COWL TO YOUR PARTNER

WHEN YOU GET THE TWO RINGS YOUR PARTNER KNIT:

Cast On 85 stitches of THIRD color and work as follows:

Again, before you join the needles in the round – put them through the center of both the first two finished rings (making sure you do not have twisted stitches).

Again…Knit like mad until the circle is 7” high. Bind off really loosely and weave in ends.

Cast On 85 stitches of FOURTH color and work as follows:

CAVEAT – before you join the needles in the round – put them through the center of the first finished ring (making sure you do not have twisted stitches) – this is the interlocking thing. Don’t worry about direction because each roll can be put in either an in or out direction afterward.

Knit like mad until the circle is 7” high. Bind off really loosely and weave in ends. Wash and block as desired. Wear with joy!