My Black Mountain Cowl was designed in response to Anni Albers’ dictum that an artist or designer should have to “start at zero” at least once in their career. Nearly a hundred years ago in 1922, Albers entered the Bauhaus weaving workshop as a student. Upon the completion of her studies, Anni was appointed as the head of workshop. When pressure from the Nazi party shut the school down in 1933, Josef and Anni Albers were offered teaching positions at Black Mountain College near Asheville, North Carolina. This was her “start at zero.”

COVID-19 feels like a “start at zero” moment for so many people. Designing and knitting with the materials immediately at hand helped me to get through the difficulties of migrating to online instruction.

The pattern layout was designed with a visual system for ease of reading and knitting. It features charts and written instructions for five different colorways. Pattern updated 10/1/20 with new Blue Sky Fibers colorways.

Suggested yarns:

Main Color – Blue Sky Woolstok 2 Skeins (50g/123 yds)
Contrast Color 1 – Blue Sky Woolstok 1 Skein (50g/123 yards)
Contrast Colors 2-6– 1 Woolstok Bundle 36 grams each