The Collections Cowl is an opportunity to build your own insect collection from the comfort of your home! This squishy stranded cowl has a base pattern with 19 extra insects for you to substitute in as needed! From the beloved Praying Mantis to the lesser known Buffalo Treehopper, you can learn fun facts as you construct each insect, and maybe even discover your new favorite animal. Because yes, insects are animals.

I was inspired by entomological collections when making this cowl, as I have worked in them, and have a very soft spot for dusty boxes of dead bugs. I also have a soft spot for biological accuracy…which is why this cowl was “approved” by the collections manager at my University, Gene Hall. Thanks Gene!

This was a stashbusting project for me (and maybe for you!). The pattern calls for 1 skein of Urth Worsted for the mc, 1 skein of Spun Right Round Squish DK for the cc2 (bugs), and around 100-130 yards of cc1 for the ribbing at the edge.

Gauge will effect the finished size of this project, although it is not essential. There are instructions in the pattern for adding an extra insect to give yourself more room or adjust to a smaller gauge, but please swatch in colorwork in the round!

$1 from every pattern purchase goes to the Coleopterists Society! This society is dedicated to the understanding and preservation of all things beetle, and allocate funding for graduate student conference travel, natural history curating, and fostering bug community everywhere.

Materials
Yarn:
Sample uses Urth Harvest Worsted in Ecru (mc) and Cinnamon (cc1), and Spun Right Round Squish DK in Turtle (cc2)

Yardage
You will need approximately 220 yards of the mc and cc2, and 130 of cc1. These are generous estimates!

Needles
US 4 3.5mm 24” circular needles for the ribbing (or whatever brings you to gauge)
US 5 3.75mm 24” circular needles for colorwork (or whatever brings you to gauge)

Other Notions
Scissors, stitch marker, darning needle

Gauge
Ribbing: 24 stitches x 26 rows = 4” in ribbing
Colorwork: 25 stitches x 26 rows = 4” in stockinette

Finished Dimensions
29” around by 13” deep

Notes
This cowl can be knit top down or bottom up in the round, and the majority is knitted with stranded colorwork. The original uses a twisted rib, but I substituted that for a regular rib when writing the pattern.

This pattern has been test knit and tech edited!