The Eye Dazzler cowl is a simple columnar cowl knit seamlessly in the round to make a quick gender-neutral project, great for gifting.

The striking geometric design “dazzles the eye”: it’s fascinating how straight lines on paper soften and bend inwards when knitted!

It is knit in 2 contrasting colors, using the slip-stitch technique for a colorwork project that looks complicated but is fast and fun to knit— knit only one color per round when working the motif, with floats of only one stitch to keep the back side neat, and at the end of the day, only 4 ends to weave in.

The cowl is symmetrical both horizontally and vertically. Front and back, top and bottom, are identical, so no matter how you put it on, you’re wearing it right.

Please note, the central motif is charted only but the chart is specifically designed for easy working. Strategically placed markers mean you will never have to count more than 7 stitches, and the mirror-image repeats make each round fly from your fingers!

Yarn Requirements

Two contrasting colors of a DK weight (3-Light) yarn.

Color 1 = 175 Yds (160 m)
Color 2 = 130 Yds (120 m)

As written, Color 1 is used for cast-on, setup rounds and bind-off, so uses a bit more yarn than Color 2.

Please note, yardage needed is based on pattern gauge and yarns. Your yardage will vary with yarn substitution, personal knitting gauge, or any modifications made to pattern. (Pattern includes a halfway checkpoint for yarn use, in case you’re playing yarn chicken.)

Details of the Samples

Sample 1 in blue and green: The Farmer’s Daughter Fibers Craggy Tweed, Color 1 Kinnikinnick (spring green), Color 2 Amos Moses (teal blue).

Sample 2 in red-brown and orange-gold: Color 1 madelinetosh DK Twist in Saffron (red-brown), Color 2 Malabrigo Yarn Silky Merino in Sunset (orange-gold).

Finished Dimensions (measured flat & blocked)

25” (63.6 cm) circumference
12-1/2” wide x 11” tall / 31.75 cm wide x 28 cm tall

Gauge

Gauge in Corrugated Ribbing, measured after blocking: 24 stitches & 28 rows = 4 inches (10cm)

Knitting Tools & Notions

US 6 / 4 mm knitting needles on 24” circular cable, or size to obtain gauge

Total of 16 Stitch markers: 1 unique marker for BOR, 1 unique marker for Half Round, 14 plain markers

Saving Paper

This pattern PDF is 6 pages long, and while it is recommended that you do read all the pages, you only need to print 3 pages for your working copy.

Copyright

Pattern copyright © 2022 by Margaret Briggs, all rights reserved. Reproduce only with written permission from the author. Pattern is protected by international copyright law and is intended for personal use only.

If you wish to hand knit this project to sell the finished cowl you certainly may, but kindly credit me as the designer, and link back to my pattern here on Ravelry if possible. Thanks!