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Have you got any lonely skeins of beautiful variegated yarn in your stash? The kind of skein that is so tempting to buy, but that can sometimes be hard to match with a pattern? If so then I’ve got you covered with The First Footing Cowl - perfect for 100g skeins of 4ply/fingering-weight or double-knit!

On a cold, dark Hogmanay night, after the bells chime midnight, you might venture out to ‘first foot’ your friends and neighbours. Your First Footing Cowl would certainly keep you warm, as you visited people with gifts of whisky, shortbread or maybe even coal!

Taking its inspiration from this Scottish tradition, the First Footing Cowl features a textured ‘bell’ motif, alternated with slipped stitches, and an innovative construction, to create a cosy accessory that’s both interesting and intuitive to knit.

The First Footing Cowl is part of my Special Buyer Discount Bundle! Buy three patterns, get one free - add four patterns to your cart from the ’special buyer discount’ bundle and get the least expensive FREE!

The pattern includes written instructions, link to a video tutorial, photographs, a schematic, a construction diagram and has been professionally tech edited.

CONSTRUCTION NOTES
The first footing cowl begins with an increasing section worked flat to create a textured triangle shape. The first and last few stitches of the final row are then joined together using a 3-needle cast-off to create the neck. The cowl’s neck is then worked in the round. Lastly the neck is folded in half and cast off with the stitches worked below to create a cosy double-layered neck.

YARN DETAILS
Small Double-Knit Version used 1 skein of Cookston Crafts DK Merino Nylon in Hogmanay Fireballs
Large 4ply/Fingering-Weight Version used 1 skein of Cookston Crafts 4ply Merino Nylon in Hogmanay Fireballs

GAUGE
Small Double-Knit: 21 sts x 32 rows = 10 cm / 4” measured over pattern
Large 4ply/Fingering-Weight: 26 sts x 38 rows = 10 cm / 4” measured over pattern

NEEDLES & NOTIONS
Small Double-Knit: 4.00 mm / US 6 circular needle 80 cm (32”)
Plus, same size DPNs or 40 cm (16”) circular needle for working in round, if not using magic loop method.
Large 4ply/Fingering-Weight: 3.25 mm / US 3 circular needle 80 cm (32”)
Plus, same size DPNs or 40 cm (16”) circular needle for working in round, if not using magic loop method.
Both Sizes: Spare needle 2 sizes bigger than main needle (for 3-needle cast-off and folded cowl)
1 stitch marker