The Hidden depths cowl, and all patterns in the store, are 25% off with the code Rilke, until the 16th January 2025, SAST.

A series of designs inspired by the Poetry of Rainer Maria Rilke.

When I look at the life of Rilke, I think what appeals to me most is his introversion, his love of solitude, that while he is was one of the best poets of his generation, his work did not speak of his generation. There is a timelessness, a beauty – it is as if the work of Rilke speaks to our hearts of the fundamental, the lasting – his work is about sacrifice, and discipline and the commitment to something greater than fame. When one examines his oeuvre, what strikes me most is that his letters do not stand apart from his poetry, that he lived his life in the way he wrote his poetry and that his light touched everything that he did.

This series that is inspired by Rilke attempts to encapsulate this light – that beauty can be expressed in both intricacy and simplicity. That when one creates, and shares with an openness of mind – the beauty of light can be seen in all that you do.

This cowl in particular was inspired by a quote that encourages to learn to live with questions, to find peace without answers, that it is with patience and time that the hidden depths of our hearts come to light.

“Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books that are now written in a very foreign tongue. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer.”
― Rainer Maria Rilke

All the pieces inspired by the work of Rilke are opportunities to play with colour, as a means to express yourself in a way that brings joy to both your heart and mind. All the pieces were designed to use leftovers and small amounts of worsted weight yarn. The pattern has two chart options, one with 8 colours and the second with two.

Materials:
• One 4mm / US size 6 circular needle, 60cm / 24” in length, or size needed to meet the required gauge.
• One 3.75mm / US size 5 circular needle, 60cm / 24” in length, or one size smaller than needed to meet the required gauge.
• 5 (6) Stitch markers, optional, one of which is used to mark the beginning of round.
• Tapestry needle for sewing in threads.
• Blocking materials.
• For Chart A: Worsted weight yarn in eight colours, approximately 150m (180m) / 164yds (197yds) of the main colour, approximately 30m (36m) / 33yds (39yds) of contrast colour 1, approximately 15m (18m) / 16yds (20yds) each for contrast colours 2 – 5 and approximately 25m (30m) / 27yds (33yds) for contrast colour 6.
• For Chart B: Worsted weight yarn in two colours, approximately 150m (180m) / 164yds (197yds) of the main colour and approximately 120m (145m) / 131yds (159yds) of the contrast colour.
• The sample is shown in size 1 using Chart A and is worked in Malabrigo Rios - 100% Superwash Merino Wool, 192m / 210yds per 100g, in colourways Natural (main colour) and various leftovers for the contrast colours.

Gauge:
22 stitches and 26 rounds = 10cm / 4” in stranded knitting, worked with larger needles in the round and blocked.

Size:
Two sizes: 1 (2) – The cowl measures 55cm (65cm) / 22” (26”) in circumference and 26cm / 10” in height.