While finishing this cowl I was thinking about the inspiration inherent within it, and what I wanted to say, I started contemplating art, what means to me. I studied art because it moved me, I didn’t understand it at the time but there was something about it that pulled at the deepest part of me… the more I learned about it, the more I loved it… and over the last few months, when I started designing my own knitting patterns, it issued memories, and I started seeing that the more I knew about the artist, or the painting, the more meaningful the piece, the more it touched me… it was the meaning inherent in the art that moved me. It wasn’t the paint in Picasso’s Guernica, it was that this man was devoting himself to condemning war, the senselessness, the destruction, the loss, he was expressing a truth that was larger than he, that it was about more than the style, the paint, it was this truth that kept the work alive. For me, literature, art, it’s power lies in its call to change, true artists are those that help humanity evolve, they move us forward by opening a new window - their gift lies in the way they see the world… to me the power of art lies in its ability to inspire, to encourage change, growth and foster movement.
This inevitably left me wondering, what truth would I want my work to embody? And it was in that moment I realized that these artists don’t try say something with their work - their perfect their craft so that they can become an empty vessel, so that truth can flow through them and be expressed in what they do.
I realized that this was just a cowl inspired by my love of art, of colour, it was about being moved by the interrelated colourways, and how the design, and textures reminded me of the art I loved so much… it’s a knitted love letter to those who changed my life, who inspired me - who gave me new eyes to see, who pushed me to seek, it was simply my expression of love and gratitude.

Size:
Two sizes: 1 (2). The cowl measures 55cm (60cm) / 22” (24”) in circumference and 34cm / 13” in height. The width is easily adaptable.

Materials:
• One 3mm / US size 2.5 circular needle, 60cm / 24” in length, or size needed to meet the required gauge.
• Stitch markers (22 (24)), optional, one of which is used to mark the beginning of round.
• Tapestry needle for sewing in threads.
• Blocking materials.
• Fingering weight yarn in three colours, approximately 210m (230m) / 230 yds (252 yds) of the Main Colour, and approximately 116m (125m) / 127 yds (137 yds) each of Contrast Colours 1 and 2. Sample is shown in the larger size and is knitted in Miss La Motte Singles, colourways Winter Dawn (Main Colour), Schadenfreude (Contrast Colour 1) and Hipster Tobacco (Contrast Colour 2). Miss La Motte Singles - single ply, 100% merino wool, approximately 360m / 394yds per 100g skein.