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This garter-stitch cowl uses simple increases and decreases to create a chevron shape! Through the chevron is subtle, the effect lends an interesting directionality to the garter stitch. It’s one of those things where the knitting is technically pretty easy, but achieves a result that almost seems tricky—a twist on a plain garter stitch piece.

The design hinges on using small scraps of sockweight yarn for chevron stripes, though multicolored handspun or self-striping yarns may give a similar effect.

This .PDF makes two variations! As shown, this cowl measures about 10”/25cm wide by 10”/25cm across when measured flat and relaxed (20”/50cm circumference). The sample is the narrower version; the wider version should block out to about 11.4”/29cm wide.

Materials:

• 220-250 yards soft sock yarn (sample shown in Malabrigo Yarn Sock, Cascade Heritage Wave, handspun, and miscellaneous sock yarns)
• 1 24” circular needle in US4-5/3.5-3.75mm, or size needed for gauge. (Work is flat, so straight needles will also work.)
• 1 spare circular needle in the same size, or a size or two smaller
• crochet hook, 2.25mm or sized to suit yarn
• scrap yarn for provisional cast-on
• Tapestry needle
• one or more removable stitch markers

Gauge:
Gauge is 19.5 sts and 40 rows over 4”/10cm of garter stitch, worked flat and blocked lightly. Please be sure to check your gauge.