This is an easy, mindful & meditative make that leaves you an accessory that is easy to throw on and compliment any outfit.

Have you ever looked into seed saving? Do you already do it? I’m a backyard gardener, and the overall theme I had in mind for this design was the cycle of planting, growth and decline in gardening. I find participating in this cycle as a gardener very grounding. Anyway, as I knit, I kept coming back to questions I had about seed saving, and seeds in general. I thought about how I have to explain to my kids why many of the seeds from food we buy at the store won’t necessarily grow more food for us if we just stick them in the dirt. I thought about heirloom plants, the relatively modern practice of buying new seeds each season (though don’t get me wrong, I love a good seed catalogue), and of seed saving rights and legality (and the fact that that’s a thing)… One of my favorite aspects of knitting, and I’m sure I’m not alone in this, is the potential for “AHA!” moments, or even just the quieter moments of understanding that come about from spending quiet time in this active, meditative state. My main AHA! moment knitting this cowl was that I should be a seed saver, not a seed buyer. Knitting this little accessory inspired a change in the way I want to grow food for my family, and a new challenge for me as a gardener!

What might it inspire for you?

MATERIALS

• One skein Blue Highway Hand Dyes TexRanch WORSTED or approximately 225 yards of lovely and special worsted weight yarn.

• US size 7 24” circular needle… Use a US size 6 if you tend to knit very loose (the yardage is close on this one). Tread lightly if you knit tight and usually to go up a needle size… you’ve been warned ;-)

• one stitch marker

GAUGE

• Don’t stress too much over this, but DO see the above note on needle size. My finished/blocked gauge was 4 sts per inch in seed stitch; 5 sts per inch in stockinette.

FINISHED DIMENSIONS

• Blocked, laying flat and dry, loosely pulled into shape, cowl measures: 14” across at top (approx. 28” diameter); 16” across at bottom (approx. 32” diameter); 18” across at middle (approx. 36” diameter).