The Spiced Chai Cowl was designed to coordinate with one of my favorite designs, the Spiced Chai Beanie. The original inspiration for this textured design was the gorgeous blend of colors in a skein of Malabrigo Rios Piedras. The colors reminded me of the many flavors of chai tea, so I chose a variety of stitches to represent the mix of flavors. You can complete the cowl with a single skein of Malabrigo Rios, or substitute a solid color or heathered worsted-weight yarn for a more subtle effect.

The cowl begins with a 1x1 rib, and then the beginning of round shifts so that the cable panel will be off-center in the front of the cowl. I enlarged the cable panel for this design so that it is proportional to the width of the cowl. Written line-by-line instructions and charts both are provided, as well as a full page stitch guide (with photos) for the star stitch. My sample used most of a full skein, so if you choose not to check your gauge (or if you substitute a different yarn) I have included tips for weighing your yarn throughout the project so that you won’t run out.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Circumference: 24.5 inches
Length: 9 inches

GAUGE

23 sts / 25 rows = 4 inches/10 cm in star stitch

Exact gauge is not crucial for this project, but it will impact the required yardage. If you plan to complete the cowl with a single skein, you may want to weigh your yarn as you knit to avoid running out. You can use the worksheet on p.4 to keep track of your yarn measurements.

Materials

Malabrigo Yarn Rios 100% superwash merino wool; 210 yd/192 m per 100g skein; RIO862 Piedras, 1 skein (used 92g, or approx. 193 yds.)

1 US #6 / 4 mm circular needle, 16-inch
1 US #8 / 5 mm circular needle, 16-inch

Notions - stitch marker, tapestry needle, cable needle

Kitchen scale, if desired.