Superellipse: a geometric shape with a form partway between an ellipse and a rectangle.

Superellipse is a beautiful 2 color slip-stitch op-art cowl that can be worn as a regular cowl or pulled up to become a hood. The technique used to create the fabric, slip-stitch knitting, is a wonderful way to produce beautiful colorwork patterns while still working with only one yarn at a time. The Conic Pattern purposefully varies the location of the slipped stitches in order to produce a combination of vertical, slanted and curved lines. This creates the “optical illusion” reminiscent of the Op-Art movement from the 1960’s.

Superellipse is one in a collection of 4 different op-art patterned cowls based on geometric shapes each of which has a different border treatment. The cowls are shown in three different Plucky Knitter yarns: Cashmere, Bello and Primo Fingering, each containing enough cashmere to feel fabulous against your skin.

The designs can be knit either as hoodie cowls or neck cowls. Instructions are provided for the cowls as shown and for the individual patterns and borders. So, it will be very easy for the adventurous knitter to customize her own version by altering the border, length, circumference or number of colors used!

SIZES
Neck Cowl (Hoodie Cowl)

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
CIRCUMFERENCE 21½ (24½)”/ 54.5 (62.5)cm
HEIGHT 13¾ (17 ½)”/35 (44.5)cm

CONSTRUCTION
CO using long-tail method, then worked in the round from border-to-border.

YARN
* 2 skeins (1 in each color): The Plucky Knitter Cashmere (100% cashmere; 280 yds/250m per 50g skein) or Bello (55% merino wool, 45% cashmere; 380 yds/350m per 50g skein) or Primo Fingering (75% merino wool, 20% cashmere, 5% Nylon; 385yds/350m per 50g skein) or

• Approx 375 (550) yds/350 (500)m sport or fingering weight yarn evenly split between 2 colors

NEEDLES
Sizes 4 US (3.5mm) and 5 US (3.75mm) 16” circular needles or sizes needed to obtain gauge

GAUGE
24 sts and 36 rnds = 4”/10cm in St st; 27 sts and 40 rnds = 4”/10cm in Superellipse Pattern with smaller needle, blocked.
While exact gauge is not critical, variation in gauge will alter final measurements.