The Bergy Bit is a practical bandana cowl designed to fit comfortably under a jacket without bunching up at the back of the neck. This deceptively simple accessory is suitable for adventurous beginners, knits up quick with just one skein of DK/8-ply and would make a great gift. Simple knit stitches and bias shaping let a variegated or semi-solid yarn stand out and it’s worth splurging on something really soft like this hand-dyed merino from Fibresmith.

‘Bergy bit’ is the cute name given to small icebergs between 1-4m in height and 5-14m in length, or about car-sized. Smaller pieces of floating ice are called ‘growlers’. Icebergs larger than bergy bits are less creatively named and are simply called small, medium, large or very large, depending on their size. I was incredibly lucky to be able to visit the Antarctic a few years ago, and remember seeing an iceberg for the very first time, a bergy bit, off the coast of South Georgia. Sea ice plays a critical role in polar ecosystems by providing habitat for polar animals as well as in maintaining the stability of the global climate by reflecting light and heat from the sun and driving the ocean currents that redistribute heat around the earth. Unfortunately, sea ice is diminishing as our planet warms, disrupting the role it plays in the global climate system.

The photos for this pattern were taken at Jawbone Marine Sanctuary in Williamstown in the inner western suburbs of Melbourne. This sanctuary protects a variety of important marine habitats such as sea grass and mangroves and is home to an impressive array of sea life including weedy sea dragons, banjo sharks and colourful nudibranchs.

This pattern is offered for free for personal use only. If you like the pattern, consider making a donation to the Australian Marine Conservation Foundation https://www.marineconservation.org.au/donate/ or your preferred organisation taking action on climate change or ocean conservation.

Pattern Notes
The Bergy Bit is a top-down, bias knit cowl, initially worked back and forth as a top-down triangle, and then joined to work in the round. Increases open out the bottom circumference to fit the shoulders and the cowl is finished with a ribbed border.

Yarn
1 ball of Fibresmith Hand Dyed DK Merino - available online at https://fibresmith.com.au
225m/246yds per 100g ball.
Yardage to complete project: Approximately 95g / 214m/234yds.
Shade used for sample was a limited edition, dyed with natural indigo.

Gauge
19 sts x 30 rows = 10cm/4” in stocking (stockinette) stitch in the round after blocking.
4mm (US 6) needles were used for the sample.
Ensure you swatch to obtain correct gauge. Please note that this yarn grows a bit with blocking so you should block your gauge swatch. Row gauge is important as it will determine the top circumference of the cowl.

Size
One size which fits most adults.
Finished measurements (after blocking):
Top circumference: 43cm/17in
Bottom circumference: 64cm/25in
Length front neck: 41cm/16in
Length back neck: 23cm/9in

Special techniques
Garter tab cast on
Lifted increases
Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off
Links to tutorials on these techniques are provided in the pattern instructions