There’s a wide river near my home. Many bridges cross this river, all with varying degrees of beauty. My favorite though isn’t really a bridge. It’s the remnants of a bridge that was burned down in the Civil War to prevent the advancement of troops. All that remains is a row of pilings, marching across the river. Each piling is surrounded by a small island of trees and shrubs, all full of texture and shape, green and brown, soft nature and hard concrete, each different than the last.

This cowl is inspired by these layered pilings. When worn scrunched about the neck, the bits of texture and color peak through, making a warm accessory that’s sure to be a delight to knit and wear.

Using a unique construction, this cowl has the same size top and bottom, avoiding the flaring that often accompanies cowls. With a mixture of stripes, texture, and lace, it is a quick knit.

The pattern calls for two solid colors of yarn with high contrast. If you choose to use a variegated color, be sure it has a good amount of contrast with your other color.