I don’t know about you, but I’m an impatient knitter when it comes to cowls. I hate having to knit all those rows of garter or ribbing before I get to the meat of the pattern. That desire for instant gratification led to this design. It starts from the center out! The name comes from the way the swaying leaves face each other.

Two patterns for the price of one! There is a one skein wonder, as well as a two color, larger cowl that doubles as an elegant hood. Mini cowl 17” x 10” after blocking, large cowl is 22” x 16”. Both are charted as well as written out. Custom videos included!

This pattern was designed for adventurous beginners to seasoned knitters. Don’t let its appearance of complexity scare you! I hold your hand the entire way, with custom made videos on provisional cast on, knitting in the round, beading, removal of provisional cast on, sssk, and Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off. Each video was made specifically for this pattern. Learn skills applicable to this pattern as well as useful for future projects!

This is a great beginner lace project, since only every other row has yarn overs and decreases. It’s easy to memorize. It’s also great for your first beading project (beading is optional), as it calls for larger beads than most beaded patterns.

Advanced knitters can knit it very quickly . It’s an addictive pattern, I’ve made seventeen in the past three months!

Yarn requirements:
Mini version uses 330 yards / 302 meters of LIGHT sports weight to HEAVY fingering weight yarn.

Two color large version calls for 360 yards / 329 meters for main color and 230 yards / 211 meters in contrasting color. LIGHT sports weight to HEAVY fingering weight yarn a must.

Other yarns tested for the mini cowl pattern are Handmaiden Casbah Sock, Numma Numma Doppio, Squoosh Fiberarts Merino Cashmere: Sock and Yarn Love Elizabeth Bennet (2 skeins). However, these yarns are best knit with a US 4. The finished cowl will be one inch shorter in length and width, but I have been super happy with the results. To make up for the smaller needle size, knit two extra rows of ribbing per end. Lightweight sock yarns tested have not worked well.

Gauge is 23 stitches = 4”/10cm in stockinette

Needles & Notions

• US 5/3.75mm 24” circular needles or size for gauge. For more defined ribbing, use a needle two sizes smaller for ribbing
• Tapestry needle (to weave ends)
• Scrap yarn and crochet hook for provisional cast on
• 10 stitch markers (suggested to separate repeats)
• 1 distinct stitch marker to separate rounds
• 264 beads for large cowl (132 beads for mini version) sized 2/0 or 3/0. Beading is optional.
• Crochet hook size US7/1.5mm for beading

Stitches you need to know: Knit, purl, knit through back loop, knit three stitches together, yarn over, SSK (although SSSK is shown on video, so one can simply apply the skill learned, only slipping two stitches instead of three) Everything else is taught in the videos.

Notes on Color:
I’ve gotten the best results with lightly variegated yarn. Yarns with major contrast shifts tend to overpower the lace pattern as shown in the last two photos.

Pattern and photos copyright 2015 by Rose Toth-Cates.