Using older caked Pashmina. Barbara did indeed Deserve Better.

END OF ROUND
. Tinkering with moving up the last stitch of the round to mesh better. My first couple attempts are weird. Added a detail photo.

PROVISIONAL CAST-ON
. Kitchener join
… Only a single solid row for the Kitchener.

. VeryPink Knits - Staci Perry - Slow-Mo Provisional Crochet CO tutorial
… Knotted end is where the crochet started
… I’m thinking that this means do NOT try to unravel from this end?
. Using some kind of taupe-y brown blob for the provisional crochet waste CO. Older Shibui?? I picked it because it was about the same dimensions and smooth-feeling.

. Did a ‘chimney tube’ start with the Provisional cast-on to give stability to starting right into the colorwork and help keep it from skewing during knitting. Will snip out at end.
… Using an older leftover blob of Knitted Wit orange fingering for the chimney. Actually looks pretty good with the BDB.

. Now that I have it going, I would add for next time - do it garter? I started out stockinette - and that rolls.
… or I could just do a longer run of st st and let it roll until it calms down.

. I do like having this at the beginning - gives me a little more to hold onto once I start the actual piece. I’ve always felt that something like this would be a ‘waste of time’ but it’s useful. And I think if done with a yarn that is pleasant, it can be nice while watching tv.

. For next time: as I’ve been thinking about this, I do not like the flaring of what I did. I would like to try a 2:2 or 3:2 ribbing, maybe 2-3” next time. Hoping that would draw inward. Gosh, I’d love a hat machine to zip through that and then transfer to my circs! Do hat machines do ribbing? Do ~inexpensive~ hat machines do ribbing?

. NEXT TIME!!! Do a lifeline through the very first row (after I have done a couple rows) to make it easier to pick up for the Kitchener join at the end.

. Also, I folded the provisional CO into the cowl and used those sewing clips to keep the end inside
. As it got longer, I rolled it inside and clipped shut
. Hoping this helps reduce skewing and distortion

WIDTH
. The chimney also feels like it may be a little more than the pattern 9” width. I normally like my loop cowls narrower, but what the heck. A fluffy big MCN cowl might be nice. I will be weighing my yarn by sets and might make it longer too.

. Now that I’ve been working on this awhile, I think I would do one less repeat next time for a narrower cowl.

NEEDLES
. Pattern calls for US 2.5.
. Swatch was too loose and float catches showed through
. US 2 is more regular and less peeking. Plus, the Pashmina will fluff a little with blocking.

YARN SELECTION
. I’ve had these Pashmina caked for awhile
. Chose the lighter BDB for the background because that had fewer float catches for the dark to peek through.

YARN WEIGHTS
. Barbara Deserved Better (BDB)
… Total: 110.7g
… Set 1: -97.5r = 13.2
… Set 2: -84.5 = 13.0
… Set 3: -71.3 = 13.2
… Set 4: -58.0 = 13.3
… Set 5: -45.3 = 12.7
… Set 6: -32.0 = 13.3
… Set 7: -19.2 = 12.8
… Total used: 91.5g

El Greco
… Total: 108.9g
… Set 1: -97.2r = 11.7
… Set 2: -86.0 = 11.2
… Set 3: -74.8 = 11.2
… Set 4: -63.5 = 11.3
… Set 5: -52.3 = 11.2
… Set 6: -40.7 = 11.6
… Set 7: -29.1 = 11.6
… Total used: 79.8g

. Set 8? Measure length and decide
… An extra 3+ inches is not exciting me. I think I would rather have it be more muffly/snug/close than drooping or wrestling with a fold or tucking.

DIMENSIONS - UNBLOCKED
. Width circumference: 18.5”
. Length: 22.5”

DIMENSIONS - BLOCKED
. Width circumference: 18”
. Length: 24”

BLOCKING
. Transferred ends to long ChiaoGoo red lace cables
. YIKES on the provisional CO end. Because this is going the opposite direction, I had a hard time with the stitches being ‘split’ or ‘straddling’
. Soak for at least 15 minutes, cold water + hair conditioner
. Laid flat to dry

KITCHENER
. Half-turn before sewing - watch how you line it up
. The CO end is challenging
. First attempt - used ‘creative sewing’ to try to harness those split stitches. These will create a hole. But sewing just made it look messy and pinched. Frogged back.
. Second attempt - as I frogged back, I twisted the split stitches. This makes them more defined and behaved on the needles. While it will result in a twist, I think this might be the cleanest for kitchenering.
. This was not very pleasant. I included a photo of my attempt and all I can do is just try to massage those stitches to be a little more even.
… Fortunately, with the twist and small circumference, a lot of the ish gets hidden. I hope.
… included a detail photo.

DO AGAIN?
. Maybe? I would have to learn a better approach to the Kitchener with the stranded. Other than that, yes absolutely.