I bought the yarn almost six years ago to make something for my youngest son’s girlfriend of the time; her favorite color ( her car was that color, too). After they broke up the yarn sat in my stash not just unloved, but I felt a stab to my heart every time I came across it.
Well, I feel it’s time to let go and make something with the yarn…..

And which better pattern to use it on than Cat Bordhi’s cowl pattern which she has giving us so gracefully for free during this time of her own letting go…..

I am using the crochet cast on which I am so familiar with for a provisional cast on and which was suggested in the Eltern cowl which I had considered making in stead of this one.

I have a little less than the required amount, but I think I can make it work.

Such a lovely pattern; there will be no two alike and each day my cables swirl and move differently according to my heart’s desire, as the river flows.
Just like the cables I am letting my thoughts flow and swirl. This is meditative knitting at its best. Namaste.

As I am knitting I gently hum spirituals describing the flow of the river of life ( I am humming “let the river flow” to the tune of “let my people go”). I am thinking of Cat Bordhi and others whose lives are cut short or otherwise affected by cancer, but whose presence in our life, in this life we will never forget.

I came across a lovely reading on the river of life here: The river of life

August 7: I finished my first ball of yarn and had to join a new ball. I usually like to join at the beginning of a row and then knit in the ends as I go, however since I think I am a bit short on yarn, I joined in the middle of a row using Suzanne Bryant’s method of weaving in the yarn ends as twin stitches ( virtually unnoticeable). Here is a YouTube on the method:
Joining yarn in the middle of a row.

August 8: I Must be a little addicted to knitting this; I finished the second third today. Today the flow was more gentle creating pools of water here and there, whereas yesterday there were many obstacles…today the flow is calm as is my breathing.

August 9th: started on my third and last skein; the final third which should be just fine as the length now is 22.5”. I deliberately started with a tighter distribution of cables to pick up the look and feel of the beginning. My intention is to let the water flow undistracted for the last 1-2” , but who knows how it will all end up. Trying not to plan too much ahead ( something I always seem to be doing and which only sets me up for disappointment when things out of my control develop differently). I love this pattern and trying to learn to be more intuitive of the whole taking one row at a time…

Binding off I use Jenny’s stretch bind off on my toe up socks and love that little trick for getting a continuous chain.
Not necessary here as you are not binding off in the round, but a wonderful trick to mention. But do remember that there is no need to cut your yarn after the bind off as you will need it for the seaming.

The final seam: This is vaguely similar to the wham bam thank you lamb cowl of which I made two. The difference is that the seam is horizontal across your neck, seaming long ends instead of vertical up your neck seaming the CO and BO rows.
Here is that pattern just so you can see what I am talking about: wham Bam Thank you Lamb
The size is easily adjusted by making a shorter or longer seam; seaming less or more than a third. This works to make your cowl tighter or looser and also if your total length is less or more than the length given in the pattern.
For my cowl I worked an 11” seam and had a little less than 22” circumference left for around my thin neck; perfect fit.

A wonderful pattern. My thanks to and prayers for Cat Bordhi.
#4catbordhi