This neck warmer is inspired by a pub discussion about the perfect scarf / neck warmer which could keep your face, neck and décolletage warm in one garment. It uses the Roman Rib stitch pattern to create stretch and texture. Knitted flat, it fastens with 23 buttons which can be done up all the way for protection against icy winds or alternatively some buttons can be left open to create a collar. It can be worn with or without a coat, in place of a scarf. Although fitting much like a cowl around the neck, the ribbing pattern allows it to stay in place.

Materials

3 x 50g balls Jamieson & Smith Shetland Aran Wool in MC - shade
1 x 50g ball Jamieson & Smith Shetland Aran Wool in CC - shade
4.5 mm (US #7) straight needles
23 x 1 cm buttons (ones with a stem work best)

The neck warmer is knitted from the top down and the buttonholes are created by making eyelets.

Abbreviations

MC - Main colour
CC - Contrast colour
K - Knit
P - Purl
K2tog - Knit two stitches together
YO - Yarn over
ssk - Slip stitch knitwise, slip another stitch knitwise, pass back to working needle and knit them together.
kfb - Knit into front and back of next stitch, thereby creating an additional stitch.

Pattern

Using 4.5 mm (US #7) needles, cast on 110 stitches in MC, preferably using a long tail cast on for stretchiness.
Row 1: Knit.
Row 2: ssk, K2, YO, K2tog, K to last 2 stitches, K2tog.
Row 3: Purl.
Row 4: ssk, *P1, K1* to last 2 stitches, K2tog.
Row 5: *K1, P1, rep from * to end of row.
Repeat rows 2 to 5, 7 times (78 stitches).

Row 34: K3, YO, K2tog, K to end of row.
Row 35: Purl all stitches.
Row 36: *K1, P1, rep from * to end of row.
Row 37: As row 36.
Repeat rows 34 to 37, 4 times (78 stitches).

Row 53: kfb, K1, YO, K2tog, K to last stitch, kfb.
Row 54: kfb, purl to last stitch, kfb.
Row 55: kfb, *P1, K1, rep from * to last stitch, kfb.
Row 56: kfb, *K1, P1, rep from * to last stitch, kfb.
Repeat 7 times (142 stitches).

Change to CC and knit one repeat of rows 53 to 56.
Change back to MC and knit another repeat of rows 53 to 56.
Change to CC and knit in garter stitch for 4 rows, increasing at the start and end of each row as before (166 stitches).
Cast off loosely using CC.

Making up

Darn in all ends. Block the neckwarmer if desired.
Sew buttons in place at the appropriate points opposite to the eyelet buttonholes.

This pattern is not to be used commercially or to be resold.  Copyright © Ingrid Murnane 2010

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