Limulidae Cowl and Hat

By Neal Swain

Materials

2 skeins Sensations Angel Hair, color MUL650 (beige); it is a bulky wool/acrylic/nylon blend. In the case of substitutions, another bulky yarn paired with lace-weight mohair or eyelash yarn will work well.

Needles

6mm (US #10) double-pointed needles

Notions

1 tapestry needle
stitch marker

Finished Size

The cowl has a length of 10.25 inches / 26 cm and a circumference of approximately 21.5 inches / 53.5cm

The hat has a circumference of (16)19 inches / 48 cm. The yarn is quite stretchy-the large can easily fit heads larger than 22inches, so a smaller size, for heads around 19inches, is provided. Size modelled is large.

Tension

14.5 sts = 4 inches/10 cm in horseshoe lace pattern.

Abbreviations

PSSO - pass slipped stitch over
Sl - slip stitch
YO - yarn over

Pattern Notes

Horseshoe Lace Pattern (modified)
Knit across all odd rounds(R).
R1: knit
R2: *yo, k3, sl1, k2tog, psso, k3, yo, k1.
Rep from * to end of round.
R4: *K1, yo, k2, sl1, k2tog, psso, k2, yo, k2,
rep from * to end of round.
R6: *K2, yo, k1, sl1, k2tog, psso, k1, yo, k3,
rep from * to end of round.
R8: *K3, yo, sl1, k2tog, psso, yo, k4,
rep from * to end of round.

Spine and Shell Stitch Pattern
R1: *yo, sl1, k2tog, psso, yo, k1, yo, p1, p3tog, p1, yo, k1, rep to end of row.
R2-3: knit.

Pattern

Cowl

Cast on 80 stitches. Arrange stitches on dpns in multiples of 10, with 30 on the first and last needle and 20 on the middle, and join to work in rounds. Place stitch marker after end of first round.

Work horseshoe lace pattern 3 times, starting with rnd 1. After finishing rnd 8 for the third time, knit one round.

Intermediary section: *k3, yo, sl1, k2tog, psso, yo, k1, yo, p1, p3tog, p1, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k2tog, psso, yo, k4; repeat from * until end of round. You may have to rearrange your stitches on the needles to accommodate the p3togs.

Knit next two rounds. On the next round: k3. Slip these stitches onto the third needle, which you should have just finished working with three stitches ago (it will have a total of 33 stitches). Continuing on the first of the three needles, work rounds 1-3 of the spine and shell pattern until piece measures at least 10in/25cm. Cast off.

Hat

Cast on (60)70 stitches. In the round, work horseshoe lace pattern a total of three times.

Shaping Decreases:
*k4, sl1, k2tog, psso, k5, repeat from * until end of round.
Knit one round.
*k3, sl1, k2tog, psso, k4, rep from * to end of round.
Knit one round.
*k2, sl1, k2tog, psso, k3, rep from * to end of round.
Knit one round.
*k1, sl1, k2tog, psso, k2, rep from * to end of round.
Knit one round.
*sl1, k2tog, psso, k1, rep from * to end of round.

By this point, you should have (12)14 remaining stitches. Cut remaining yarn, leaving a 12 inches tail to work with. Thread end of tail onto tapestry needle. Guide the tapestry needle through all (12)14 stitches, and then again through the first stitch you inserted the needle through. Remove dpns and draw tightly on the yarn tail, pulling it into the inside of the hat. Weave in all loose ends.

Also see Neal Swain's blog at pinkoknits.blogspot.com