Bandana Cowl

We are at the start of a new year, which means it is time for my local knitting group's anniversary party. I am lucky to have a wonderful group of women to knit with on a weekly basis. The group I am referring to is the Akron Stitch 'n Bitch knitting group.  We meet every Wednesday in the delightful Craft Akron studio, a place where you can take classes on just about any craft - such a great location for a knitters! The women in this group are down right hilarious. Every week I come home to my husband sharing funny stories of our conversations. I could seriously go on and on about them, but instead I'll get back on subject here.

Every January, the Akron Stitch 'n Bitch knitting group hosts an anniversary party. Members each bring a treat to share and a scarf to swap with another member. Last year (my first year participating), I made this scarf for the swap.

I found the pattern on Martha Stewart's website, entitled Knitted Neck Scarf, and made it out of one of my favorite yarns, Three Irish Girl's Galenas Merino.

I don't know about other knitters and crafters, but I only like to give away items I'm proud of. That is, they must be made of lovely yarn and must look great. So keeping that it mind, I chose to make an item I've been coveting since the pattern was released on the Purl Bee blog: the infamous Bandana Cowl.

I'm a bit tired of scarves, or rather, I'm obsessed with cowls instead. I still love scarves, especially beautifully handknit ones, but with a toddler, an overflowing diaper bag and an enormous preggo belly to cart around, I'm just not all that eager to have extra fabric flopping in the way of getting from point A to point B.

I started making the Bandana Cowl in Plymouth's Baby Alpaca Grande (in white), but frogged the project when I realized I wouldn't have enough yarn to complete it (and truthfully, I did not feel like reworking the pattern to fit the yarn). So I dug through my stash and chose to knit with Cascade's Eco Duo, a luscious aran weight yarn made of 70% alpaca and 30% merino wool. This yarn is truly heavenly to the touch. It's one of those yarns that the moment you pick it up at your LYS you say something along the lines of, "ohhhhh" or "ahhhh" and most likely, "I'll take it!" It's just that good.

And the best part? It knits up beautifully!

My Bandana Cowl was knit using 24 in circular needles (the pattern suggested 16 in circs but I didn't have any in the size I needed) and I was able to bind off loosely so I didn't bother using a larger needle size as recommended for the last step.

I sure hope whoever takes this baby home loves it as much as I do!