Surround yourself with the lusciousness of huge poppies even in the coldest moments of the year. 

Escher's Cowl has an attractive twist to it when worn long as a fabulous flower-adorned necklace, but untwists itself when you coil it twice about your neck for extra warmth. The cowl is easy to make and becomes the perfect canvas for the oversized poppies that decorate it.

The poppies themselves are created all in one piece and are beautiful works of art that look lovely decorating most any surface: picture them not just on this wrap, but in different yarns (beaded silk!) and decorating different surfaces, such as the top of a gift box, a felted hat, and the ends of a conventional scarf. . . the possibilities are as tantalizingly endless as Escher's favorite cowl. 

Cowl Pattern Difficulty Level

The Cowl is Intrepid Easy: requires knowledge of provisional cast on, knitting and purling, and grafting stitches together.

Approximate Finished Dimensions

Height: 9" (22.5cm) [13" (32.5cm)]

Circumference: 42" (105cm) 

NOTE: Finished sizes may vary slightly with yarn choice, needle size, and gauge. 

Gauge  

16 sts and 24 rows over 4" (10cm) in stockinette stitch. To save time, please check your gauge.

Materials 

380 yds (348m) worsted weight yarn

Size 10 (6 mm) needles

Tapestry needle, sewing needle, and like-colored nylon beading thread

Pictured Sample

Hand-dyed Noni Exclusive Worsted Weight (worsted weight; 85% wool, 15% mohair; 190 yds [174m] per 4 oz [113g] skein) for the cowl

Flowers were made in Shepherd's Wool Zinnia Pink and Raspberry

Poppy Pattern Difficulty Level

Intrepid Intermediate: requires knowledge of knitting and purling, increasing and decreasing using several methods, picking up stitches, working in the round on circular needles, a small field of intarsia, and some simple hand-sewing (and optional wiring).

Approximate Finished Dimensions

Flower blossom diameter: 8" (20cm)

Stem: 2" (5cm) or desired length

Gauge

To make poppies the size and appearance pictured, a gauge of 24 sts and 32 rows over 4" (10cm) in stockinette stitch must be maintained.

Materials

• 1 ball/skein of light green (A), 1 ball/skein each of raspberry and pink (B), 1 ball/skein of dark aubergine or dark brown (C), and 1 skein/ball of lighter gauge dark aubergine or dark brown (D)

• Size 6 (4mm) double-pointed needle (set of 5) or needle size needed to knit flowers densely (i.e. 24 sts/32 rows over 4" (10cm)

• Lock stitch markers used as stitch holders

• Darning needle and 28-gauge brass wire 

• Sewing needle and like-colored nylon beading thread

Pictured Samples

Stonehedge Fiber Mill Shepherd’s Wool (worsted weight; 100% merino wool; 250 yds [229m] per 4 oz [113g] skein): 10 yds (9m) Spring Green (A), 125 yds (114m) each of Raspberry and Zinnia Pink (B), 10 yds (9m) Midnight Lake (C), and 10 yds (9m) of fingering weight Midnight Lake (D)

This cowl design was inspired by a scarf I saw in a shop window in New York. I have taken liberties with the design I saw, of course, and Nonified it. I offer it as a cowl that, when wrapped around your neck twice, snuggles close to you and keeps out the brisk winds.

Difficulty Level

Beginner Skill Builder: Requires provisional cast on, knitting and purling, and joining the scarf to form a cowl using either a 3-needle bind off or grafting the two ends together. 

Dimensions

72" (180cm) long before joined x 14" (35cm) wide

Gauge  

5 sts and 6 rows = 4" (10cm) in stockinette stitch

Yarn & Materials

1 Noni Complete Kit:

1 pdf of the pattern
2 skeins of Noni Luxurious Bulky yarn
1 Velvet project bag

Size 50 straight or circular needles with an additional needle to work a 3-needle bind off (the additional needle is not needed if you want to graft the two ends together).

Tapestry needle to weave in ends and/or to graft the two ends of the cowl together (if preferred over a 3-needle bind off).