Go see COWL!

Do you remember that car sales commercial with Cal Worthington and his dog Spot? Why did he  never have a dog with him? It was always a tiger or an orangutan. And for a million years I thought the lyrics were "Pussy cow, pussy cow, pussy cow!" I know, weird. I was like 6 at the time. My homage to you, Cal!

Go see COWL!

To make this little number you will need:


Landscapes yarn


3.5 oz of super bulky weight yarn - I'm using 2 balls of Lion Brand Yarn Landscapes -color Rose Garden (this brand of yarn is being discontinued. Boo!)

size 15 (10 mm) knitting needles (Although circular needles are pictured, you don't need them. Straight needles are fine, too.)

Yarn needle to weave in ends.

2 large buttons - I made mine using some of my bead stash and fenagled toggles. Directions on how I made these to come...


toggle beads

I'm not one for being a stickler for gauge and it isn't that important for this project. However, if you must know it's somewhere around 13 sts and 9 rows to make a 4 in square.

Cast on 20 sts.

Row 1 -*Knit 1, purl 1. Repeat from * across.
Row 2 - *Purl 1, knit 1. Repeat from * across.
Row 3 - repeat row 1. ( Rows 1-3 are essentially the seed stitch)
Row 4 - P1, K1, P1, K14, P1, K1, P1
Row 5 - P1, K1, P16, K1, P1
Repeat rows 4 and 5 until your piece measures 24 1/2 inches. Watch a repeat of the Walking Dead during this time (optional).
Repeat rows 1-3.
Cast off. Weave in ends. It should look something like this!

Cowl laid flat. How funny, that's my foot in the corner.
 

Part of what I love about this little cowl is that the spaces between the stitches are large enough to pass a button through without having to make the effort at buttonholes. I also want to make the buttons interchangable because frankly, I'm a bit fickle.

If you are not a commitment phobe, sew on your special buttons evenly along a short edge.  Fasten and you're done! Ta da!

I like to accessorize my baby blue flannel sheep pjs with my cowl. Ha!

 

 

One final thought. My goal was to eliminate 2 balls of yarn from the stash. I succeeded in making something cute AND I didn't use up both balls of yarn (DOH!). It's ok because I have a plan for the little bit I have left!  I did also use up some of my bead stash, so bonus there! Woo hoo!

 

How do you eat an elephant?

 

One bite at a time.



The yarn stash

This is only part of it. I know I have more tucked away in little corners just waiting for me to rediscover. Mind you, although a good portion has been procured by me, a significant portion has been sweetly given to me by my sister.

She proclaimed "I am not a hoarder! Here, you take these!"

To which I said, "I am not a hoarder either! I will make use of all of these!"

Admittedly, it has been at least a year since these wild proclamations. Not only that, I have added more to it than I have subtracted. Damn you, math!

So, in the spirit of new year's resolutions, I resolve to bust this glorious stash!

Good bye 2012! Welcome 2013!

As I am sure for many, 2012 was a roller coaster year! And although it was a phenomenal one, I am greatly looking forward to a scrap-busting, body-slimming, bank account-fattening, creative-synergy-making, mega-crafting, epically-sewing, colossally-knitting, prodigiously-crocheting, ultra-organizing, profusely-satisfying, abundantly-happy, new year!
I hope you are, too! We deserve it!