I have tried to duplicate the cowl we see Claire wearing in the promo pics for Starz’s “Outlander” series.
Yarn: Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick, 2 skeins (color shown is Barley)
Needles: 25mm / US 50 (i worked this up on my straights which are 13 inches long but you can certainly work this flat on circulars as well)
Yarn: Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick, 2 skeins (color shown is Barley)
Needles: 25mm / US 50 (i worked this up on my straights which are 13 inches long but you can certainly work this flat on circulars as well)
Gauge: 1 stitch and 1.5 rows = 1 inch in garter
This yarn is super bulky/6 and two strands are held together for this pattern. I have found tucking the left needle between my side and left elbow is helpful when working the stitches.
Took me a while to figure out the dimensions. I either made it too big or too small, wasn’t sure if it should be long enough to allow for it to be twisted and doubled up. I’m still not sure if there is some shaping on her cowl, but, in the end, this is what I came up with:
( My pattern is not twisted/doubled. You just slip it over your noggin and go about your business.)
PATTERN: (also listed on Ravelry if you want to queue)
WITH TWO STRANDS HELD TOGETHER
Cast on 17 stitches. i used long tail method. leave yourself a 60-inch tail and you should be fine.
Knit every row. i knitted with a relaxed tension. not tight, not sloppy. this yarn on these huge needles give it lovely drape.
Knit until you’ve got around 26-27 inches of fabric, which for me was around 40 rows or so.
Bind off - strive for your cast-on edge to match your bind-off edge, if you can. you will be seaming them together and it will look better if they have the same tension.
By the way, i think its easier to weave in your cast-on tail now, before seaming.
Leave yourself a good 40 inches or so on your bind-off tail to seam the two ends together. This video might be helpful
:)
:)
If you have any questions or comments please let me know!
Thank you so much for the pattern. I having been looking at it on Claire longing to have the same thing for myself
ReplyDeleteThank you! I knew i can find this in Ravelry when i saw the episode, love it
ReplyDeleteNice. I figure about 2 skeins? Wonder if I can crochet it? I think I'll try using Q or S hook. We'll see
ReplyDelete2 skeins, yes, to knit, double stranded. i'm continuing today on the crochet equivalent. i'm waiting for a larger hook to arrive before i can fine tune it, but i'm getting there, i think.
DeleteOh my goodness saw this on Claire and about flipped, but i crochet more then anything. Also saw on her, like a short jacket with sleeves. Need to watch the reruns again and get a better view of it. Knew someone would come up with the fabulous design of this cowl.Brilliant!!!!!
ReplyDeletei created a crocheted version if you are interested. http://pollyfoofoo.blogspot.com/2014/09/sassenach-claire-outlander-crochet-cowl.html
Deletethank you for your note! :)
How do you knit with two strands? My sister wants me to make one for her, but I've never knitted like this before. Please help.
ReplyDeletehi meghan! instead of knitting with one strand (one ball of yarn), you get two balls of yarn, and “pretend” they are one ball by pulling from both of them at the same time, knitting with two strands at once, throughout the whole project. it sounds more complicated than it actually is. please let me know if you are still unsure.
DeleteIs the total amount of yarn you have in your pattern based on the doubled yarn? Can't wait to make this!
ReplyDeleteYes. Two skeins is what is needed for this project, pulling a strand from both. Happy knitting!
DeletePolly, thank you for this wonderful pattern. What are the unfinished dimensions of the cowl? I can't quite make out the measurements from the photos posted on Ravelry. Thanks again,
ReplyDeleteHello there. Approximately 26 inches long and 16 inches tall before seaming. Hope that helps!
DeleteThanks for sharing your talent with everyone! It looks simple enough of course and I'm glad you were the one to do it and share it with the world! Well done! Will be trying my hand at this before too long for the winter months! Thanks again:)
ReplyDeletethank you mrs vee! :) i hope you love it.
DeleteI LOVE the cowl as well. I am also more of a crocheter, but I prefer the look to the knitted one, it seems simple enough to do, just curious about what you mean by seaming it together though (I really don't know anything more of knitting other than how to knit a simple stitch lol) do you mean just joining the two ends together with the tail that you left at the end??
ReplyDeletehi shannon! since it is knitted flat, one end needs to be seamed to the other to make it a tube. after doing the bind off, you can use the tail (if you leave it long enough) to weave those two ends together. it is seamed together at the "short" ends. if you can see the listing on ravelry here http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Pollyfoofoo/sassenach-claire-starz-outlander-cowl you can see the extra photos towards the bottom, showing the piece before and after seaming. hope that helps! let me know if you are still unsure. thank you for your kind note :)
Deletethat's what I thought, but wasn't sure. thanks for clarifying! :)
DeleteThanks so much for this! It's lovely- I am about halfway through mine now (just started half an hour ago-- it's fast!) and I love it already.
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to thank you for sharing this pattern. I made it for a friends birthday. It turned out lovely and it was so fun.
ReplyDeleteOops, same anon as above - I thought I had the biggest possible needles ever, but they are only marked with 19. No idea if that's the mm or the size? Would they sort-of work?
ReplyDeleteI dont know what size needle that is. It could be 19 mm or it could be size 19 which is 15mm. You could lay the thickest part of it flat on measuring tape and determine the mm size that way. Either way it is smaller than the 35mm for this project. You can just go ahead and give it a try and see if you like the results. You can always just redo it if you dont like it!
DeleteSorr i meant i used 25mm not 35mm. Too many numbers!
DeleteI just wanted to make sure that I understand the pattern correctly, you only use knit stitches? No purl stitches? You did such a beautiful job I don't want to mess mine up.
ReplyDeleteHi libby. Yes you just knit knit knit :) Its a whole bunch of 'garter stitches'. I hope you love your cowl
DeleteThank you for answering my question, I can't wait for my needls to get here so I can start it.
DeleteThat is very pretty yarn. It has 45 yards per skein. The yarn i used is 106 yards per skein , double thickness by using 2 skeins at 212 yards. You would have to get 5 skeins to match. Plus, it is bulky weight, not super bulky, so i dont know how your cowl would turn out. I hope that helps. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteJen - thanks for all the help (I'm the same anon as above but now it seems to late to bother with a login!) I realized it would be pretty inexpensive to buy the supplies you suggest for these, so I'm just going to bite the bullet and get those. Maybe if I get good at it I will buy the fancy alpaca! Thanks again =)
ReplyDeleteWhat is the length of round line? I am finding 24in, 32in and 40in. needles. Which is best?
ReplyDeletegood question! you are talking about cable length for circulars? i knit this on my straights, which are 13 inches long, and it was sufficient length for all the stitches to ride without causing troubles.
DeleteYes thank you very much!
DeleteI finished this tonight - super easy pattern (I'm a beginner). Thank you so much for sharing! I love it!!
ReplyDeleteIs there any reason this couldn't be knit in the round. I have size 50 circulars
ReplyDeletehi! if you work it in the round, the stitches will be horizontal instead of vertical. since this was to duplicate claire's cowl, i wanted the stitches on the vertical. :)
DeleteJen, thanks again for the help (I'm the anon with the bunch of questions a few days back). Even as a total newb I was able to make this in only a few hours, which I could barely believe. I wound up using the Thick and Quick in Oatmeal and while it looks nice, I can't stand those little tweedy pieces that are woven into it because they got everywhere - including under my contact lenses! So I'll be trying these out with some different yarns and will report back.
ReplyDeleteI may also cast on a few less stitches and make it a bit longer so I can loosely double it up - won't be even remotely close to the screen version, but may work better for me since I live in the South and it rarely will get cold enough here for me to need that much fabric that close to my neck!
I'm glad it worked out for you! Yes i noticed that yarn does shed a bit. Have fun customizing your 2nd one!
DeleteThank you so much for this pattern. At first it was a little bit hard to understand because I am not familiar with english knitting terms (I am french ^^) but google helped me, and now the work is in progress :D
ReplyDeleteI am happy you figured it out! :)
DeleteAre you considering sharing pattern for claire's shawl (episode 8) by any chance ? :D
Deletei haven't seen episode 8 yet, so i don't know! :) i'll be watching soon----
DeleteAwesome! Thank you, Jen
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for making this available. Have been lusting after Claire's cowl since first sight! Tried to re-create it as an infinity scarf on my own, but waaaaayyy too much fabric that way. Will unravel that one and try this pattern with a tweedy white bulky yarn and a "velor" white yarn as the two skeins. We shall see....
ReplyDeleteLove the enthusiasm for life on this page!
thank you for your kind note! i'm glad to help. i hope you are happy with your results! sounds like a nice yarn combo.
DeleteHi! Love this pattern! I am just finishing mine up now in Cascade's Magnum Paints. What stitch did you use to seam it? I haven't seamed garter stitch horizontally before.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the pattern and help!
i really just kinda made up my own kind of seam, LOL! mattress stitch would be very nice. i could only find one video of how to do that on horizontal garter stitch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0thcLro8RI
DeleteI ended up doing a mattress stitch, so great minds think alike! It's so pretty and warm. I am sending it to a friend in Sweden as I live in a warm climate.
Delete:) awww now thats a lucky friend! :)
DeleteThanks so much for this easy pattern! LOVE IT. xo
ReplyDeleteTotally easy to do. I finished in under 2 hours. Although, I have to admit I felt like I was in kindergarten with those needles. Thanks for my Christmas present project for the year!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much. Loved it when I saw Claire wearing it and love your easy to follow pattern.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing this pattern! It turned out exactly how I had hoped :)
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteApologies for what may be a stupid or annoying question, but it seems the largest needles I can find (I live in quite a rural area) are 20mm. Is it possible to convert the pattern so that it can be done on needles that are 20mm rather than 25mm?
Thanks!
Not a stupid question at all.
DeleteYou might get the same gauge as me though your needles are a little smaller. I suggest you work up a gauge swatch, or dive into the pattern and work up a few rows, then measure your gauge/width. You might need to add a few stitches to get the 17 inch width, you might not. The pattern has no increasing or decreasing so dont worry if you need to work 20 or 22 stitches (or whatever) per row to get the 17 in width. Whatever you need to do it is easy to alter. Then knit until you get 26-27 inches length. The row count is not so important as the length.
I hope that helps. Please let me know if i,ve been unclear.
Others have mentioned difficulty getting the larger needles locally and often have to buy online. Happy knitting!
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ReplyDeleteThis is the first project I've done that wasn't in the round, and though I thought it was going well, I ended up with a trapezoid instead of a rectangle. I was able to seam it together still, and it looks fine once it's around my neck, but it looks goofy on its own and could almost be worn as a hood since one opening is much larger than the other. Any ideas on what I goofed up to have created this odd shape? I'd like to try it again.
ReplyDeletehi rachel! my guess is that your row stitch count changed at some point, making one end wider than the other. does that sound possible? like, you might have cast on 17, but at the bind off maybe you had only 14 or 15-? it sounds nice, this inadvertent snood you made :) if you would like to give it another shot, i'd recommend counting your stitches as you work every row, ensuring that you have not made any increases/decreases by mistake. please let me know if you have any other questions.
DeleteI hope this is not a duplicate but my original comment didn't show... :/
ReplyDeleteLove this pattern! Looks awesome! I'm obsessed with the books and the show. Can't wait to give this pattern a try!
Quick question, I can't use wool-ease thick and quick as it gives me redness and rashes. I have super sensitive skin. I was hoping to try a superwash merino but all I could find are bulkys. would I use 3 strands if I use this weight?
I did manage to find a couple of great looking super bulkys and was wondering if you've had any experiences with them. One is the Rowan Tumble (Cotton: 10%, Alpaca: 90%), one is the Fibre company tundra (60% baby alpaca, 30% merino wool, 10% silk)
Would really love your thoughts. Thank you!
thanks for your great note and questions!
Deletei looked for superwash merino in super bulky and you're right - i guess they just dont make that. i have not tried either of the yarns you mentioned, but i looked at them and they both look lovely. alpaca - especially baby alpaca - is very drapey and soft. in fact, alpaca really relaxes quite a bit but for a small accessory like a cowl it should be fine. the one with the silk probably has more sheen to it. its hard to advise on substituting yarn because of such extreme variables that affect gauge (how tightly a person knits, how the yarn behaves, etc). its such a straightforward pattern though, and quick to make. after working a few rows you would know if you didn't like the drape, or if it was more narrow than you would like. i hope that helps - please let me know if you would like more clarification-
and if you go with bulky, 3 strands *should* be enough, but again, there's the variables issue. you might need 4 strands. generally, doubling a strand of a certain weight can push it up to the next category (two worsted equals 1 bulky, for example), but every manufacturer is different, and even certain yarns within the same company can vary in gauge though they are in the same weight category. sorry - not a simple answer!~
DeleteThank you SO much Jen!! That's exactly what I needed to know :) I don't really know much about yarn sub. I mostly try to get the same weight :) But super bulky was just too hard to find :P I'll let you know how mine turns out! I have to first finish other presents before I can work on this for me! Thanks again :)
Deletesuper! i would love to hear how your cowl turns out! let me know if you have any other questions.
DeleteWill do! I just realized that Tundra is actually a bulky not a super bulky. The store told me the wrong info :( Unfortunately, with it being so expensive, no way to do 4 skeins of that! Will probably either go with the Tumble super bulky or the superwash cascade bulky :) Just can't decide if I want to make it dark (more authentic) or cream/light color (more brightness for winter yucky-ness) LOL!
DeleteHi Jen, sorry, more questions! I read somewhere on your site/post a comment about kitchener stitch finish. But I can't remember the foundation stitch that goes with it. Is it worth it? And can you advice? Thanks!! Annie
DeleteNever mind! I found it! It was on your pattern on Ravelry :P It was provisional cast on with kitchener stitch finish. Trying to decide if I should do that :P
Deletei know others have done it that way but i had not tried it at that time and was not comfortable with it, and i wanted to present the pattern as simply as possible. done correctly, the provisional with kitchener leaves a gorgeous seamless join on items. i guess it depends on your comfort level. my preferred way of provisional cast on is with a crochet chain. much easier to handle. http://youtu.be/3OGG0AiJ3XE
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OGG0AiJ3XE
DeleteThank you for the videos and tip!! Waiting on my yarn. Decided to go with the Rowan Tumble this time. If it turns out well, might make one for my mom's birthday in Jan with the Spud & Chloe Outer as she is even more sensitive than I am!
DeleteI would need a ginormous hook though, LOL to create a loop big enough for the US50 needle!
DeleteLOL thats true! i had forgotten about that. the rowan tumble looks beautiful. good luck!
DeleteThanks! Check out this ultra does provisional cast on with a crochet hook. I'm going to give this one a try since I don't need an extra big hook LOL.
Deletehttp://youtu.be/j904tmdt6iU
wow that is so cool!!! i gotta remember that. thanks!
DeleteI've finished! Check it out!
Deletehttp://images4.ravelrycache.com/uploads/CapeMaui/269962704/Clares_Cowl_medium2.jpg
The Tumble is soft but not quite as drapey as I'd hoped. will be trying it with Cascade 128 superwash, triple strands for my SIL :)
its beautiful!!! being alapaca mostly, i'm surprised its not super drapey - must be the thickness of the yarn factoring in-? it looks beautiful and soft and i'll bet its super warm.
Deletethank you for sharing your project. i look forward to seeing how your SIL's turns out.
Thanks Jen! It IS super warm! But I think it's not drapey because of the way it's weaved? It's rather fluffy, LOL! I'll keep you posted of my SIL's version :)
Deletehere's is the SIL's version with Cascade 128 Superwash bulky, triple yarn. Had to go smaller in needle. Very drapey and soft :)
Deletehttp://images4-b.ravelrycache.com/uploads/CapeMaui/273820709/WP_20141225_040_medium2.jpg
its beautiful! it looks so soft. i love the color variegations!
DeleteI just ordered me the super jumbo massive needles in 50! Can't wait to try this out. Thanks for the great post!
ReplyDeleteMy mom asked for this for christmas....when you say cast on doubled up, what do you mean?
ReplyDeletehi nina! the whole cowl is worked with 2 strands of the yarn together. so right from the start you treat the 2 strands as if they were 1. when i used this yarn i had 2 skeins of it, so i pulled from both of them at the same time. does that make sense? let me know if you need clarification--
DeletePerfect sense. I was wondering how to double up off of one skein but I'll pull from both at the same time. Thank you! My mom asked specifically for this for xmas so I appreciate it.
Deletewonderful, nina! your mom is going to love having something you made!
DeleteAlso I am having trouble finding needles that large not on the round (straight)
ReplyDeleteyou can make this cowl on circulars as well -just don't join to work in the round. just treat the circulars as straight needles.
DeleteThank you so much for sharing your patterns. I just finished the Outlander cowl and it turned out so pretty. I look forward to making up more of your patterns. Your you tube video made it so easy for me. Thank you,
ReplyDeleteCharlene
awww thank you for your sweet note, charlene! i'm glad you're having fun with my patterns.
DeleteThank you for the pattern! I couldn't find large enough knitting needles, but I went for it anyway using your measurements as a guide. The biggest needles I could find were size 19. I cast on 27 stitches to get the right size. I'm really pleased with the finished cowl. So warm!
ReplyDeletegood work! i'm glad you're happy with your cowl! :) happy knitting!
DeleteMy first time ever knitting so wanted to check when you say two strands held together you mean two separate strands from two skeins at the same time? super elementary but got to start somewhere Thanks!!!
ReplyDeleteyes exactly. treat the two strands as one. it is done to double the yarn thickness.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the pattern. I knitted to about 36" and I love it!
ReplyDeletethat's awesome! you're very welcome :)
DeleteThanks for the pattern, I loved the cowl when I saw it on Claire. You made it so easy and I am ready to seam. I loved the large double knit look so I went ahead got more yarn and made a throw, it looks awesome.
ReplyDeletethat's wonderful, pat! happy knitting!
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