Inspira Cowlinspired by evvvie's amazing pompom hat on Ravelry.

Using long colour

repeat yarns and a stranded knitting technique in corrugated rib, colours shift over a staggered rib pattern. Hues can merge together and then boldly diverge, much as ribbons of clouds over a vast landscape cast shado s, momentarily dimming the vista belo . When knit ith intense colours, you might stand out in an urban environment. !hould you find yourself on the run from a shado y international conspiracy, best leave this one behind on the bus, Jason. "ut if done up in soft t eeds and heathers evocative of !cotland, this might be #ust the thing to pull on as you head for the Highlands hen going to ground$ You'll blend right in. %hat are you aiting for& !tart knitting your adventure. Directions are for three versions to knit, each ith different rib patterns and yarn eights$
Mesa rock in aran,

Steampunk

in fingering, and Afrique in aran'bulky eight.

Difficulty level$ fair to middling. Important! Read the Nitty Gritty Notes @ the end prior to C .

Inspira Cowl . Mesa rock

version

Mesa rock is knit from the bottom up

ith t o yarns, a () and a )), over a staggered *+* knit and purl ribbing, ith the ribs taller at the bottom and shortening to ards the top, as though looking up at a mesa rock formation. ,hree repeats for each section. , o rounds of plain knit separate each ribbing. ,he rib lengths shift from rounds of !"#"$, follo ed by a single rib of three rounds, and ending ith t o rounds of plain rib. -.ote$ / frequently Russian #oin -R#0 ne colours in the original rose'ochre version, rearranging hat came off the skein, but only occasionally for *nd teal blue'grey.0 !hape$ ider at bottom to drape over one shoulder, narro ing at top. %Note& I later 'nit (or )as'*or+e Inspira a +o,l ,ith -"!". rib lengths that emulate mu+h more +learly mesa ro+' (ormations./ Finished measurements12riginal rose'ochre version$ *3 inches'33cm top circumference4 56 inches'73cm bottom circumference4 85 inches'55cm height4 bottom edge to decrease round, 7 8'6 inches'**cm. Teal blue'grey version$ *6 inches'38cm top circumference4 5* inches'78cm bottom circumference4 8* inches'59.:cm height4 bottom edge to decrease round, ; < inches'*9cm. Materials1=arn$ aran t., 553 yards'59;meters total of t o long1repeat colour ays. ()$ 87> yds'8;* meters4 ))$ 86; yds'856 meters. -.ote$ / used ?ion "rand @mazing for both co ls pictured. Rose'ochre co l, colour ays @urora, (esa, @rcadia, %ildflo ers. ,eal blue'grey co l, colour ays @rcadia as ()'* skeins, using only A oz, or 6* yds'57 meters from *nd skein4 2lympia as ))'8 skein.0 Needles$ original, U! 89'3mm and U! >':.:mm circular. *nd teal blue'grey$ U! 89'3mm, U! 7':mm circular. -!teel crochet hook for Russian #oining'R#, or use a tapestry needle.0 Gauge-over 6 inches'89 cm. 2riginal rose'ochre$ 8> sts + ** ro s. *nd, teal blue'grey$ *9 sts + *: ro s. -.ote$ (y tension firms to ards neckline to keep it from being floppy, and gauge changes.0
Mesa rock Directions$ %ith 8 strand, on U! 89'3mm needles, cable )2 866 sts. -=ou may

s itch hen most convenient to U! >':.:mm needles, or U! 7':mm as for smaller version 8.a, even if after orking a fe rounds.0 Boin for orking in round, do not t ist. Use a marker to keep track of rounds -a long bobby pin orks ell0. "egin rib pattern by C* ith (), D* ith )). =ou can ork round one ith single yarn for both the knit and purl sts, adding the )) yarn in round t o, if easier. / #oined the )) yarn in round one. "egin ith the staggered three1stack of seven rounds of ribbing. ,o maintain the staggered effect, keep the yarn you assign to the purl columns the same throughout. Rounds 81;$ C*, D* Rounds 71>$ Erop the )), knit all sts. -.ote$ Erop the )) for all C only ro s, picking up again hen orking rib rounds0

Inspira Cowl . Mesa rock

Rounds 89183$ D*, C* Rounds 8;187$ knit Rounds 8>1*:$ C*, D* Rounds *31*;$ knit

version......2nd page....

"egin the staggered three1stack of siF rounds of ribbing. Rounds *7155$ D*, C* Rounds 5615:$ knit Rounds 53168$ C*, D* Rounds 6*165$ knit Rounds 6616>$ D*, C* Round :9$ knit Round :8$ Eecrease *9 sts by -k*tog, k:0 around, ending ith k6. !titch count$ begin round ith 866sts4 decrease *9 sts4 end round ith 8*6 sts. -.ote$ Eecreases do not maintain pattern. ,he neFt rib ill at times merge ith previous rib. ,hatGs one reason hy this is an eFperiment'recipe, see& Use closely hued colours over those ribs before and after decrease round to minimize the pattern break.0 "egin the staggered three1stack of five rounds of ribbing. Rounds :*1:3$ C*, D* Rounds :;1:7$ knit Rounds :>135$ D*,C* Rounds 3613:$ knit Rounds 331;9$ C*, D*4 final five round stack. Rounds ;81;*$ knit Rounds ;51;:$ D*, C*. @t end of third round, drop one yarn and cut, leaving enough length for your preferred method of eaving in. / used Russian #oining for each co l. Rounds ;31;;$ D*, C* ith remaining yarn. "2 #ust loose enough in rib. Finishing$ "lock as you like. / #ammed the co l over my shoulders and pushed it out ith my hands. You 'no,, the ,ay 'nits are never supposed to be treated. .o is hen you ill discover #ust ho great spit splicing is. (e, /Gll stick ith Russian #oining, thank1you very much. "e careful to not block'stretch out the neck edge, to avoid it from ruffling. ,he neckline Hstands upI better hen left unblocked. Dop it on and scan your horizons.

Inspira Cowl .Steampunk

version

Steampunk

is knit from the bottom up ith t o yarns, using a () and a )) over a staggered and graduated 5+5 knit and purl rib pattern, emulating toothed gears, heels ithin heels, clock ork. Rounds follo a 01"#"2 pattern ribbing repeat. , o rounds of plain knit separate each ribbing. !hape$ ide at bottom to drape over one shoulder, or even t o in a light hug, narro ing at top. Finished measurements1*3 inches'33 cm top circumference4 53 inches'>8 cm bottom circumference4 85 inches'55 cm height4 bottom edge to decrease round, > 8'6 inches'*5.: cm. Materials1=arn$ fingering t., :66 yards'6>7 meters total of t o long1repeat colour ays. ()$ 55* yds'595.: meters4 ))$ *8* yds'8>6 meters. - / used Datons Croy J+. )adet for ()'* skeins. )lay for ))'* skeins, using only A oz, or 63 yds'6* meters from the *nd skein.0 Needles$ U! ;'6.:mm circular. -!teel crochet hook for Russian #oining'R#, or use a tapestry needle.0 Gauge-over 6 inches'89 cm$ *;sts + 59 ro s -.ote$ (y tension firms to ards neckline, and gauge changes.0

Steampunk Directions$

%ith 8 strand, on U! ;'6.:mm needles, cable )2 *96 sts. Boin for orking in round, do not t ist. Use a marker to keep track of rounds -a long bobby pin orks ell0. "egin rib pattern by C5 ith (), D5 ith )). =ou can ork 8st round ith single yarn for both the knit and purl sts , adding the *nd yarn in round t o, if easier. / did this ith () cadet'blue for the indigo co l. "egin 01"#"2 rib repeat, starting ith t elve rounds of ribbing. ,o maintain the staggered effect, keep the yarn you assign to the purl columns the same throughout. Rounds 818*$ C5, D5 %01 rib rounds/ Rounds 85186$ Erop the )), knit all sts. -.ote$ Erop the )) for all C only ro s, picking up again for rib rounds0 Rounds 8:1*9$ D5, C5 %# rib rounds/ Rounds *81**$ knit Rounds *51*:$ C5, D5 %2 rib rounds/ Rounds *31*;$ knit "egin second staggered and graduated rib section, starting ith t elve rounds of ribbing. Rounds *715>$ D5, C5 %01 rounds/

Inspira Cowl .Steampunk

Rounds 69168$ knit

version....2nd page....

Rounds 6*16;$ C5, D5 %# rib rounds/ Rounds 6716>$ knit Rounds :91:*$ D5, C5 %2 rib rounds/ Rounds :51:6$ knit "egin third staggered and graduated rib section, starting ith t elve rounds of ribbing. Rounds ::133$ C5, D5 %01 rib rounds/ Round 3;$ knit Round 37$ Eecrease 59 sts$ k8, decrease by -k*tog, k:0 *7 times, until there are ; sts remaining in round, end by k*tog, k5, k*tog. !titch count$ begin round ith *96 sts4 decrease 59 sts4 end round ith 8;6 sts. -.ote$ Eecreases do not maintain pattern. ,he neFt rib ill at times merge ith previous rib. ,hatGs one reason hy this is an eFperiment'recipe, see& Use closely hued colours over those ribs before and after decrease round to minimize the pattern break.0 Rounds 3>1;6$ D5, C5 %# rib rounds/ Rounds ;:1;3$ knit Rounds ;;1;>$ C5, D5 %2 rib rounds/ Rounds 79178$ knit Rounds 7*1>5$ D5, C5 %01 rib rounds/ "2 in rib. -.ote$ =ou may ant to drop and cut one of the yarns a fe rounds before the end, as in Mesa rock or Afrique . / chose to "2 in rib using both yarns. / anted the effect of clean columns of colour, similar to crayons side1by1side. Using a single yarn for the "2 ould be like a cap, effectively putting a lid on the edge, and containing the s eep of line. .eFt time, / may double knit the t elve rounds final rib.0 Finishing$ %eave in ends. "lock co l in desired manner. / lightly stretch1blocked ith my hands. "e careful to not block'stretch out the neck edge, to avoid it from ruffling. ,he neckline Hstands upI better if left unblocked. Dop it on and head for the rails or trails.

Inspira Cowl

.Afrique version

Afrique is a play in three acts, the first being the most compleF$ Braid-like edge, follo ed by a

Basketweave Rib, and ending ith Afrique Rib. ,he co l is knit from the bottom up, ith a braid1 like t ined dark and light border, follo ed by a simple *+* rib here alternate rounds are knit, giving the appearance of a basket eave. @ staggered *+* rib pattern follo s and shifts in rib length, echoing the look of @frican mudcloth teFtiles. ,he braid1like border is orth the eFtra time and effort, is only orked over three rounds, ith the second being the most fussy. ,he yarns ill t ist up like a plumberGs snake, and blessedly unt ist in neFt round. !hape$ ider at bottom, like a scoop neckline, narro s at collarbone, and stovepipes to top. Finished measurements18> A inches'6>.: cm top circumference4 *; A inches';9 cm bottom circumference4 89 A inches'*3.; cm height4 bottom edge to decrease round, * A inches'8.*; cm. Materials1=arn$ 3ud+loth$ @ran t$ () 889 yds'899.3 meters -.oro !ilk Karden, bro n, 8 skein04 "ulky t$ )) :9 yds'6:.; meters -)ascade "aby @lpaca )hunky, natural, A skein0. 4as'et 5eave rib$ orsted t$ 6: yds'68 meters -Llla Rae LFtrafine Heathers, goldenrod, A skein0. 4raid"li'e 6dge, dark$ bulky t, 8: yds'85.; meters -Universal EeluFe )hunky, ebony04 4raid"li'e 6dge, light$ orsted t, 8: yds'85.; meters -Dlymouth Kal ay %orsted, natural0. Needles$ U! ;'6.:mm, *6 inch circular. -!teel crochet hook for Russian #oining'R#, or use a tapestry needle.0 Gauge-over 6 inches'89 cm$ *8 sts + *5 ro s -.ote$ (y tension firms to ards neckline, and gauge changes.0 Directions...but first, a .ote$ Jollo ing an initial set1up round, the HbraidingI is orked over the neFt t o rounds in purl. ,o achieve this, the yarns must be t isted, or rotated in the same direction for the entire round each time the yarns are s itched, alternating bet een the dark and light yarns in a 8+8 pattern. 2n the follo ing round, the rotation is reversed. ,he direction the braid points depends on the initial rotation round being clock ise or counter clock ise.

Inspira Cowl.... Afrique

version.....2nd page

/ quite easily become miFed up on hich direction to rotate the yarns during a round. ,o aid me, this is hat / picture$ hen / bring the t o yarns to the front to purl, / at first hold them together straight and perpendicular to myself, and / vie this as a log. 2ne side of the log is black along itGs entire length, the other side is hite. ,his black and hite log is floating on ater, and is rotating, #ust as hen a lumber#ack alks in place on it. @s the log rotates, the black side dips belo the ater line and the hite side rises out of the ater. ,he t o sides alternate, black, hite, dark, light. ,o keep from falling into the ater, / must keep the log rotating in the same direction for the entire round. %hen my round is to turn clock ise, as the black side dips belo the ater off to my right, the hite side rises up on the left to take itGs place, and then dips belo the ater off to the right hen / have finished the purl st ith light yarn. )lock ise$ keep yarns rotating right. )ounterclock ise, keep yarns rotating left. -.ot sure if being right or left handed makes a difference, but / am a righty.0 Braid-like Edge$ ,aking your light and dark yarns for the edging, and holding the t o yarns together, make a slip knot a fe inches from the end and place on needle. ,his does not count as the first stitch, but is dropped and allo ed to dangle before #oining into a circle. )2 8*6 sts in long tail method, ith one yarn over thumb and other over indeF finger. / orked dark over thumb, light over indeF finger. !lip original slip knot off needle, place marker on needle, a looped aste yarn, or rubber band ill do. Boin for orking in round, being careful not to t ist sts. =ou ill ant to reel off a generous amount of yarn of several yards'meters from both skeins for ease hile orking the rotation rounds. 2ccasionally, gently separate the t isting yarns further a ay from your needles. /f this is too un ieldy, you might even take one of the skeins and physically carry it round and over the other skein. / did this in my first crack at this H"altic braidI technique, though it took me a fe hours to get through these three rounds. ,he effect as orth it. Round 8$ C8 dark, C8 light. @lternate yarns in this manner to end of round. !lip marker as you come to it for each round. "ring yarn to front. -.ote$ =ou do not need to t ist this set1up round. / did for a slightly tidier eave, and knit the yarns ith a counter1clock ise t ist. ,he directions for rounds t o and three remain the same. !ince the yarn is brought to the front for purling in round t o after being t isted on the previous knit round, the direction of the t ist is automatically reversed.0 Round *$ D8 dark, D8 light, rotating yarns as they are orked counter1clock ise, allo ing yarns to t ist. -.ote$ !ince the follo ing round you ill ork the sts clock ise, they ill gradually unt ist and the round ill become easier to ork.0 Round 5$ D8 dark, D8 light, rotating clock ise. )ut yarns, leaving enough length for Russian #oining -R#0, or preferred method of #oining neFt yarn for basket eave rib and eaving in. Basketweave Rib Round 8$ knit Round *$ C*, D* Round 5$ knit Round 6$ C*, D* Round : knit, cut yarn and #oin ().

Afrique Rib ~~~ -.ote$ to avoid a horizontal line of () yarn from the previous knit round, on the first )) purl round only for each rib, knit both the () and the )) by '71 ith (), 71 ith )).G / used this modification ith my inspira sepia, since the () bro ns and )) ivory yarns ere a high contrast.0

Inspira Cowl . Afrique

version......3rd page

Rounds 815$ knit only ith (). @fter 5rd round, #oin )), using preferred method. / chose R#. Rounds 61;$ C* ith (), D* ith )). -. rib rounds0 Round 7$ knit Round >$ Eecrease *6 sts by$ -k*tog, k:0 t ice only, then -k*tog, k50 ** times or to the end. !titch count$ begin round ith 8*6 sts4 decrease *6 sts4 end round ith 899 sts. Rounds 89188$ D*, C* -1 rib rounds0 Rounds 8*185$ knit Rounds 8618:$ C*, D* -1 rib rounds0 Rounds 8318;$ knit Rounds 871*8$ D*, C* -. rib rounds0 Rounds **1*5$ knit Rounds *6159$ C*, D* -! rib rounds0 Rounds 5815*$ knit Rounds 55153$ D*, C* -. rib rounds0 Rounds 5;157$ knit Rounds 5>169$ C*, D* -1 rib rounds0 Rounds 6816*$ knit Rounds 65166$ D*, C* -1 rib rounds0 Rounds 6:163$ knit Rounds 6;1:8$ C*, D*. -$ rib rounds0 )ut )), leaving enough length for eaving in. -/ R# to ().0 Round :*$ knit Rounds :51:6$ C*, D*. "2 in rib. Finishing$ %eave in ends. "lock co l using preferred method. / lightly steam pressed from rong side ith an iron. .o soaking nor pin blocking, #ust a gentle ave through the air to dry. Dop it on and go for a etland alkabout.

Inspira Cowl ..itty Kritty .otes....0st page

Abbreviations$ kMknit pMpurl k*togMknit * together )2Mcast on "2Mbind off Russian #oining ith steel crochet hook$ after looping yarns, pierce yarn ith hook, pull yarn through, spiral' rap yarn about in barber shop pole style, pierce through again and fiF securely. )luck your ay to glory. R#MRussian #oin st-s0Mstitch-es0 ()Mmain colour ))Mcontrast colour

Stranded knitting, or t o1fisted knitting$ (y method is quite inelegant, but gets me there. / ork the yarn for purl sts ith my right hand for more control, and the yarn for knit sts is in my left hand, and aim for an evenly relaFed tension. .o need to hite1knuckle your ay through your co l, and you ill ant some supple drape hen done. !tranded corrugated ribbing has little of the squeezing grip that ordinary single yarn knit and purl ribs have, any ay. ,he contrast of silky knit columns side1by1 side ith /ndian corn1like purl stitches is the tactile beauty of corrugated rib. %arning$ %hile knitting, running your hand over the relief teFture is a big time aster, let alone the sheer delight of colours.

Inspira is all about inspiration,

memories.

here subtle or intense colour1plays can evoke a place, or even

Some ideas$ (urano glass1like tropical fish slipping among coral reefs....beach glass blues, bro ns and greens amidst pinky shells studding et sands....deep cinnabar reds and pale celadon greens in a )hinese museum eFhibit....that patch ork amber glo of passenger train indo s against an urban evening landscape....or a rusting and graffiti1tagged freight train tracing through rural heat fields....the gumdrop s irl of kindergartners s eeping over a playground at recess....@yers1Uluru Rock, hich shifts through more phases in one day than the moon holds in a month....the ginger rose bloom in "aby !isterGs cheek on her first sno y day, sno flakes cupped ithin a dark curl of lashes....KrandpapaGs sun eathered hand balancing .anaGs iridescent tea cup on denim1clad knee....%here earthGs curve of celestial blue meets the blackness of space, and starry s eep of infinity beyond....anything, really. There must be eight million stories in the naked city. Ket your groove on. !ho and tell Ravelry orld yours. Teeny1 eeny legalese$ Inspira Cowl )opyright *988 by celerystalkN, hich includes the actual gal behind the name, everything ritten, photographs, the hole kip O kaboodle....born, bred, and for distribution through Ravelry orld..... for personal use.....but if you need to make one to sell, and so stay alive another day, go for it. "ut if you are a business, go have your o n talent to ork up patterns. @nd pay them a decent age, for crying out loud. (ake your folks proud. Deace, love, out.

Inspira Cowl .....itty Kritty .otes....+ontinued...

IMPORTANT! Lessons you wisely should take from TaskForce Ins ira !test knit e"ent# $ The most valuable lesson by far is to ma'e your Inspira all your o,n. (odify it to your heartGs content, O you ill be better for it, Kentle Cnitter. @ge old knitting traditions are simply of knitted samples passed around. Inspira is at itGs core simply a staggered corrugated rib. @ll these pages of of details are merely hat / did for the four co ls you see photographed. !o, hy did / slave over this pattern-s0 for the past siF months&& 8ead && 9es' Gauge measurements in directions ere taken in the middle of each co l after blocking, O all yardage O meters are approFimate. To avoid knitting in a spiral, knit one or t o ro,s before #oining, since it ill be easier to see if the sts have t isted. Use the tail from casting on to close the gap. =ou could impress yourself by #oining in a circle from the get1go, but increasingly / choose to eFpend my energies of high concentration else here. To knit your co l a little quicker, consider knitting all the sts for the 0st and last rounds of each rib. Jor eFample, instead of HC* (), D* )),I simply HC* (), 71 )).I Arthritis issues$ )onsider knitting in stranded stockinette hile maintaining the staggered patterning, O using purl sts for the t o plain knit rounds. ,he elt1like effect of purl rounds separating smooth knit sts may be an interesting teFtural contrast. /f purling is difficult, consider G rapping O turningG your ork to continue orking knit sts from the G rongG side at this point. ,his ay, the GrightG side ill appear purled for those t o rounds. Decreasing, O by ho much$ pop on your co l, see here it lays. Eo you ant to decrease no & Has it cleared your shoulders& Dinch the eFcess, count the the sts you ill need to get rid of. Bust remember to keep your final number of sts divisible by four -*+* rib0 if knitting Mesa rock, O by siF -5+5 rib0 if knitting Steampunk. =ou may also choose to knit a *nd decrease round to funnel the opening closer to the neck.

ALERT! Read prior to casting on and donGt come crying to me$ Jrom the ,askJorce /nspira test1knit, many ho used my )2 numbers found their co ls turning out much too small. G,ea cozy size,G one questionable person noted. (y upper shoulders measure about 5; inches'>6cm. "oth Mesa rock and Steampunk / made to drape over one shoulder, and ear as a light hug over both. @nd since /Gm losing my grip P hey, atch yourselfQ P my tension is rela:ed. /f your measurements differ, or you desire a co l that spans both shoulders, you ill need to cast on more sts. Ho you determine that number is a matter of grave consulting ith a calculator, your measurements, and perhaps not a little alchemy. !ome actually knit a s,at+h. !eems a tad bit organized to me. Bust remember to keep your final number of sts divisible by four if knitting Mesa rock, O by siF if knitting Steampunk. 2f course, should you decide to cast on more sts, you may also need more yarn. Ho much more& =ou are asking me a math question& .,al's a,ay +hu+'ling.... ;nd no,, a (e, pages (rom my (ield noteboo'.....be inspired to design your o,n uni<ue pattern play.....