Jun 19 2008
Cowls in Canada
We traveled to Canada during the height of my recent cowl craze, so naturally, I made the very wearable neckwarmers. I had grand plans to knit many more cowls than I actually did… but I came away with two good ones that I knit, and one beautiful one that was given to me by Ingrid. Good thing too, because there were a few times when I was downright COLD!
I finished the first cowl a few days into our trip. I used two yarns that have lived in the stash for so long that I don’t remember when I get them! This cowl is called the “Keji” Cowl, because I finished it right before we explored the Kejimkujik Seaside Adjunct.
I just cast on with the Classic Elite Montera and the unlabeled mohair yarn and knit it right up, throwing in a few purl rows here and there to make the rolling less apparent. The cowl is warm and wispy, and kept me warm throughout the walk. A few times, when the wind was whipping up around us on the beach, I pulled her right over my ears and had a good bit of insulation. Cowls are so versatile!
After finishing this cowl, I had a few false starts – I wanted to try Nova’s new Birthday Cowl, and I am still planning to do so – but I couldn’t pay enough attention to the pattern… so I stuck with easy stockinette and ribbing. That seemed to work best, as I was already in a highly distracted state (ooh! look at that beach! look at that moose! etc.)
The cowl that Ingrid made for me is so pretty – I just love the muted colors. She gave it to me right before we went on the boat, so I was able to wear it all day! The cowl that I made for her ended up being too big, but she was able to loop it around to have a snuggly neckwarmer.
I started on the second cowl the night after we left Yarmouth, and I worked on it until I 
finished it toward the end of our trip. I took along several balls of yarn for knitting, among the mix was the Fibre Company Terra that I picked up at MDSW last month. This colorway was called “Green Tea”, and while there is a slight tinge of green, I see much more gray here. So, I found good inspiration for Project Spectrum’s AIR element. I played around with several stitch patterns, and decided on a twin rib variation, really showcasing the yarn. I had two hanks, so I wanted this to be a nice long cowl. By the time I bound off, in the small village of Sherbrooke on the eastern shore, north of Halifax, I knew I had a winner. The yarn was amazing to work with. I have some other Fibre Company yarns in my stash, and I look forward to working with them too.
A classic twin rib that showcases the unique blend of merino, alpaca, and silk. When I posted the first photographs of this cowl, I had interest in a pattern, so I present you with my second cowl “recipe”: Sherbrooke.
Those cowls were certainly just the right thing to wear on your trip!
Thanks for sharing the recipe for the Sherbrooke cowl – it seems to be a must-knit for me: first, I really like how it looks, and I’m soon moving to a city named Sherbrooke. Really, how can I resist?
Your new cowls are so, so lovely!
The Fibre Terra yarn looks luxurious. Thank you for sharing your recipe!
Nice cowls, Lolly! Thanks for sharing your “recipe”!
Gorgeous, Lolly – Thank you!
yummy cowls! Have no doubt you used them and used them well up here, its dang cold!
Wow, I love the Sherbrooke! Thanks for sharing the pattern. And the colors of the Gloria cowl are beautiful.
Nice! I really need to knit some cowls.
Yay, another lovely cowl to knit up! Thanks for the pattern.
And lucky you to get such a lovely present from the even lovelier Ingrid! That little handwritten label is darling!
Beautiful cowls! Thanks so much for sharing the pattern!
thanks for sharing the pattern with us! it’s lovely!
I foresee a lot of Sherbrooke cowls popping up on the Internetz. It’s a lovely pattern!
My daughter suggested that I read your blog today and I am so happy that I did! My husband and I visited the Maritime Provinces back in September and were THRILLED with both the scenery and the people! Reading your blog was like revisiting a very, very special spot on this earth…thank you! I am new to Ravelry, just trying to find my way around, so I am sure that our paths will cross again! Next time you go to Cape Breton, check out the nightly music at the Glenora Inn and Distillery, north of the town of Mabou,…absolutely amazing and heart warming!!
The Fibre Company shot straight to the top of my list of favorite purveyors of crack…um, yarn… as soon as I knit with Terra and found it to be as splendiferous as Savannah was when I tried it last summer! I haven’t been able to throw away the tiny bits that are left over from my several Drifting Pleats scarves – they’re just too lovely. The new cowls all look awesome!
I’m thinking I’m bringing some cowl yarn for my Grecian knitting. Certainly it will be too warm to wear, but isn’t a luxurious cowl the perfect thing to knit on vacation? I have some Fibre Company Road to China that is just begging to be knit into a cowl.
I love the one Ingred gave you, and the pattern is fab!
You are bringing the cowls worldwide! They are such a sophisticated accessory. You look so glam in that first photo! Perhaps I will have to make a Sherbrooke with my Terra…Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Lovely cowl once again, and thanks for the pattern!
ooooohh! I love your cowls. I might need to get on the Cowl bandwagon. Your Canada trip looks totally amazing too.
jeez, what another couple of pretty cowls! I just waltzed right over to Ravelry (thank you for the handy link) and queued it:) Thank you!
thanks so much for the cowl pattern! i can’t wait to make it!
So, I’m coming out of a winter cowl phase (the products of which all got poured into secret book patterns), and I can’t wait to make this one. And I LOVE the Fibre Co. Terra. It’s so yummy, and I snagged a few as well…
Just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed your pictures about your trip. What wonderful places you saw. Plus the fact that you could wear your cowls. Can’t wait until it is cooler here.
Your cowls are lovely! Thanks for the pattern. I see these as great stash-busting projects.
Your cowls are lovely! Such a pretty pattern – thanks!
Cowls, cowls, everywhere! Yours is so lovely.
[...] Sherbrooke by Lauren Weinhold My handspun from Lavendersheep Superwash Merino in Mountain Sunset, under 155 yards (I have a good sized ball leftover). 4.5 mm needles 2.5 days (or just about 2 days if you can count to 5.) [...]
[...] knit, quick project, most definately portable that could be done in a matter of hours. After seeing many many many cowls out there I finally decided to give one a go and see what all the fuss was [...]
[...] Twin Rib Cowl by lollygirl.com/blog [...]
Goggled ‘knitted cowl’ and came across your pattern. I HAVE to knit it because I’m from Sherbrooke, Nova Scotia, the very same one!