PLIA

PLIA is the latest creation for my occasional three week Knitting for Beginners class.  I wanted to design something that would knit up quick, and this cowl does.  Any knitter who hasn't just picked up needles for the first time could work it up in an evening, maybe two.

The look I was going for was a thick, cosy cowl with multiple personalities.  I wanted it to go from the typical big rolled cowl like you would see on the neck of a sweater, to something deep enough that you could pull it up over your face when needed.

Something you could cuddle down into.

Then it struck me!  What if there was some way to pin it into a more asymmetrical fold?  Something to style it up a notch.

Enter the two-sided button.  This an old trick that works something like a cufflink.  You can have a large WOW! button on one side, and then a stylish, but smaller button on the other side which can pop right through the stitches of your knitting.

The result is a multitude of different looks!  Depending on the jacket you are wearing, your hairstyle, your mood, whatever, you can choose the cowl style you want to go with it, all from one project.

And because this cowl is reversible, with the two different textured sides shown above, that's two times the multitude of different looks.

You can even wear it as a snood.

Interested in knitting this project?  Here is some helpful information.

SIZE:  Finished circ. approx. 66cm (26"), with approx. depth of 21cm (8¼").

GAUGE:  8 sts and 8 rows = 10cm (4") in Garter Stitch on 12mm (17US) needles

MATERIALS:  

• 1skein Ushya by Mirasol [approx. 105m (114yds)/100g]
• 12mm (17US) circ. needle OR 1 pair 12mm (17US) needles
• 1 medium-sized button AND 1 large-sized decorative button (optional)

(NOTE: Instructions are provided for working this cowl in the round, or flat and seamed.)
Have fun playing with this cowl the create different looks!