We’re officially half way through this month’s Boost Your Knitting knitalong celebrating the tuck stitch, and already there are so many finished Bramen Cowls — it really is fantastically fast, while teaching no fewer than three handy techniques (a two-colour long-tail cast on and sewn cast off, in addition to how to tuck)!
As usual, the Ravelry knitalong thread has been very chatty! One hot topic of discussion has been whether people prefer the right side of the cowl, with it’s distinctive blackberry-like stitches, or the equally lovely wrong side with its more elongated v’s. There’s been no consensus, though I think we can all agree that not having to worry about putting your cowl on the “wrong” way when you’re flying out the door is a good thing!
The “right” side of MimiCodd’s Bramen Cowl, knit in shade Parrot/Papagei
And the delightful “wrong” side, which MimiCodd observed looks like a field of tulips!
The Bramen Cowl looks wonderfully different in various shades of Schoppel Gradient. In the more gradual gradients, the effect of the pattern can be beautifully subtle:
MarileeRD’s Bramen Cowl, knit in shade In the Meadow/In der Wiese
While the more variegated colourways lead to a cowl with more contrast:
Soupdragon’s Bramen Cowl, knit in Autumn Sun/Herbstsonne
It’s also been really interesting to see the cast off Bramen Cowls as no two are quite the same! Nancy Marchant's design makes the most of the long colour shifts in a single ball of Schoppel Wolle gradient. How you divide your ball and where in a colour shift you start means that even two cowls knit in the exact same colourway will turn out differently! Here’s two versions, both knit in the sample colourway, Stonewashed and both totally unique!
VintageRosie’s Bramen Cowl — doesn’t it match her coat beautifully!
SailingBy’s lovely version — notice how there’s more of a fade effect in this one!
And of course, plenty of knitters have opted to use different yarns, making good use of variegated 4plys, of two contrasting solid colours, or other gradient yarns. Because the pattern just requires you to cast on an even number of stitches, it’s easily adaptable — perfect for using up some favourite stashed skeins!
CloughaPike’s Bramen Cowl, knit in two shades of sportweight Alpaca
Melissa92’s Bramen Cowl, knit in a sportweight gradient yarn
And others have also changed up their stitch counts to suit their personal preference for cowl fit!
DBukko’s extra long Bramen Cowl, which can be worn doubled! Knit in Schoppel Gradient shade Fan Block/Fankurve
So many beautiful cowls already, and the best part is — we’re only halfway through the month! If you’d like to join in the fun, there’s still plenty of time. People are still casting on over in the Ravelry knitalong thread and the chat will continue apace! You can sign up for Boost Your Knitting at anytime for just £30, which includes twelve patterns, from twelve fantastic designers, designed to teach twelve featured techniques (with plenty of bonus ones along the way!) and a 10% discount in the online shop through 1 Sept 2019 (excluding kits) . The price also includes worldwide shipping of the Boost Your Knitting print book in September 2019. If seeing the Schoppel Gradients has you inspired, you can find plenty of them in the online shop, or even treat yourself to the Boost Your Knitting Spring Kit, which includes yarn for the first three patterns (with two colourway options!) And if you do decide to cast on and aren’t a member of the Ravelry group already, do call in, introduce yourself, and share your progress!