Featuring beginner colorwork knitting using slip stitches the Basalt Stone Cowl 2 is a free mosaic cowl knitting pattern here on the blog!
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Read about my inspiration for this cowl, how I fell in love with mosaic knitting and scroll down for the free pattern!
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Polka Dots and Color Blocking.
One day I sat down to create a fall lineup of pattern designs for the blog. I had a lot of ideas but wanted to make sure they were modern and in-line with my brand. So I reached out to my friend who works in the fashion industry to ask her “what’s on-trend for Fall 2019?” She responded with many things and some of them included Polka Dots, Color Blocking and Sherpa. To which I replied, “hmmm, how do I create Polka Dots with knitting?” I meant it as a joke but suddenly my newest fascination with mosaic knitting popped into my head.
What is Mosaic Knitting
Mosaic knitting is when slip stitches are used from the row below to create colorwork patterns. Two different color yarns are used and only one color is worked per row. That color is either knit or the stitch below is slipped in order to create the design. The actual term Mosaic Knitting was coined by Barbara G. Walker in the late 1960s. (You can find her Mosaic Knitting Book here). Many also call this type of colorwork knitting slip-stitch knitting.
Recently one of my favorite designers Andrea Mowry with Drea Renee Knits brought mosaic knitting into popularity with her collection of mosaic designs and patterns. I had seen designs that featured mosaic knitting in the past but never realized that slip stitch was the technique used. Now it’s like when you buy a new car and suddenly you see that same car everywhere, I’m seeing mosaic knitting motifs EVERYWHERE!
Fall 2019 Trends
Knowing that mosaic knitting could be the answer to creating a knitwear design with polka dots I started experimenting with different yarns, colors, stitches, and patterns. I decided an easy meditative pattern would be exactly what I was looking for and the Basalt Stone Cowl 2 was created. It features on-trend mosaic knitting, color blocking, and polka dots!
- You can also check out the sister cowl to this pattern here. The Basalt Stone Cowl is a longer mosaic knit cowl that is knit in the round and then seamed at the end.
Beginners Introduction to Colorwork
When I tried color work knitting for the first time it took a bit for me to get used to holding multiple strands of yarn at the same time. I admit that I would drop each color and pick up the next to start knitting with it. This was time consuming to say the least. One of my favorite things about mosaic knitting is you only knit with one color the entire row across! No switching colors or holding multiple strands of yarn at one time. There are many mosaic knitting patterns that include a chart and can be very intricate, this pattern is more of a repetitive beginners intro to mosaic knitting.
I found it perfect to bring along to kid’s sporting events or sneaking in a few rows during helping with homework. It is easy to spot exactly where you are in the pattern based on the polka dots and color you are working with. Therefore you can take it along with you and don’t need to even bring the pattern with once you get the hang of it.
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Wearing your Cowl
This cowl has become my fall wardrobe staple. The worsted weight yarn mixed with a little added thickness from the slipped stitches inside creates a lightweight and cozy fabric that blocks the wind but doesn’t cause overheating. The slim fit can be worn easily under jackets, coats or vests or alone with a sweater.
Basalt Stone Cowl 2 Pattern
- Get the large print, ad-free, printable PDF pattern here.
- Pin this to your Pinterest boards for later here.
- Add this to your Ravelry Pattern queue here.
- Find more Free Knitting Patterns here.
Supplies:
- Yarn: Approx. 265 total yards of worsted weight yarn (medium weight 4) 4 colors. One main color and 3 accent colors. (I used Quince & Co yarn in Lark for this cowl. It’s super soft and made in the US!)
- Needles: US8/5mm, 24″ circular knitting needles (This is my favorite interchangeable needle and cord set!)
- Notions: Tapestry Needle, Stitch Marker, Scissors
Yardage:
- Color A – 220yds/ 201m
- Color B – 20yds/ 14m
- Color C- 20yds/ 14m
- Color D- 20yds/ 14m
*A few notes about yarn and yardage. Color A is your main color and therefore you will need the specified amount of yards to complete the project. For colors B, C & D feel free to get creative. You can select a self-striping yarn and use that throughout or try a gradient yarn for an ombre effect. Do you have a lot of worsted weight scraps in your stash that you want to use up? As long as you knit the total number of polka dot rows and follow the stitch pattern the sky is the limit as to what you create! That is one thing I love about knitting. Each person’s finished projects are a reflection of their own individual personality so have fun and play around!*
Gauge:
- 4×4” / 10x10cm = 16 stitches x 23 rows in stockinette
Finished Measurements: (After Blocking)
- Height 10″
- Width 11″
Glossary:
- St(s) = Stitch(es)
- BOR = Beginning of Round
- CO = Cast On
- K = Knit
- P = Purl
- Rep = Repeat
- PM = Place Marker
- SM = Slip Marker
- SL = Slip stitch purwise
- WYIB = With yarn in back
Directions:
Bottom Ribbing:
Using Color A, CO 180 sts and join in the round, be careful not to twist sts. Place a stitch marker to mark the beginning of the round (BOR).
Rounds 1-6: *K2, P2; Rep from * to end of round.
Section One: {Color A & B}
Round 1: Using Color A, K to the end of round.
Round 2: Repeat Round 1
Round 3: Join Color B, *K2, Sl 2 wyib; Rep from * to the end of round.
Round 4: Repeat Round 3
Round 5: Repeat Round 1
Round 6: Repeat Round 1
Round 7: Using Color B, *Sl 2 wyib, K2; Rep from * to the end of round.
Round 8: Repeat Round 7
Repeat Rounds [1-8], 2 more times for a total of 3 repeats. Total number of polka dot rows for this section should equal 6.
Section Two: {Color A & C}
Round 1: Using Color A, K to the end of round.
Round 2: Repeat Round 1
Round 3: Join Color C, *K2, Sl 2 wyib; Rep from * to the end of round.
Round 4: Repeat Round 3
Round 5: Repeat Round 1
Round 6: Repeat Round 1
Round 7: Using Color C, *Sl 2 wyib, K2; Rep from * to the end of round.
Round 8: Repeat Round 7
Repeat Rounds [1-8], 2 more times for a total of 3 repeats.
Section Two: {Color A & D}
Round 1: Using Color A, K to the end of round.
Round 2: Repeat Round 1
Round 3: Join Color D, *K2, Sl 2 wyib; Rep from * to the end of round.
Round 4: Repeat Round 3
Round 5: Repeat Round 1
Round 6: Repeat Round 1
Round 7: Using Color D, *Sl 2 wyib, K2; Rep from * to the end of round.
Round 8: Repeat Round 7
Repeat Rounds [1-8], 2 more times for a total of 3 repeats.
Top Ribbing:
Rounds 1-6: Using Color A *K2, P2; Rep from * to end of round.
Bind Off:
Using Color A, bind off all stitches.
Finishing:
Flip your cowl inside out to weave in all ends.
- To block your cowl, soak it in lukewarm water with wool wash for about 15-20 minutes. Once the time is up, gently squeeze out the water trying not to agitate the fibers too much. Place your cowl on a clean towel, roll it up and press on the towel to remove even more moisture. Spread your cowl out on blocking mats or garbage bags and let dry for 24 hours (or until it is fully dry). (Do not block your cowl on towels as they retain moisture and don’t allow the knitting to dry fast enough).
Now it’s time to get cozy and wear your new mosaic knit cowl! Make sure to follow me on Instagram and Facebook and tag me with your finished projects! You can find me @whimsynorth and use the tag #basaltstonecowl2 so others can view your creations!
- Get the large print, ad-free, printable PDF pattern here.
- Pin this to your Pinterest boards for later here.
- Add this to your Ravelry Pattern queue here.
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XOXO, Margaret
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First time with mosaic – when I join color b, do I knit with color b and slip color a? Or vice versa?
Great question! Yes, on the row that you add in color B you will be knitting with color B and slipping color A.