Beaded Cowl

by: Marika Cowan

Materials Yarn: approximately 250 yards DK weight yarn (Cashmara DK by Fly Designs is recommended) Needles: 5 or 6 circular, depending on what the yarn or your gauge advises Crochet Hook: size D (3 mm) Cast On: Using the long tail method, cast-on 190 stitches. Being careful not to twist the knitting, place a marker, then join the stitches and knit in the round for 2 inches. The marker is to let you know when you begin each round for decreasing. Decreasing: Starting at the beginning of the round, *knit 3, k2g* repeat for the entire round. There should now be 152 stitches. Knit 4 rounds. Next round, *knit 2, k2g* repeat for entire round. There should now be 114 stitches. Knit 4 rounds. Next round, *knit 1, k2g* repeat for entire round. There should now be 76 stitches. Knit 4 more inches, then loosely bind-off.

Beaded Crochet Edging: Thread 95 beads, more or less, depending on how many you like. If you want to bead every 5th stitch, it would only be 38. With 95, you would be every other stitch you crochet.

On the bottom edge, single crochet around, sliding beads as you work, until you go around once. This stops the bottom edge from rolling and also adds a little extra ash with the beads. Finishing: Weave in all ends. Block bottom edge, but allow the top to roll.