This is part 12 in a 12 part series highlighting designs from our 12 Days of Winter, Series 4 Edition.
Well, somehow it’s already Day 12 of the 12 Days of Winter Kit Collection! We’ve had so much fun sharing our annual collection of wintry kits with you, and we’re finishing things off with a fabulous little cowl designed by the wonderful Edie Eckman. To sweeten the deal, this kit comes with a pattern for both a knit version and a crochet version, too! You heard me right – whether you’re a knitter, crocheter, or both – this kit is perfection!
Left: Crochet Sugarplum Cowl; Right: Knit Sugarplum Cowl
The Sugarplum Cowls are created using lavish Fibra Natura Dona in colors #130 Steely, #111 Sweet Pea, and #134 Glacier. Dona is a yarn comprised of 100% extra fine superwash merino wool. This yarn boasts superb stitch definition and is an absolute joy to work with.
Crochet Sugarplum Cowl
If you’ve been following us for a while, you may recall that we asked for Edie’s contribution to our 12 Days of Winter Kit Collection last year, too. Her Forest Garland also featured a knit and crochet version and was a hit. This year, I presented her with a similar challenge and asked her to share a bit about her design process with me. Here is what she had to say:
“Little design challenges can be good. If we let them, they can stretch our thinking and spark creativity.
A little design challenge is what Universal Yarn presented me with when preparing for this year’s 12 Days of Winter Kit Collection:
· Use three colors · Use no more than one ball each color · Create an accessory with both a knitted version and a crocheted version · Keep it to advanced beginner level skills
Knit Sugarplum Cowl
Having parameters like this makes me have to think more carefully. How can I incorporate and balance the colors, when I can use no more than one ball each? How can I make both a knitted and crocheted version so that they look similar? How do I keep it simple enough for beginners, but interesting enough for more experienced crafters? And maybe most importantly, how I can I make it attractive and wearable?
Left: Crochet Sugarplum Cowl; Right: Knit Sugarplum Cowl
Of course, having a beautiful yarn like Dona helps a lot. Those icy-winter colors and the smooth texture of the yarn enhance stitch definition, no matter what stitch you use. It’s such a great choice for so many types of projects!
For these Sugarplum Cowls, I settled on a chevron pattern, a classic for both crocheters and knitters. The increases and decreases that make the zig-zag pattern keep you on your toes just enough to maintain your interest, but not so much to cause frustration once you get the pattern established. And because it’s made in the round, there are no annoying seams to deal with!
Whether you choose to knit or crochet, I hope you enjoy making your Sugarplum Cowls. I certainly enjoyed the little design challenge.”
Crochet Sugarplum Cowl
I hope you enjoyed hearing about Edie’s design. We love working with her, and you can find even more of her patterns in some of our other yarns on our website.
We sincerely hope you’ve enjoyed following along as we’ve highlighted each kit in the collection. Remember, you can find the Sugarplum Cowls and the rest of the 12 Days of Winter kits at your local yarn store. Click here to find a shop that carries our yarn near you.
