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Skill level: Beginner

The Shine Bright Cowl is a colorful and cozy cowl in a squishy waffle stitch pattern. It’s a happy, quick knit using two strands of fingering weight yarn held together. The resulting tweeded marled look is enhanced by the colorful stripes.

For the third year in a row, I’ve created a Festival of Lights Hanukkah yarn box. Each year, I design a special piece (or two or eight) to accompany the yarn in the sets. This year, the theme of the yarn set was Hanukkah Yarn Party and I wanted everything to represent lighting the menorah, preparing (and eating!) delicious foods with family, celebrating miracles, and bringing light to the world. While I only intended to design one piece for the 2023 set, I felt compelled to design this second, simpler project for my customers who might need something simple and comforting to knit right now.

Construction Details:
The Shine Bright Cowl is worked in the round using a simple knit/purl pattern.

Skills Required:
Cast On/Bind Off
Joining in the Round
Knit/Purl
Weaving in ends

Sizes: Small - pulls on over the head (Large infinity loop).

Finished measurements: 23.5/58 cm circumference and 11/28 cm depth (44/110 cm circumference and 5.5/14 cm depth).

Gauge: 17 stitches and 26 rounds = 4/10 cm in Waffle Stitch using size needle to obtain gauge.

Needles: US 9/5.5 mm circular needle or size needed for gauge in 24/60 cm (40/100 cm) length. Adjust needle size as necessary to obtain the correct gauge.

Yarn: Fingering Weight (CYCA #1) to be held double strand.

Main Color (MC): 250 yards.
Contrast Color (CC): a total of 250 yards of assorted colors.

Sample shown uses Hand Dyed Yarn by Shaina Bilow Bounce (80% superwash merino wool, 20% nylon; 400 yds / 100 g) in 1 ball Natural (MC) and 1 set of nine 20g mini skeins from the Festival of Lights 2023 collection (CC).

To work the cowl with one strand of Worsted Weight (CYCA #4) yarn, 250 yards are needed.

Other Materials: stitch marker, tapestry needle.