Mystery Cowl Knit-Along 2025

shainabilow
1 day ago
3 min read

I am so excited for the 2025-2026 Mystery Cowl Knit-Along!

We're going a little bit sideways! This year's cowl will be a two-color bias-knit piece in DK/Light Worsted Weight (CYCA 3) yarn. Since the cowl is worked on the bias, it'll need to be either seamed, grafted, or worked as a 3-needle bind off (your choice!). It features simple mosaic colorwork to create a textured fabric. I would suggest this project for advanced beginner and intermediate knitters. As always, I will be providing tutorial videos for many of the techniques in the project.

We are going to have a lot of fun working mosaic knitting motifs in our favorite colors. Can you say "Happy Knitting!"?!

To purchase the Mystery Cowl Knit Along 2025 pattern and participate in the KAL, visit Ravelry here.

How does the mystery cowl KAL work? I've designed a gorgeous cowl and you have no idea what it looks like! Beginning on December 26th and ending on January 1st, I will release daily clues that contain a new section of the pattern. There will be about 20-30 rows of knitting per clue. To receive the updates, purchase the pattern on Ravelry and check back every day for the new clue. You can knit at your own pace or try to work each clue on the day it's released. Join in on the fun in my Ravelry Group and then be sure to register for the Zoom Cowl Show-Off and New Year's Party after the Knit-Along.

Finished measurements of the cowl: Approximately 22"/55 cm circumference x 9"/23 cm depth.

Needles: US 7/4.5 mm knitting needle or size needed to obtain gauge.

Gauge: 20 sts and 40 rows = 4"/10 cm in Mosaic Background (see below)

Mosaic Background Swatch:

In MC, cast on 25 sts.

Row 1 (RS): With MC, knit.

Row 2 (WS): With MC, purl.

Row 3: With CC, k2, (slip 1 purlwise with yarn held to back, k1) repeat ( ) to the last stitch, k1.

Row 4: With CC, k2, (slip 1 purlwise with yarn held to front, k1) repeat ( ) to the last stitch, k1.

Row 5: With MC, knit.

Row 6: With MC, purl.

Row 7: With CC, k1, (slip 1 purlwise with yarn held to back, k1) repeat ( ) to the end of the row.

Row 8: With CC, k1, (slip 1 purlwise with yarn held to front, k1) repeat ( ) to the end of the row.

Repeat Rows 1-8 five times and bind off (or take the sts off the needles if you are worried about having enough yarn). The center 20 sts across and the full height of the swatch should measure approximately 4"/10 cm.

Other Materials: Scissors, tapestry needle, row counter (if desired), scrap yarn and size G/4.5 mm crochet hook for the provisional cast on (if desired).

Yarn: 150 yards each of 2 colors of DK/Light Worsted Weight (CYCA #3) yarn.

Suggested Yarns:

Clinton Hill Cashmere "Bespoke DK" (2 balls/1 of each color, plus extra in case we run low!)

100% Cashmere; 125 yds/50g ball.

Inspired by the Mix and Match Hat KAL I ran with Becky over the summer, one of my Mystery Cowls this year will be made with the Bespoke DK cashmere. I have some odds-and-ends on hand in case I run out of yarn or decide to make my cowl a little bit wider.

Yarn Snob Yarns will have a fun kit for the MKAL with his new "Spotlight" sequined yarn. Stay tuned!

See the colors and purchase the yarn here.

Marianated Yarns "Playtime DK" (2 skeins/1 of each color)

100% Superwash Merino Wool; 274 yds/100g ball.

See the colors and purchase the yarn here.

Of course, I encourage you to SHOP YOUR STASH as well!

You never know you might have forgotten about in there!

Suggestions for choosing your two yarn colors:

Make it bold and pair two colors that are highly contrasted (examples: black and white / dark brown and light pink / navy and chartreuse green).
Keep it subtle with colors that have some similarities (similar tones, tints, or shades)
Have a subtle tonal look with colors that are near one another on the color wheel (examples: yellow and orange / pink and purple / blue and green).
Go artsy with a self-stripe, multi-color, or textural yarn as your contrast color and a solid color as your main color. Just be sure that the main color stands out enough that you'll see the multi or stripe colors.