Cat Nouveau Cowl

Hello, my name is Jac, and I am addicted to making color work charts.

Everyone deals with stress and depression differently, and I handle the darker moments by entering into a weird zen-like state where ten hours feels like ten minutes and I come out of it with a brand new color chart. Thanks to the pandemic, I now have this crazy backlog of color work charts that are begging to be something: cowls, fingerless mitts, socks, hats, sweaters. Also thanks to the pandemic, we didn’t have the yarn in stock for me to make any of those things!

But now we do.

It’s no coincidence that when Megan-Anne and I started dying yarn again that the first things we tackled was ‘Palpatine’, ‘Miss Patty’, and ‘Bard of Avon’ on Geek-A-Long Yarn. I HAD to cast on the Cat Nouveau Cowl first. There were times when I’d just pull up the color chart and stare at it longingly. I wish I were joking, but I’m not. I am straight up obsessed with it.

Also, I have never been more thankful for chilly early mornings in my life. Getting an early start on the day is now just an excuse for me to wear my Cat Nouveau cowl. Do I look silly coming home in the 80 degree weather with a cowl draped over my arm? Maybe. But I do look fresh to death in the morning? Absolutely.

Cat Nouveau sprouted from my love Art Deco and was spurned on by the iconic “Le Chat Noir” poster. Also, sometimes you just need everyone to know that you adore black cats and being comfy. This double-knit cowl was designed to keep you warm while also displaying a piece of hand-knit art around your neck.

This cowl is worked in the round from the bottom to the top using the double knitting technique to create two layers of fabric at the same time with only one pair of needles, resulting in an entirely reversible piece of art for your neck.

Get 20% off Cat Nouveau now through Saturday, September 19th, 2020. No coupon code needed!

Click here to purchase the Cat Nouveau pattern now!

A PDF will be emailed to you by Ravelry. You don’t need to be a Ravelry member to purchase the pattern, but if you are, the PDF will show up in your library. To view the Cat Nouveau pattern page on Ravelry, click THIS LINK.

About the Pattern

This pattern assumes that this is not your first double knitting project.

Recommended Yarn: Lattes & Llamas Geek-A-Long Yarn (100 grams/ 328 yards) or a comparable sport weight yarn in three contrasting colorways. Sample is shown in ‘Palpatine’ (MC), Miss Patty (CC1), and Bard of Avon (CC2).

• MC: two skeins or 135 grams/ 443 yards
• CC1: one skein or 55 grams/ 180 yards
• CC2: one skein or 85 grams/ 279 yards

I recommend taking a picture of your yarn and greyscaling the photo to make sure there is a heavy contrast between the Main Color (MC) and the two Contrasting Colors (CC). Since the two CC’s never touch, those two do not need to have a heavy contrast between them.

Needles: US5 / 3.75 mm 40″ circular needles

Sizing: Measurements are taken after blocking. 36 ½ inches around; 18 ¼ inches flat; 12 ¼ inches deep

The circumference of the cowl can be adjusted by adding or removing repeats of the chart. Though, these variations will affect yardage requirements.

MY HUSBAND, leaning over my shoulder: Why are you using the same pose twice? They’re basically the same picture.

ME: Babe, look at them again.

MY HUSBAND, visibly confused: I don’t get it.

ME: Look at the cat.

MY HUSBAND: Ooooh, it’s reversible.

ME, graciously not pointing out that he literally watched me double knit it: Yep.

In his defense, it was early in the morning before his first cup of coffee, but oh man. It took everything I had to keep in my giggles.

~ Jac

I hope you love this as much as I do, because you will definitely be seeing this color chart again in the future. Also, I need it to get colder so that I can live in it.