Durham Chevrons Cowl: Gradient Yarns and Simple Stitches

Familiar chevron and zigzag patterns are not just knitters’ motifs. They have been reinterpreted by artists—both ancient and modern—time and again in many mediums. Whether on pottery, in architecture, or embroidered on cloth, these symbols are common to many different cultures around the world. The famous chevron columns of Durham Cathedral in the north of England inspired this cowl, which is knitted as a tube with alternating colors and a bit of texture.

Kate was inspired by the incised columns of Durham Cathedral and wanted to capture the texture, which creates a balance of light and shade. Photo by Matt Graves; watercolor by Kate Larson

Complex color doesn’t have to be challenging to knit! This design makes use of yarns that slowly shift colors, creating a complex palette with very little work. We’ve used Freia Fine Handpaints Ombré Worsted in Chameleon, which shifts slowly from a springy grass green to turquoise.

High Contrast

One of my favorite ways to use gradient yarns is to punctuate the slow color shifts with stripes of a contrast color. This makes the color transitions even more dramatic because it’s easier to see each stripe as unique.

You will need to pick a strong contrast color that doesn’t blend with any of the gradient stripes. Here’s my best tip: When choosing a high-contrast color, think of it as adding a new color to the gradient, not matching it. Here, we chose a deep grape color—nearly black—in an airy, sportweight yarn from North Bay Fiber. The high contrast allows the stripes and purl textures to pop, and the lightweight yarn provides drape to the cowl. I think you’ll love this squishy, American-grown Targhee-Polypay yarn.

Gradient yarns worked in simple knit and purl stitches make this colorful cowl a breeze to knit.

Simple Stitches

This cowl uses only basic stitches: knit and purl, simple increases and decreases. The simple chevron pattern adds movement, and the purl rows create color mixing and add further depth to the gradient effect. Sit back, relax, and watch the colors flow.

—Kate

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Kate’s Tips

• This cowl is worked in the round as a tube on a circular needle. The beginning and end of the tube are grafted together after the piece is completed. This means that only the right side of the fabric shows, making selvedges unnecessary and hiding the wrong side of the work. This creates a stretchy, easy-to-wear accessory.

• Working yarns can be carried loosely from one stripe to the next, eliminating the need to weave in ends. If the new color is always brought over the top of the last color used when changing colors, they twist on the next color change and eliminate a color “jog.” Keep these transitions loose to reduce puckering.

• This cowl starts with a provisional cast-on, and Kate recommends a crochet provisional method. She demonstrates two easy methods here: LT.Media/Crochet-CO.

By selecting a strong contrast color, the color transitions in the gradient yarn will really pop! Photo by Matt Graves

Learn More

Tutorial Two Crochet Provisional Cast-Ons

Article Tough as Targhee: Finewool of the West

Article The Unsung Delights of Polypay Wool

Subscribers can find the Durham Chevrons Cowl in the Farm & Fiber Knits Library.

Also find the Durham Chevrons Cowl in the new eBook, The Creative Color Collection.