I think that some of the most beautiful stitch patterns are the timeless patterns of the traditional fisherman’s guernseys. I wish that I had more time to knit a guernsey for myself, but in its stead, I’ve put together a much faster knitting project to keep one just as warm when the cool weather creeps in: The Whitby Hat & Cowl. Relying on the repetition of two century-old guernsey stitch patterns from the British Isles, this hat and cowl are a perfect match! The Whitby stitch pattern, represented by the closely-constructed Jacob’s Ladder sections and the Scarborough stitch pattern, represented by the bulky cable, combine so well that they are sure to catch the eye of every passerby.
The hat and the cowl, named for the town of Whitby, which is located on the River Esk in Yorkshire, are knit using my own hand dyed Flock 195 (Cedar Hill Farm Company) in Tanzanite. Knitted up on a 16-inch circular US 9 (5.5mm) needle, the duo require a total of 410 yards (375m) of worsted weight yarn. (Flock is a 3-ply, but a 10-ply worsted weight can be substituted.) The pattern is charted and written and includes suggestions for modification of size for each piece. As promised, the Whitby Place Hat & Cowl pattern has been released and is now available for download on Etsy, Ravelry, and Craftsy. This cowl, particularly, has become a favorite of mine already, and I am sure it will be a favorite of yours, too, for years to come!