Indeed it’s true. My Christmas knitting (that needs to be finished by 12/25…) is done, and so I’ve been finishing up some things for myself. Nothing feels better than finishing something I’ve been working for a long time after a whole run of knits that I’ll have to give away.



This is the tapestry cowl from pepperknit. This was an immensely challenging knit, but I seriously enjoyed every minute of it. No bullshitting – I swear to God. I learned to freaking double knit for this cowl, and I even liked it. So yes it’s double knit, and as you’ll see if you check over on Minty’s site there, you’ll learn that because of the double knitting it’s also reversible. But it also takes a lot longer than your standard cowl pattern. The result is some beautifully patterned double-knit warmth. I could really use that, living in Chicago and all, and I could especially use it now that I’ve finished it in the middle of the Pacific Northwest blizzard of ought eight.



HOLY GOD is it snowy in Portland. I’m here visiting my family again for Christmas, and I’m glad I made it in before all of this business really got started!

So the details are all on rav, but I’ll re-post a few of them here:
I used koigu and US5 circular needle. I magic-looped it, which was a little tight with the needle I was working with, but not a huge deal.



If anyone is curious, I do knit continental and that technique is pretty indispensable for knitting this cowl. I did run out of yarn in the end and cut the plain border after the charted colorwork short (which you can just barely see in the foreground of the shot right above here of the mostly white side of the cowl), which is not a big deal. The only thing I’m not so thrilled with is the quality of my kitchener – what gives, kitchener? I used to be so good, and I don’t even mind doing it. In any case, that end is definitely going on the bottom since the cast-on end is so much more attractive.

In the meantime, I wish you all some happy holidays, and I’ll be back soon with millions more gifted FOs!