Cullin Cowl (x 8)
February 11, 2013
Over the years, I have been part of a craft swap group. Each person in the group chooses their own craft and makes one for each of the other swappers. We took a hiatus a couple of years back and just started swapping again this past summer/fall. When I found out that our next swap would be in the winter, I immediately knew that I wanted to knit something. I had seen the pattern for the Cullin cowl on Quince & Co.'s site. It looked like a fun, fast knit and any excuse to buy a rainbow of yarn works for me.
I started in September, carrying various cowls around town as I sat in various waiting rooms and gyms while my kids did their things. Over the course of the fall, I knitted eight cowls. And I was right about the pattern - this is a fun and fast knit. The lace pattern is simple and easy to memorize. Plus, size 10 needles and a good, chunky yarn was easy for me to manage without my tendonitis flaring up. Each cowl took a little less than one skein of Puffin so it was fairly economical as well.
Last night I plopped the pile down in front of my friends and they each chose the color they wanted. In exchange, I received a set of patchwork coasters, three stone topped bottle stoppers, an adorable fabric and paper decoupaged canvas and a cool leather cuff. Oh, and four cowls to put in the gift closet. Or maybe it'll be three for gifts and one for me, seeing that no one picked green.
i love the rainbow of colors!
Posted by: emily | February 11, 2013 at 10:55 AM
they're awesome!! great job (as always.) hope you're well.
xo
Posted by: jen j-m | February 11, 2013 at 11:05 AM
This is the best! idea.
I have to rope some friends into a swap.
Also, you totally have to keep that green one, it's so perfectly you!
Posted by: jess | February 11, 2013 at 11:09 AM
What an awesome swap gift!
Posted by: larissa | February 11, 2013 at 01:50 PM
I don't know how I missed that cowl pattern. The rainbow of knits made me smile.
Posted by: Suzanne | February 11, 2013 at 02:30 PM
I love this idea of a swap. Gets me to thinking! What a fun excuse to make lots of something. Thanks for the idea and the pretty pics. Inspiring!
Posted by: Janet B | February 11, 2013 at 03:02 PM
Oh, I remember your swap group! Such a great idea. Your cowls look wonderful, as always :)
Posted by: beki | February 11, 2013 at 03:58 PM
One of your first mentions of your craft group inspired me to create something similar with my friends. We too have taken a bit of a break, but I hope we start up again in the summer. Love the cowls, and the fact that you get one too.
Posted by: Heather | February 11, 2013 at 04:13 PM
what a lovely idea - though how could no one pick the green - my favourite colour. It's so cold here at the moment I am going to knit a cowl both to keep my neck warm when it's done but also to keep my fingers warm knitting it!
Posted by: claire | February 12, 2013 at 07:38 AM
What a great idea - I'd like to start a craft swap group myself - maybe after my daughter's wedding...
Posted by: Susie | February 12, 2013 at 09:13 AM
Lovely colors!
Posted by: Steph W | February 12, 2013 at 01:18 PM
these are so fantastically excellent. did you find it just so satisfying, re-working the same pattern, over and over? i love that, and think i must be crazy; so many get bored with the repetition. i find it so soothing, like my version of zen. busy-fingered, fuzzy zen.
must get my hands on some quince + co. i've been eyeing their fiber forever...
Posted by: Molly | February 13, 2013 at 09:04 AM
Erin, such beautiful colours! The swap group idea is so great, I might steal it.
Posted by: Sandra Reuston | February 18, 2013 at 04:25 PM
Lovely cowls - I wish I knew how to knit a little better than stockinette. I just made a stack of those woven coasters for my retreat mates in May. Are the corners rounded? That's what I do to mine because I am never satisfied with what the square corners end up looking like. Have you seen the triangle log cabin pin cushion on Jeni's In Color Order? Made a stack of those, too. Adorable! I may have to fill with rice because no one sells lizard litter in this retail challenged town I live in on a rock sticking up out of the ocean.
Posted by: Bearpawquilter | February 19, 2013 at 02:07 PM
Ello there! I just discovered your blog and am slowly making my way through your archives. Could you tell me, is that a book with the boy playing the bagpipes and pigs? I have a young piper of my own and am always on the lookout for "stuff". Thanks!
Posted by: Gabi | November 30, 2013 at 09:47 AM
Oh, that isn't a book, but rather an art piece a friend made for me!
Posted by: Erin | house on hill road | November 30, 2013 at 03:52 PM