Aspen Leaf Brioche Cowl | PDXKnitterati

The Aspen Leaf Brioche Cowl features a garland of syncopated brioche aspen leaves on its edge, just enough to make a sweet statement on this brioche rib knit. The cowl is knit flat in fingering weight yarn for a lightweight yet cozy accessory.

Choose your size, closer fitting or a bigger swoop. Both can be rolled a bit at the neck to show a pop of contrast rib from the reverse side.

The Aspen Leaf Brioche Cowl is knit with two skeins of fingering weight yarn in contrasting colors. I used Manos del Uruguay Alegria in Mojito and Lush. The cowl is knit from the bottom edge up, and seamed at the neck. Gauge is not critical, but it can affect size and yardage requirements. This pattern features flat syncopated brioche with brioche increases and decreases, and a syncopated border around the leaf motif.

I played around with this idea while on the Vogue Knitting Alaska cruise, and it has come a long way since then!

The Aspen Leaf Brioche Cowl is available on Ravelry, link here. It is also available on Payhip, link here. Use coupon code LEAFLET for 15% off through December 7, 2023. (How did we get to December already?!)

I was looking through my blog for a bit of information, and I ran into this post which I am now reposting, because it’s still so true!

I did all my swatching for my new design on my trusty Hiya Hiya stainless needles, but the slipping of the first stitch was aggravating.

When it came to actually knit the piece, I switched to my Knitters Pride Ginger needles, and that made a huge difference. Just a little more grippy, and I felt secure knitting this skinny superwash yarn on US 3 needles.

My favorite needle changes from project to project; it’s good to have alternatives depending on the characteristics of your yarn! What are you knitting/knitting with these days?

Why does it matter? Original blog post from 2022 below:

Match your yarn to your needles! I don’t mean by color. In fact, it’s helpful to have a contrasting color needle so you can see your stitches! Although I do remember the time I knit a black tank top on ebony needles. Good thing I knit mostly by feel.

When I was at Red Alder Fiber Arts Retreat, I took a class from my friend Carson Demers, author of Knitting Comfortably. Carson is a physical therapist, and specializes in ergonomics. One tip he gave was this: If your yarn is slippery, you might want to choose a grippier needle so you’re not fighting for control. I do love my HiyaHiya stainless steel needles for most knitting, but this skinny Schmutzerella Spectacular superwash was a bit challenging on them. I was more comfortable using my Knitters Pride Ginger wooden needles for this project.

In this picture, I’m moving my knitting off my metal needles back onto my wooden needles. I do love both kinds of needles, depending on the project. I had been using the metal needle as a stitch holder so I could borrow the wooden one for something else.

I’m not saying you should never use metal needles with superwash; I don’t usually have an issue with them. It may depend on your yarn content, or yarn size. Choose what is comfortable for you while you’re swatching (or starting over because you’re not comfortable…) PS: Don’t change needles mid-project; that can change your gauge!

Do you have a favorite type of needle? Or does it depend? What are you knitting with right now?