The Brioche Blur Cowl is another möbius cowl, a style I love to knit and wear. In this design, the grafting is done in the garter stitch section for a seamless finish. In this photo tutorial, the following will be demonstrated:
- How to set up your live stitches for grafting a möbius
- Garter Kitchener stitch in the round
This tutorial assumes that you have finished knitting and blocking your cowl, and that you have left a long tail for grafting that is attached to your knitted piece. Additionally, this assumes that the first round of garter stitch worked was a knit round and the last round was a purl round.
Materials
You will need:
- your knitted piece
- tapestry needle
- two pairs of 16” circular needles, ideally smaller than size used when knitting
- removable stitch markers (2)
- scissors
- yarn at least 3x the length of the edge being seamed
Step 1: Transfer stitches to your knitting needles
Once your cowl is blocked and dry, transfer your live stitches back to your circular needle (Live Stitches A). Transfer your provisional cast on stitches to your other circular needle (Live Stitches B).
Step 2: Rearrange provisional cast on stitches
Since you are creating a möbius cowl, you need to make a half twist in the knitted piece before grafting. However, in order to graft, both sets of knitting needles have to face the same direction after making the twist. Therefore, we must rearrange the provisionally cast on stitches.
Transfer half of your Live Stitches B from the left hand needle to the right hand needle. Now, the needles on the top are facing in the opposite direction of the needles on the bottom.
Tip: If you provisionally casted onto a stitch saver or other needle, this is a good time to make sure your stitches are mounted in the same direction, with the right leg of the stitch in front.
Step 3: Make your twist
Lay the cowl flat and make a half twist so that the tips of the circular needles are facing in the same direction. You will start grafting with the top and bottom needles (see annotated photo above). To make things less fiddly, pull the middle needles to the side so that the stitches are on the cords of your circular needles.
Place locking stitch markers onto the first stitches on the top and bottom needle (circled in white).
This will make it easier for you to see where to insert your tapestry needle when you get to the end of grafting.
Thread your long tail onto a tapestry needle.
Step 4: Garter Kitchener stitch in the round
Insert the tapestry needle knitwise (i.e. as if to knit) into the first live stitch on the closest knitting needle to you (metal or “bottom” needle) and slip it off.
Then, insert the tapestry needle purlwise (i.e. as if to purl) onto the “new” first stitch on that same knitting needle, leaving it on the needle.
Repeat above instructions with the knitting needle farthest from you (wooden or “top” needle).
Continue
Continue in established pattern (knit, off, purl, on) until there is one stitch left on both knitting needles. When completing the graft, do the “purl, on” step on the beginning stitches marked with removable stitch markers. Weave in ends.