The Escarpment Cowl 2025

Escarpment Cowl 2025

January 31, 2025

Post Script to my last post: First of all, I did NOT expect such a round of support and empathy! I swear the things we go through! I'm glad I managed to share some laughs :) Oh, and yesterday my radiologist was doing another check up and she said "Hey, what happened to the fibroid that was in there?" and I said "Have I got a story for you...."

THE ESCARPMENT COWL 2025

The OG version of the Escarpment cowl was written in 2016, *almost* 10 years go, which is crazy to me! That means we’ve almost been in business 10 years too, because I think it’s one of the first things we did, and that Tito and have been married 10 years because that was the year before we started the company. (cue Keanu Reeves “woah”. Gods he's pretty).

In the original cowl, I started it as a top-down triangular shawl, you worked until it was wide enough to join in the round, and then continued working to completion. It was a lovely, and popular pattern, but I’ve learned a lot of things since that I knew could make it better.

In the OG version, there is a row of eyelets around the top from the increases, and increases down the back spine as well as the front, which results in a bit of a dip at the back of the neck. And backs of necks get cold!

The new version begins in the round, with ribbing to give it structure and keep the neckline high in the back, without added bulk. Once the ribbing is complete, you switch to stockinette and begin increasing along that centre column to add more fabric to the front only. The bottom in both cases is garter stitch, which makes for a nice easy finishing with no rolling.

Here’s the fun bit; you really don’t need to stick with what I wrote. If you want longer ribbing, or less garter, or garter ridges, or to use the stockinette section to insert lace, or cables, or colourwork, you can! It’s the same basic template I started with for my Cistern Cowl and the Treena Cowl. Seriously, you can go nuts with it. Use it to really show off a variegated yarn, or put a couple of slim cables on either side of the increase column, or add a tassel to the bottom point. The possibilities are endless!

There is a pre order live right now (though not much longer) and if you wanted to order what you need for the new Escarpment cowl, you’ll want 300 yards of Escarpment, Muskoka or Superior DK (a ladybug size). However, I am working out the numbers for sport weight and sock weight, so don’t feel limited by the base either :) My only suggestion here is to stick with 300 yards unless you want a truly unwieldy cowl.

Other Stuff Ear Candy :)

I'm an insomniac, but sometimes the right audiobook helps. This week it's "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan being read by LeVar Burton and I absolutely recommend it. The book is one of my all-time favourites (I know the show by heart) so listening to it doesn't require a ton of my attention. For what it's worth, Carl Sagan, also posessed a soporific voice, so it's a fair call.

I'm a complete Carl Sagan Geek. I love everything he's ever written. I've asked myself "What would Carl Sagan do?" (to be fair I've also asked "What would the crew from Top Gear do?" when I'm feeling irritable. Probably they'd blow something up, but I digress.). My geeky holodeck poker game includes Carl Sagan and Jean-Luc Picard. Oh, and the crew from Top Gear 🤣 🤣 🤣

If you've never read the original book, go straight out and buy a copy. It's science and poetry and wonder all expressed by a brilliant, compassionate astronomer.

Other Stuff - Mind Candy :

This week I'm reading "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" by Betty Edwards. One of my goals recently has been to return to drawing. Despite all of my other artistic leanings, I've never felt that I was strong in that department.

I love the approach of the book. It begins with the reasonable enough assertion that if one can learn to read, one can learn to draw. They are equally valid, and valuable means of communication. Because drawing (and perhaps other "right brain" endeavors in the books thesis) falls into the category of intuitive, non-rational thinking, it tends to be derided as less useful. Finally, in the opening chapters she notes that there is a kind of gate-keeping preventing people from drawing that doesn't exist in reading; an ephemeral and subjective thing called "Talent".

I've been drawing at least once a day for a few weeks, and I can honestly say the general trend is upwards. It truly is just like any other muscle, work it, and the neural pathways shall come. So, don't let anyone tell you that you can't draw :) Pick up the book and give it a go.

I'm not done yet, but so far it's 5 stars =D