I am fascinated by the use of natural resources in yarn dyeing, and no less fascinated by the artists who do so. (G)uld (www.g-uld.dk), a small Danish indie dyeing business, does it very very well, creating an array of subtle shades, as well as more bold ones, by incorporating what nature around them (and Danish dyeing tradition) provides. Many of their colors mirror Danish nature itself.

To me, the colors of this cowl show the transition from autumn to winter in Denmark. Some leaves are stubbornly holding on to their green tint, yellowing a little, and the sky is changing colors constantly between greys and shades of blue. The alpaca being a lovely soft yarn to work with, this cowl is the perfect companion for this shift of season into the following winter. Being fully reversible, it’s easy to throw around your neck without thinking which way it should turn. Make a shorter one for a one-layer cowl, or a longer version for a cowl that can be wrapped around your neck twice. Or make it long enough to become a scarf, leaving it unbuttoned.

Yarn: (G)uld 100% Alpaka (100% alpaca), 160 m / 175 yds per 50g, fingering weight, 3(5)7 skeins in different colors.
Colorways used for sample (shown in Long size):
C1: Lyng Farvebad 1 (white base)
C2: Lyng Farvebad 1 (grey base)
C3: Undyed grey base
C4: Indigo Farvebad 3 (white base)
C5: Indigo Farvebad 2 (grey base)
Any yarn with the same yardage can be used. Yarn is held double, so a single strand of a yarn of 80 m / 87.5 yds per 50g (160 m / 175 yds per 100g) would work fine as well.

Needles: 4 mm / US 6 straights or circulars, at least 40 cm / 16 inches long.

Other: 5 buttons (approximately 13mm/0.5 inch diameter), 5 removable stitch markers or safety pins, tapestry needle to weave in ends, waste yarn for provisional cast on.

Gauge: Not crucial (but gauge might affect required yardage and final size) Sample uses gauge of 16 sts & 28 rows to 10 cm / 4 inches in stitch pattern.

Size:
Short cowl(Long cowl)Scarf
Length/circumference: approximately 86(144)200 cm / 34(57)79 inches.
Width/height: 26 cm / 10.25 inches for all sizes.

This pattern has been tech edited and tested. A big thanks to everyone involved!