The Orfeo Cowl’s swirling colourwork motifs are inspired by the decorative stamped motifs found in 17thC books and music scores. I scaled up the tiny, tiling motifs which border the title page of Monteverdi’s opera L’Orfeo (published in Venice in 1609) to create abstract colourwork full of movement and baroque drama. A coordinating hat pattern is also available—the Orfeo Hat.

Skills & Techniques:
The Twisted German Cast On (optional), working stranded colourwork in the round, and following colourwork charts.

Materials Needed:
2 skeins in each of 2 colours of Outlaw Yarn Bohemia Sport (45% Polwarth, 45% Alpaca, 10% Possum; 183yds/167m per 50g skein), or 216yds/197m of sport-weight yarn for the Main Colour (MC) + 209yds/191m for the Contrast Colour (CC).
Sample colourways: ‘Gaslight’ (MC) + ‘Leadlight’ (CC).

You will also need one end-of-round stitch marker + 5 optional markers for between repeats, and a needle for weaving in the ends.

Finished Measurements:
Relaxed after blocking: 27”/68.5cm circumference, and 10”/25.5cm height. The circumference can be increased by working additional repeats (36 stitches per repeat).

Read more about the Orfeo Cowl and its inspiration on my blog:
New patterns: Orfeo Hat & Cowl

Tutorial: Swatching in the round