Free pattern: Close to me

This is what happens when you cross a small amount of Shilasdair 100% cashmere handspun yarn and a need (or rather want) for a light scarf. As I only had 68g of yarn, I couldn't make anything too big, so I started hunting for either long thin scarves, or short fat cowls. I found one or two things that I liked but didn't seem quite what I was after. The more I hunted, the clearer the picture became in my head of what I was after. I therefore made it up and it turned out perfectly (in my opinion). Please excuse the rubbish photos.



I combined the idea of a long thin scarf and a short fat cowl to create a long thin cowl that creates a cosy double loop around my neck. It's perfect for this yarn as it feels absolutely gorgeous and is so light you wouldn't know you were wearing save for the cosy feeling around your neck.



It's a really quick knit too, only 30 rows of knitting. It uses garter stitch with some very simple detail at the borders.



Gauge
Not critical

Things
I used:

• 1 68g ball of Shilasdair 100% cashmere handspun (I didn't use quite all of it)
  
• 6mm 80cm circular needle
  
• Stitch marker
  
• Sewing needle for finishing 
  

Abbreviations

• k – knit
  
• p – purl
  
• k2tog - knit two stitches together
  
• yo - yarn over 
  

Instructions

Cast on 172 stitches (or similar even number of stitches - just keep going until it looks right)
Join for knitting in the round, placing stitch marker to indicate the start of the round.

• Row 1: k all
  
• Row 2: p all
  
• Row 3: k all
  
• Row 4: p all
  

• Row 5: *k2tog, yo, repeat from *
  
• Row 6: p all
  
• Row 7: k all
  
• Row 8: p all
  

Repeat rows 5-8 one more time

• Row 13: k all
  
• Row 14: p all

Repeat rows 13 and 14 four more times (or more if you prefer a wider loop)
Then repeat rows 5-8 twice
Cast off very loosely, use a larger needle if necessary
Weave in ends