It feels funny to be knitting for myself after Thanksgiving.  This is traditional Christmas gift knitting season after all!  (I also have trouble buying myself anything at this time of year — socks, sweaters, books, toothpaste…maybe someone is getting me that for Christmas, right? And anyhow I am super focused on buying gifts for others and it just feels awkward to pick up stuff for myself when I could be stuffing those stockings and maybe getting some extra groceries for our church’s food drive….)

But having finished a hat for myself and finding that none of my cowls looked great with it, I decided to dash off a quickie.  Fat yarn (actually Aran weight yarn held double) on fat needles.  A simple knit 2, purl 2 rib.  A super stretchy bind off. Boom!  Done!

What I did not expect was the versatility of this simple bulky cowl.  I had made it long so it would fold double for an epic puffy look and so it doesn’t flop around.  It is also quite warm!  I used the soft alpaca/merino blend yarn where the fold would hit my neck and chin — for comfort.  The cowl looks like this folded:

And like this opened up:

Then, I started playing with it.  What if I wore it fully opened?

Or stretched over my shoulders?

Or as a hood?

Wow!  I LOVE being able to wear a knitted piece different ways 🙂

So, I am set for Zoolights tonight — and for the rest of winter, whatever the occasion!