The first time I held a skein of the Lima Lace yarn I knew I had to knit something with it immediately! This yarn is a 70% baby alpaca and 30% silk blend that is incredibly soft and light weight. We were getting ready for a vacation so I needed to quickly dye and design something that was easy to transport and an easy knit for vacation mode mind set. I wanted something elegant but simple. The Lima Lace Cowl was designed with this in mind. The natural roll of the knit/purl stitch combination allows the cowl to lay comfortably and look effortlessly artistic around your neck. Click here for PDF pattern.
Lima Lace Cowl- version #1
This is a very easy cowl to knit and looks great on, not to mention the baby alpaca/silk yarn feels fabulous against your skin. This cowl is knit with six different colors and alternates the knit and purl pattern with each color change.
Finished size: 48 inch round and 3 inch wide. Can be worn doubled as shown in the picture.
Materials:
· 360 yds or 6- 60 yd skeins of Ashland Bay’s Lima Lace yarn in a dye progression colorway.
· Size US 6 24” circular needles
· Stitch marker
Arrange your 6 colors in the dye progression, from the lightest to the darkest. The lightest color will be your color #1 in the pattern.
With color #1, cast on 214 stitches on the circular needle. Mark your join with a stitch marker and be careful not to twist the stitches when joining the stitches in the round. Knit in the round with color #1 for 1½ inches.
Color change row: attach color #2 and knit a complete round.
Purl the following rows until the purl section is 1½ inches.
With color #3, knit for 1½ inches
With color #4, knit the first round and then purl until the purl section is 1 ½ inches.
With color #5, knit for 1½ inches .
With color #6, knit the first round and then purl until the purl section measures 1½ inches.
Bind off with the elastic bind off.*
*Elastic bind off (EBO)– Slip first stitch, *K 1, with the left needle go into the front of these 2 stitches and knit the 2 stitches together,* continue * * until all the stitches have been bound off.
Lima Lace Cowl- version #2
This cowl is also knit with six different colors and alternates the knit and purl pattern with each color change. With the addition of a simple YO, K2 together row in the middle of the purl sections of the cowl.
Finished size: 42 inches around and 4½ inches wide
Materials:
· 360 yds or 6- 60 yd skeins of Ashland Bay’s Lima Lace yarn in a dye progression colorway.
· Size US 5 24” circular needles
· Stitch marker
Arrange your 6 colors in the dye progression, from the lightest to the darkest. The lightest color will be your color #1 in the pattern.
With color #1, cast on 210 stitches on the circular needle. Mark your join with a stitch marker and be careful not to twist the stitches when joining the stitches in the round. Knit in the round with color #1 for 1½ inches.
Color change row: With color #2 knit a complete round. Purl the following rows until the purl section is ¾ inch.
Next row: YO, K2together,YO K2together for 1 complete round. The next row purl and continue with purl rows until the color #2 section is 1½ inches.
With color #3 knit all rows until the color# 3 section is 1½ inches 
Color change row: With color #4 knit a complete round. Purl the following rows until the purl section is ¾ inch.
Next row: YO, K2together,YO K2 together for 1 complete round. The next row purl and continue with purl rows until the color #4 section is 1½ inches.
With color #5 knit all rounds until #5 section is 1½ inches.
Color change row: With color #6 knit a complete round. Purl the following rows until the purl section is ¾ inch.
Next row: YO, K2 together, YO K2 together for 1 complete round. The next row purl and continue with purl rows until the color #6 section is 1½ inches
Bind off with elastic bind off.*
These 2 cowls can be worn together or alone.