Orfeo Cowl

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

  • Twisted German Cast On (optional)

  • Working stranded colourwork in the round

  • 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)

  • US 2 / 2.75mm circular needles (or needle size that gives you the right gauge)

  • One end-of-round stitch marker + 5 optional markers for between repeats

  • A needle for weaving in the ends

Finished Measurements

  • 27”/68.5cm circumference, and 10”/25.5cm height

  • The circumference can be increased by working additional repeats.

Read more about the Orfeo Hat & Cowl and their inspiration on my blog.