Quinzhee Cowl

/ˈkwɪnzi/

“A Canadian snow shelter that is made from a large pile of loose snow which is shaped then hollowed to create a domed chamber inside. A quinzhee can be made for winter camping and survival purposes, or for fun.”

The Quinzhee Cowl designed to keep you warm if you ever found yourself taking shelter in a quinzhee! The slim fit makes it a perfect accompaniment to a high-necked coat. But there is no compromise on warmth; the squishy texture of the zigzag cable rib coupled with the Suri alpaca ‘fluff’ makes this a super toasty addition to your cold weather wardrobe!

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The Quinzhee Cowl features a 1×1 rib folded hem at the top which encapsulates an I-cord tie. It has the distinctive ‘zigzag’ Quinzhee cable running the the main body of the cowl and it is finished at the bottom by more 1×1 rib which is finished off by a tubular cast off. This mimics the fold over edge at the top of the cowl without giving it extra bulk when sat under a coat.

Knit with a 4ply yarn held double with either 4ply or lace Suri Alpaca ‘fluff’, this cowl is delightfully squishy, soft and warm next to the skin and will be sure to keep you warm if you ever found yourself sheltering in a Quinzhee!

The Quinzhee Cowl is designed to be one size only. However, due to its simple construction, customisation is easy and instructions on how to do so are given throughout the pattern.

Finished cowl circumference

20” (51cm) – customisable

Finished cowl depth

10″ (25.5cm) – customisable

The light sample cowl is knit with Felt Fusion Superwash Merino/Nylon Sock 425m (465yds) per 100g held together with Felt Fusion Suri Alpaca 4ply 400m (437yds) per 100g both in the colourway ‘Sea Foam’. The darker sample is knit from a strand of 4ly coupled with a mohair laceweight yarn. The same gauge was achieved but the fabric is just slightly lighter and airier than the original sample.

Suggested Yarns

Any Merino/Nylon Sock yarn 425m (465yds) per 100g. Held together with:

Any Brushed Suri Alpaca 4ply 400m (437yds) per 100g.

The Brushed Suri Alpaca 4ply base is a little less common so as an alternative, a 4ply sock yarn coupled with the more common brushed Suri Alpaca Lace should give the same gauge, but please do swatch to double check and adjust needle size if necessary! The fabric created will be slightly lighter and airier than that created by the 4ply brushed Suri.

Required Meterage (Yardage)

240m / 263yds of EACH of the yarns used. This equates to 1 skein of Merino/Nylon Sock yarn 425m (465yds) per 100g AND 1 skein of Brushed Suri Alpaca 4ply 400m (437yds) per 100g.

OR substitute the Brushed Suri Alpaca 4ply for 1 skein of Lace Weight Brushed Suri Alpaca 300m (3288yds) per 50g.

Gauge

24 stitches and 28 rows = 4x4in (10x10cm) unstretched in the main body pattern, using the larger needle size. Charted and written instructions have been provided on page 2 to aid swatching in pattern when working flat.

Needles

16” (40cm) length circular needles in sizes 5mm (US size 8) for the main body of the cowl and 4mm (US size 6) for the ribbed brim OR sizes needed to get gauge.

5mm (US size 8) DPN’s (or size needed to obtain gauge) may be used to make the i-cord tie, but they are not essential as the i-cord can be worked using any 5mm (US size 8) needle.

Spare circular needle (5mm (US size 8) or smaller) to hold the provisional cast on stitches on before securing the folded brim.

Notions

Stitch marker

Cable needle if necessary

Crochet hook for the provisional cast on

Waste yarn (for the provisional cast on also)

3 st i-cord. Instructions of how to work given in the pattern instructions.

Provisional cast on such as the crochet method.

Knitting in the Round.

The top double hem is worked in a very similar way to a 3 needle bind off. The provisional cast on stitches are knit together with the live stitches in the same way but the stitches on the R needle are not cast off.

Cable Knitting.

Tubular cast off including Kitchener Stitch.