A customer came into the shop the other day with a pattern for an afghan knit with three strands of bulky yarn. She chose Blue Sky Alpaca Bulky yarn, which already knits at 2 to 2.5 stitches per inch with a single strand. I was so curious what Bulky would look like tripled that I wound a ball, got a pair of size 19 needles, and knit up a swatch in stockinette.
The result was fantastic. At 1.25 stitches per inch, the stitches are huge, yet the fabric still drapes nicely. Everyone who saw it picked it up and loved it. I toyed with the idea of making an afghan or even a pillow, but I wanted something that could be worn. And so, the Pebble Neck Warmer was born.
When winter finally comes, the Pebble Neck Warmer will keep you warm! I used the color Frost, which I think is a great color for winter, but Bulky is available in a wide range of natural and dyed colors.
I didn’t time myself, but I think I knit the Pebble Neck Warmer in under 2 hours, making it a perfect last minute knitted gift. Here’s how you can make yours:
PEBBLE NECK WARMER
SIZE
approx 5.5 by 33 inches
MATERIALS
3 hanks of Blue Sky Bulky yarn, shown in frost
12? US 19 needle
1 large button
GAUGE
.75 sts = 1 inch in stitch pattern, but gauge is not critical for this project
PATTERN
Wind all three hanks of Bulky and holding a strand from each, CO 7 stitches.
Row 1 – *P1, k1; repeat from * to end.
Repeat Row 1 until approximately 1.5 yards of yarn remains.
Bind off loosely in pattern and weave in ends.
Attach button to center purl stitch approximately 4 inches from cast on edge. There is no button hole; you can push the button through the fabric. (Make sure the button will fit snugly through the fabric before you attach it!)
Enjoy!
{ 30 comments… read them below or add one }
This is beautiful and what a quick project! Don’t forget to mention in the pattern instructions that the yarn is tripled!
Thank you! Just updated the pattern.
Just lovely, Craig! Rarely have I seen a super-bulky knit look so elegant.
Thank you for the offer. It looks beautiful!
I’m one of these knitters that has few projects on the go,as I get board with repetitive patterns.
Love the Bulky Alpaca- definitely on my list. Tanya
I love this! Absolutely wonderful texture. Thanks for the quick gift idea.
This pattern is great. You can combine three different color of the same yarn for special ocassion and is very confort for the neck. Thank you for this pattern.
Thank you all for the compliments! I’m so glad you like it.
This is beautiful! Where did you find the wonderful toggle button?
I really want to snuggle up in bed with this. I wonder what it would look like blanket-sized. I won’t even tempt myself. I will definitely be making the neck warmer, though for all those Pollyana gift exchanges.
Susanne, I think it would be the ultimate snuggling blanket! However, the neck warmers for pollyanas will be much appreciated.
Do you think this would make a nice “moebius” type shawl?
this looks delicious! I can’t wait to make one for myself!
This is a lovely project… Ideal for Christmas presents. Thanks for the pattern.
This cowl is sooooo beautiful. I just found it online and I want to run out to buy the supplies immediately.
I saw Susanne wrote it would make a great blanket. Do you have a pattern for that. Love your work!
Thanks, Loretta! I’m glad you like it. I don’t have a blanket pattern, but maybe at some point.
This looks beautiful!
I’m kinda new at this, so i don’t really know what
Row 1 – *P1, k1; repeat from * to end.
Is exactly. Could you assist in my lack of knowledge?
I love it! I can’t wait to knit this up for myself.
to Brittney: The section you mention means that the row is just a repeated “purl 1, knit 1″ over and over to the end of the row. If you have five stitches in your row, it would be: purl, knit, purl, knit, purl.
Love it, Love it, Love it! may sit at home today & lay in the bed on a cold and rainy day & knit this up in no time. Thanks for sharing
Thank you! I sat and knitted this today – took me around 4 hours, but I have a 22 month old running around! It looks fab and used up some wool I had sitting around doing nothing. Also I used up one of my Nana’s old buttons, so I am doubly pleased. A nice Christmas present for myself!
Am confused about how it says to continue pattern till only 1.5 yards are left. That would make an awfully long warmer. What am I misunderstanding?
Is the pattern above correct? CO 7 and then P1, K1 across every row? I’m curious what stitch this is. Thanks!
Yes, it’s correct. It’s called seed stitch. Give it a try!
I LOVE this!!! I just started this using US19 needles and 3 strands of Spud and Chloe Outer yarn but 7 stitches across is looking too narrow. Approximately how wide should this be? I am wondering if I need to cast on more. Thanks!!!
Ours is 5.5 inches wide. You can add stitches to make yours wider, just be sure to have an odd number of stitches.
Do you have other suggestions for yarn types. I live in Taiwan and the selection is not too good here. Can a synthetic yarn be used?
Wind three strands of Bulky is there anything special way to “wind” or just twist?
Nothing special, Angie. Just wind 3 balls and hold one strand from each throughout the project.
Can this be done in crochet?
Just made a few of these for Christmas gifts… They are beautiful!
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