Whit's Knits: Just-In-Time Neck Cozy

Do you still have one or two people left on your list for whom nothing seems quite special enough? They either have everything or they don't want anything. And time is ticking. We think we can help. We took our absolutely most beautiful yarn and, with one skein, designed a neck warmer perfect for every woman on your list. It addresses the practical minded (it's cuddily warm), the finicky (it's insanely soft), and the decadent (it's made of the finest cashmere on earth).

Jade Sapphire's Ghenghis is 100% Mongolian Cashmere and far exceeds whatever expectation you may have of cashmere. Bulky, handspun and hand dyed, it is as soft as the fluffiest cloud in the sky. We mustered all of our ingenuity to design a project that would use only one skein, hoping to make this special yarn more accessible to more people. But if it's still out of your reach, don't despair! Both Hand Jive's Thick and Thin and Imperial Stock Ranch's Native Twist would be beautiful alternatives!

Like our Eleventh Hour Scarf, this project clocks in under two hours, so you'll have time to give the handmade gifts everyone values and still have time for friends, family, and maybe even yourself!

The Materials

• 1 skein of Jade Sapphire's Ghenghis, 100% Mongolian Cashmere. This color is "Pebble Beach".
• A US #11, 24 inch circular needle.

The Pattern

Gauge

2 stitches = 1 inch in seed stitch

Finished Size

24 inches long and 11 inches high.

Note on the Pattern

In case you get disoriented, here's a schematic of how you'll be knitting your neck cozy. It's very easy, the cast on edge is along the bottom and the red arrow is the direction of your knitting.

Begin

Cast on 49 stitches.

Row 1 (right side): Ssk, *k1, p1, repeat from * to last stitch, k1. (1 stitch decreased)

Row 2 (wrong side): *K1, p1, repeat from * to last 2 stitches, p2tog. (1 stitch decreased)

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until 25 stitches remain, ending with a wrong side row.

Buttonhole Row: Ssk, *k1, p1, repeat from * to last 5 stitches, yo, k2tog, k1, p1, k1. (24 stitches)

Starting with Row 2, continue to repeat Rows 1 and 2 until 2 stitches remain.

Last Row: P2tog.

Cut the yarn and pull it through the remaining stitch. Weave in the ends.

How to Wear It

To wear your neck cozy, just pull the pointed end of the cast on edge through the button hole.

Wear the cast on edge at the bottom and allow the top corner to fold over.