Shoulder Cozy

The idea for a shoulder cozy is not an original one to me, but this design was my idea to come up with something simple and quick to knit up that would be functional and warm to wear. It seems that when we get a chill the key areas needing to be warmed are the shoulders and back and this simple garment does that for you while allowing you to still have hands free and nothing dangling in front of you. It can also be worn as a circle or loop scarf. The other advantage is that you can knit it out of so many yarns or combinations of yarns. I used 2 rather luxurious ones since they are here and beg to be tried but you could use many of the yarns currently in your stash or something that strikes your fancy due to colour or texture. Go ahead, have fun, and stay warm!

This is a quick, easy knit project that is fun to wear in several different ways.
Materials:
9mm (or 8mm) circular needles, 24” in length
Approximately 200 m of yarn or a combination of 2 yarns. If using a single yarn, choose one that is worsted or heavier, if using 2 try to combine a fine one with a light worsted to dk weight. Our store sample is knit using 1 ½ skeins of Cashmere Queen (140 m ea) and one full skein of Debbie Bliss Angel Prints (200 m), holding both yarns together to knit.
The possibilities for yarn combinations are endless!
Terms used: M1: Make one stitch as follows: insert left needle under bar between stitch just knit and next stitch. Knit into the back of this stitch.
K2tog: Knit 2 stitches together as if they are one.
Using 9 mm needles cast on 50 sts using the thumb loop method, if using 2 yarns, hold both strands together.
Knit 1 round, being careful not to stretch the strands between stitches. Now join in the round, being careful not to twist the knitting and purl 1 round. Place a marker to mark the beginning of the round.
Knit one round, and purl one round repeatedly until the knitting is 4 inches long.
On the next knit round increase: *knit 2, M1* repeat from * to * for one round giving you 75 stitches. Continue alternating knit and purl rounds until you have done 4 inches on the 75 sts, total of 8 inches now worked.
Next increase round:*knit 3 M1* repeat for 1 round giving you 100 sts.
Continue to work as you have on these 100 sts until the garment is 16” long or you run out of yarn!
Bind off using this method to give a nice loose edge: K2*insert left needle into front of 2 sts on right needle (from the left) from this position, K2Tog through back of loop, K1*, repeat between * & * to end with K2tog through back of loop. Fasten off.
--Heather Tunnah