Hearts of Oak is an attractive stitch pattern I came across last summer, and just had to use in a design. The sculptural feel it gives make the texture stand out. Judith Bech has designed a stunning felted wool dress in exactly the same grayish aqua color I choose for my swatch made in the luscious Du Store Alpakka, Dreamline Soul held together with Pickles Merino Tweed using a 4 mm/US 6 needles. A large cowl to cover your shoulders or neck that can also be worn as a tight wrapped top together with matching loose sleeves was my solution to grace Judith’s dress.

Fabulous knitter, Grete Jenssen, aka ma9 on Ravelry, agreed to knit the sample for me and to assist on deciding how to work the increases as well as whether to work them in the round or flat. It is a stitch pattern that is harder to work flat since the centering stitches on each side does not seem flow naturally, in my opinion. Grete found a great solution to increasing by working them on either side of the pattern increase or decrease, and suggested knitting both in the round for ease. Ideal solutions, I think! Thank you, Grete!

Above it is worn as a tight top with a twist around the neck. I know this is a style that does not suit everyone, but I love how it transforms the cowl completely. You can easily add or remove pattern repeats to both the width and the height of the loop, depending on how you prefer to wear it. The loop is worked straight without any increasing while the loose sleeves have increases on the inside of them, and a thin round elastic cord thread through the top to keep them in place around the upper arm.

It can also be worn twice around the neck if preferred. All these photos of me wearing it are, as usual, taken by my husband. You can look forward to seeing the gobsmacking photos photographer Eivind Røhne took of gorgeous model Alexandria Eissinger at Pholk beautifully styled by Sissel Fylling, wearing that stunning matching dress by Judith Bech and divine shoes by Monica Stålvang.  The Norwegian pattern will be published in Familien Trend, out on Monday 23. February, while I plan to test knit the English pattern in my Ravelry group before releasing it.