OK, own up. Who was it? Who invoked that ancient curse, ‘May you live in interesting times’? Because if it was you, please understand that by this point some of us have had quite enough interestingness, thanks very much, and could really do with a bit of tedious, safe, predictable, stability. TIA, yeah?
In a week when my beautiful old nation might just hurl itself off a cliff whilst yelling about how fun it feels to be flying through the air, I’m struggling to concentrate on normal stuff. I have, however, designed a quick-and-simple cowl, ready for the big march in London this coming Saturday. (Are you going?) In case you’d like one too, I’ll share the pattern in a moment. You could whip one up in a couple of evenings if you’re a medium-to-speedy knitter.
The inspiration for this cowl was Dani Sunshine’s Unity jumper, but since I only discovered that pattern two days ago, there wasn’t really time to make one before the march. So this is my easy-peasy alternative, for those of us who aren’t very good at thinking and planning ahead.
It can be knitted at a friend’s house whilst her guinea pig eats your hair:-
It can be knitted whilst walking the long-suffering twinnage to school in the rain:-
And before you know it, your cowl is done, all ready for Saturday. Would you like the pattern? Yes, there’s a teeny bit of stranded work involved, but if that scares you (which it shouldn’t), then you could always knit the whole thing plain and then sew/embroider on twelve large gold stars afterwards.
So here goes.
- Dimensions when laid flat: 33cm wide by 27cm high.
- Yarn: Stylecraft* Special DK, one 100g ball of ‘Royal’, plus one 100g ball of ‘Sunshine’.
- Gauge: Lets not get too worked up about such things, but anything close to 22 sts / 30 rows per 10cm square will do the job nicely.
- Needles: 4mm circular needles, 60cm length.
- Notions: Stitch marker and darning needle.
- In blue yarn, cast on 132 stitches. Place marker and join in round, being careful not to twist.
- (K2, P2) around, slipping marker at end.
- Repeat above round a further eight times.
- Work nine rounds of stockinette (by knitting all stitches).
- Introduce yellow yarn and work the following chart from bottom to top. Each round comprises twelve repeats of the motif.
- 6. Cut yellow yarn. In blue, continue in knit-stitch until piece measures 23cm from cast-on. This is admittedly rather dull knitting, but will at least give you an opportunity to contemplate the all-round craziness of Brexit.
- 7. Work nine rounds of (K2, P2) rib.
- 8. Cast off in pattern. Cut blue yarn. Weave in ends.
And that’s done. Maybe see you at the march this Saturday?
* NB: Stylecraft Yarns holds no political views.
So will the march be FOR Brexit or AGAINST it… the people voted to do it, but somehow it appears the rulers aren’t going to do it.
AGAINST Brexit, very passionately against.
You go girl we will be with you. March proud yell loud
Thank you.
It’s brilliant Phil and if I were around this weekend I would be there arm in arm with you. Love the cowl by the way, love the jumper it was inspired from too!
Thank you, m’dear.
You go girl, match proud , yell strong we are with you 🇪🇺
Thank you. ❤️
You go girl, match proud , yell strong we are with you 🇪🇺
Both the cowl and the jumper are wonderful and I might just have to knit them both. Hubby (who’s a Brit) just told me that he wants the jumper, too. Unfortunately I can’t be in London on Saturday but I’ll be there in spirit.
Thank you (re the cowl), and I agree (re the jumper). Thank you for being there in spirit.
I just came back from the trip to the U.K. I wish I could join the march but it probably wouldn’t mean as much if an American marched. I hope your voices are heard.
It means just as much, regardless of who is marching. I hope you enjoyed your visit.
If I wasn’t working a 15hr shift on Saturday, I’d be tagging along with you! Know that I’m there in spirit. I’m actually really annoyed that I’m working as I’d love to be there!
No chance of swapping shifts, I suppose??
I think of this cowl as a match for my pussy hat. I will give it to my son to wear in london. Fingers still crossed! Fat lady may not have sung yet.
The cliff meraphor made me snort in public.
As a french citizen who would very much like to stay united with you lovely brits, I send all my love and support.
Froggy kisses.
Thank you. Seriously, thank you. Please know that many (most????) of us love our fellow Europeans, and have no wish to cut ourselves off in foolish isolation.
My heart is with you all in this horrifying Brexit time, hope this march will change the Brexit-plans. Wish you luck from the Netherlands 💙
Thank you so much. Your words are appreciated. Please know that we’re not all xenophobic isolationist Brexiteers over here. Many (most????) of us love and respect our fellow Europeans.
I’m with you in spirit dear, I so hope it all will end well. Those darn populists with the view of the UK as the colonial power it was need to see the realistic view of the nation it is today. As a government you need to protect the people, not throw them of the cliff.
Yes, it’s crazy, isn’t it? I worry that our fellow Europeans will think we’re all stroppy xenophobic Brexiteers, but I promise that we’re not. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kind words.
Oh no, most of us see how the populists blew smoke in peoples eyes. Like old times could come back. We all are from the generation who will not have a retirement, normal mortgage and future view for our children. It will not get any better if we let each other down here in Europe. The only fist we can make is together. I believe in an united Europe. As I’m from a generation that moved half the planet on the run for war and genocide I know how important it is to act as one.
Thank you for understanding. Sending love as a fellow citizen of Europe.
I wish I could be with you, but I have a couple of autoimmune conditions plus cellulitis in my left leg, so regrettably have to admit I’d be more of a liability than an asset. But may thanks to you and to all those making the effort. I’m hoping against hope for a reversal for my own sake, but far more for my grandchildren and their children.
‘Many thanks’, of course…
Thank you. I understand that so many people will be there in spirit but can’t physically attend for all sorts of reasons. I hope we can achieve revoke…
This is awesome! I’m an American, but I do send my love, and fervent wishes for you all to remain in the EU. I might just knit this anyway, even though I won’t be marching with you on Saturday.
Thank you for such enormous kindness. Best wishes from across the ocean!
Brilliant pattern for a fantastic cowl!
Completely share your sentiments – the appalling, uncontrolled and ultimately damaging mess that is Brexit is, quite simply, deranged.
To your first sentence: thank you. ❤️ To your second sentence: I couldn’t agree more, and just hope we can stop this self-sabotaging madness.
If I were in the UK, I would March with you. Love your cowl. I’ve been wishing for stability and sanity in the US as well. Extremely difficult times. I miss boring….
Thank you, and sending hope that you too can achieve some wonderfully boring sanity in your own country some time soon. ❤️
Hate Brexit, love your cowl! I wish you all the best for the protest march and I am glad so many creative people are standing up against this madness. With knitting love from Germany xx
Thank you for such generous words. With love from a fellow European who would rather we were united than divided.
Oh thank you thank you for this wonderful pattern. I need this urgently. I live in Spain and am constantly having to explain to people here that I am not a Europe hating, narrow minded old colonialist. I can’t believe this is happening. In fact I think I will have to make 2 for when one is in the wash!
I’m sorry that you’re having to battle these misconceptions. I hope your friends and neighbours understand that you’re not filled with xenophobic contempt. ❤️
Thank you thank you for the pattern – such a great idea. Unfortunately I can’t join the march as I’m in Iceland this month, otherwise would be there with friends and family. The whole Brexit madness makes me sick at heart and I hate the way those of us who want to stop before we hurl ourselves off the cliff are called undemocratic – and worse. Could go on….. I’ll knit a cowl and wear it with pride anyway.
OK, I have location-envy, because Iceland is the place I’d most love to visit in the world. Have a joyful, fascinating, magical time there. As for Brexit, I agree with every word you wrote.
Thank you – Iceland IS magical, and I’m celebrating being here by knitting a yoke cardigan in the wonderful Plötulopi. Be routing for you all on Saturday
It’s so very comforting to learn, that many ( or even most !) of the British want to stay in the EU, because together is the only way to solve the problems we are facing…. I hope, against all odds, that you stay with us!!!!
And the cowl is wonderful and a strong statement. I’m thinking about knitting one to show my fellow Germans, who have queer opinions about the EU, what is important.
Thank you so much. Please know that there is a lot of love and respect for our fellow Europeans from here on our crazy island. Many of us are desperate to remain united.
I never normally comment but we voted to leave and I am not thick or a lager lot. Where is democracy?
Thank you for commenting. We may have to disagree, but for what it’s worth, my view is that the referendum was (narrowly) won following a dishonest campaign funded by some dodgy vested interests. And the vote outcome is not like a football match score, where the right thing to do is to think ‘Ah well, our mistake, we should have trained harder’. This is our (children’s) future, and if we disagree with what’s happening, we should speak up… and keep speaking up.
Also (bet you’re wishing you never got me started!) how many people understood when they voted that we’d be facing the prospect of a no-deal, with everything that potentially entails?
Even if we do get a deal, I’m desperately worried about the risk to environmental protections and workers’ rights.
We live in a world where cooperation and respectful relationships will benefit everyone, not isolation. And as someone who works in the NHS and who has lots of friends who are academics, I’m acutely aware that both of these sectors are going to suffer massively if we Brexit.
There’s so much more I want to say but I should probably shut up!
Democracy is about continuing to fight for what you sincerely believe in, surely?
And no, I’m not calling anyone thick or a lager lout!
I would add that in a world where Donald Trump can be elected in the USA, Putin has a near stranglehold of Russia and the Chinese Premier Xi Jinping has declared himself president for life, we need to be part of a wider European community to help maintain at least one sane power bloc in the world.
Yes, absolutely. Now is not the time to isolate ourselves.
Love the colour. With you in spirit, Phil. Off helping Mum celebrate a major birthday, and catching up with family.
BTW – a Referendum is only, ever, advisory. Only an election is binding. And with the way they then appear to forget all they promised to do afterwards, I begin to wonder about that too!
Have a wonderful family celebration. As for your second paragraph, I couldn’t agree more! ❤️
I agree completely with you on this subject. I am ashamed of my country and what it is doing. I cannot imagine how this can ever end well and worry that seventy years of peace is being squandered by those who want to ‘take back control’ (what ever that is supposed to mean). It is the poorest who will suffer (as always) and not Cameron, Johnson et al who have put party before people and in the case of Johnson and his cronies have lied through their teeth in order to further their own political carers and feather their own nests.
Like you, I have called no one stupid, although I am prepared to call some political leaders and some journalists unprincipled.
Good luck on Saturday.
Thank you. I agree with absolutely every word that you’ve written here. Even if A50 were to be revoked tomorrow, it’s hard to see how we, as a nation and as a continent, can heal any time soon.
Perhaps time will come to return to the EU, perhaps time will come to a different, better constructed EU with more acceptance in the British society.
Your last PM said the words “We are leaving the EU, we are not leaving Europe!”. Hope that this will be true and there will be a change of mind in public.
Kind greetings from Lissbeth, Germany, admiring your cowl pattern and decided to make one!
I can’t be there, but I’ll be with you all in spirit. Loving the cowl – great idea!
Thank you. 🙂
I’ve got my yarn, so now I HAVE to be there!
Yes!!
I wish you good luck 🍀
You have all the support from the European mainland! Just wish we could do more… It seems like the whole world has been ‘Trumped’ and we can only do so much until they all come to their senses.
Just wondering if there is a downloadable version of your lovely pattern…
(And I am against Brexit too).
Thank you so much for this pattern. I’m attempting to get mine finished for Saturday. I’ll keep a look out for knitted EU cowls!
I wish I could come, but living in western ireland London is a bit far away for me! with you in opinion though – and of course if it all fails we’ll be suffering with you over here:( I like the cowl idea though – can’t hurt to wear it anywhere!
I’m with you in spirit and waving from Toronto, Canada. Alys
I have loved reading the comments on here. Thankyou Phil, for the post, and the cowl, and the discussion. Can you and your commenters please run the country for a bit?
Good luck on Saturday. I’ve been listening to the news today (weds) with baited breath; it almost felt that Brexit might happen for a little while there. I so want A50 to be revoked, or at the very least, another referendum. I hope your voices can really be heard x
I like it!
Also, good luck at the march. I shall be waiting to hear about it. Right now, I’m busy checking every few minutes to see what Our Evil Orange Leader has decided is the latest problem with the rest of us.
A later iteration of that statement was the wonderful Terry Pratchett. Who would of course have written a wonderful Brexit inspired Discworld novel…
I must make one!!
My heart goes out to all my British remainder friends. I feel so much for you and the nation I have been loving for so many years. I keep my fingers crossed for all of you and sincerely hope that all this madness soon will at least be settling down. There are not words enough to express the sadness and the puzzlement I feel watching hours and hours of debates in the house of commons….
Enough for now! Keep fighting!
Kindest thoughts from Germany,
Ulrike
My stars! Who knew knitters voiced such solidarity? I am impressed. I read the BBC news every single day yet had no idea . . . Knitters unite! I’m touched and I live in Texas. You could say I don’t even have a dog in this fight but I’m with you now that I better understand why you are so against Brexit. The people have spoken, are speaking and will forever speak.
Be well. And stitch on. In peace.