Tsuwano: Faux Infinity Cowl

Tsuwano was the first place I visited by myself when I moved to Japan (had to figure out the trains and everything). It’s a charming little town, small enough to tour by rented bicycle. Large, colorful carp swim in the waterways along the old-fashioned streets. There are two Catholic churches (something of a rarity in Japan) and a beautiful Shinto shrine at the top of a hill that you reach only after passing through a thousand bright red tori gates. The town is known for its traditional paper; the stores are full of beautiful papercrafts and you can visit a small factory to see paper made much the same way it’s been for several hundred years. And, most unusually, you can ride a steam locomotive there and back from the main train line.

I kept thinking nostalgically of Tsuwano while I was knitting this scarf, maybe because the scarf, like the town, is so small and so simple yet—if I do say so myself—charming and memorable. It can be worn as an infinity loop, a cowl or a traditional scarf. The lace pattern is easy to memorize and the pattern calls for only one skein (270 yds) of Madeline Tosh Sport or something similar.

Finished size: 6.5″ x 48″ (16.5cm x 122cm).
Yarn: Madeline Tosh Sport (100% superwash wool); 270 yds/246 m. Color: Posy (pink). One skein.
Gauge: 18 sts x 32 rows = 4″ (10cm) in garter stitch.
Needles: US #6 (4mm).
Notions: tapestry needle; six 5/8″ buttons.