Fading Memories Cowl 2025

This tapered cowl was designed for the 2025 Longest Day campaign sponsored by Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org)—an annual fundraiser that takes place in conjunction with the summer solstice. For every pattern sold during the 2025 campaign, $5 will be donated to Alzheimer’s research.

The stitch pattern consists of expanding cables separated by eyelet lace that, to me, represents convoluted memories and lost awareness. I chose a teal-to-gray gradient to represent how those afflicted with Alzheimer’s become ghosts of their formerly vibrant selves.

The yarn shown here was specially dyed by Alexandra The Art of Yarn (alexandratheartofyarn.com) in a single-skein gradient. The cowl shown begins with the teal end of the gradient and progresses through to gray; it can also be worked in the opposite direction.

Both row-by-row and charted instructions are provided.

 

Finished Size About 181/2” (47 cm) circumference at top, 271/2” (70 cm) circumference at bottom, and 111/2” (29 cm) tall with edges allowed to roll.

Yarn Fingering weight (#1 Fine). Shown here: Alexandra The Art of Yarn Diamond (80% superwash Merino, 20% silk; 437 yd [400 meters]/100 grams): Fading Memories 2025 (limited edition colorway; see Notes), 1 skein.

Needles Size U.S. 4 (3.5 mm): 16” (40 cm) circular. Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.

Notions Stitch markers (m); cable needle (cn); tapestry needle.

Gauge 14 stitches and 22 rounds = 2” (5 cm) in Cable and Lace pattern, worked in rounds. Exact gauge isn’t crucial but will affect the size and drape of the cowl.

 

Notes

• The yarn used for the cowl shown was specially dyed by Alexandra The Art of Yarn and is available for a limited time only at Longmont Yarn Shoppe (longmontyarn.com) in Longmont, Colorado. You can substitute any fingering weight yarn.
• A marker is placed after each of the 10 pattern repeats to help minimize errors.
• To adjust the circumference, add or remove stitches from the cast-on in groups of 13 (one pattern repeat). Every 13 stitches added or removed in the cast-on will increase or decrease the circumference by about 13/4” (4.5 cm) around the top and 23/4” (7 cm) around the bottom (when each repeat has increased to 19 stitches).
• To adjust the length, identify sections that are repeated in the written instructions or the chart and work them more or fewer times than given. Every 4 to 5 rounds added or removed will lengthen or shorten the cowl by about 1/2” (1.3 cm). You may also just repeat the last 2 rounds of the pattern as long as desired, ending the pattern when enough yarn remains to work the bottom edging and the bind-off.