Fading Memories Cowl 2026

This cowl was designed for the 2026 Do What You Love (formerly The Longest Day) campaign sponsored by Alzheimer's Association (alz.org) to raise funds and awareness for dementia research. For every pattern sold through July 31, 2026, $5 will be donated to Alzheimer's research. The color pattern is achieved through a simple slip-stitch pattern in which two colors--a solid gray and a teal gradient--are alternated every two rounds. To me, the gradient represents how those afflicted with dementia become ghosts of their former selves, and the slight texture produced by the slip-stitch diamond pattern represents the rocky road they and their families travel. Both row-by-row and charted instructions are provided. 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. The cowl shown here used the solid gray as the background color A and the teal gradient as the pattern color B, starting with the dark end. You can switch the colors for a slightly different look. The cowl shown used all but 1 gram of the background color A. A marker is placed after each of the 14 pattern repeats to help minimize errors. In the Cross and Diamond pattern, every 2 visible rounds represent 4 rounds of knitting because of the slip-stitch fabric structure. Do not cut the yarns between rounds. Carry the unused color up the wrong side of the work to where it is needed again. To adjust the circumference, add or remove stitches from the cast-on in groups of 12 (one pattern repeat). Every 12 stitches added or removed in the cast-on will increase or decrease the circumference by about 13/4” (4.5 cm) around the circumference. You will need more yarn if you increase the circumference without a corresponding decrease in the length. To adjust the length, work more or fewer of the 32-round pattern repeats. Every 32-round repeat added or removed will lengthen or shorten the cowl by about 2” (5 cm). You will need more yarn if you increase the length without a corresponding decrease in the circumference.