Knitted Cowry Shell

The Knitted Cowry Shell is a delightful craft that combines the intricate art of knitting with a touch of beachy charm. These charming shells are a creative twist on traditional knitwear, evoking a sense of whimsy and creativity. The soft texture and natural look of the knitted cowry shell bring a cozy and inviting feel to any space they adorn, making them a popular choice for home decor or unique gifts. Whether used as decorative accents or playful additions to your wardrobe, these handmade treasures add a touch of warmth and personality to your surroundings. Dive into the world of knitting with the Knitted Cowry Shell and unleash your creativity in a fun and friendly way.

You will need:

• white yarn (aran weight)
• brown and white yarn (4ply)
• knitting needles (3.75 mm)
• tapestry needle
• scissors

Pattern:

This pattern uses a lot of wrap and turns (/w&t), see notes on ODDknit.com for more details. This is a short row technique where you wrap the yarn around the next stitch and turn the knitting around. In this pattern the wrapped stitches are picked up on the following row for right-side stocking stitch (a.k.a. the sections knitted in white aran) but left alone in wrong-side stocking stitch (a.k.a. the brown & white 4ply bits).

Outer Shell

Cast on 16 sts in white aran yarn.

1. Row 1: sl1k, p –
2. Row 2: sl1k, k12, w&t/ p10, w&t/ k13 (16)
3. Row 3: sl1k, p –
4. Row 4: sl1k, k1, [yfwd, k2tog] x 7 (16)
5. Row 5: sl1k, p –
6. Row 6: sl1k, k12, w&t/ p10, w&t/ k13 (16)
7. Row 7: sl1k, [pfb, p2] x 5 (21)

Cut the white aran yarn and attach the white and brown 4ply yarns together. These yarns are going to be knitted simultaneously as though they were a single thread. The section could also be knitted in a single aran weight colour.

1. Row 8: kfb, k18, kfb, k1 (23)

1. Row 9: sl1k, k –
2. Row 10: sl1k, p19, w&t/ k16, w&t/ p15, w&t/ k12, w&t/ p10, w&t/ k6, w&t/ p12 (23)

Repeat rows 9 and 10 once more.

1. Row 13: sl1k, k –
2. Row 14: sl1k, p –

Repeat rows 13 and 14 once more.

1. Row 17: sl1k, k11, w&t/ p6, w&t/ k10, w&t/ p12, w&t/ k15, w&t/ p16, w&t/ k20 (23)
2. Row 18: sl1k, p –

Repeat rows 17 and 18 once more.

1. Row 21: sl1k, k2tog, k18, k2tog (21)

Change back to the white aran yarn.

1. Row 22: [k2, k2tog] x 5, k1 (16)
2. Row 23: sl1k, p12, w&t/ k10, w&t/ p7, w&t/ k4, w&t/ p10 (16)
3. Row 24: sl1k, k –
4. Row 25: sl1k, p –
5. Row 26: sl1k, k1, [yfwd, k2tog] x 7 (16)
6. Row 27: sl1k, p –
7. Row 28: sl1k, k –
8. Row 29: sl1k, p12, w&t/ k10, w&t/ p7, w&t/ k4, w&t/ p10 (16)

Cast off.

Inner Shell

Cast on 21 sts in white aran yarn.

1. Row 1: p19, w&t/ k16, w&t/ p15, w&t/ k12, w&t/ p10, w&t/ k6, w&t/ p11
2. Row 2: sl1k, k –

Repeat rows 1 and 2 once more.

1. Row 5: sl1k, p –
2. Row 6: k11, w&t/ p6, w&t/ k10, w&t/ p12, w&t/ k15, w&t/ p16, w&t/ k19

Repeat rows 5 and 6 once more, then cast off.

Making Up:

Fold the white ends of the outer shell in half and inwards. Sew the cast on/off edge into place at the colour change.

Both the outer and inner shells are wider at one end so make sure you orient them both the same at this point. Tuck the inner shell inside the outer. Sew all the way around the edge of the inner shell fixing the cast on/off edges to the same stitches as in the last step.

Sew in any remaining lose ends, then tug your new double thickness shell into shape by making sure the outer and inner shells lay flat together.