Year of the Dragon Cowl in Malabrigo Rios

Malabrigo Yarn recently shared this incredible new cowl pattern, Year of the Dragon Cowl, by Lavish Craft, on their socials. I wanted to bring it back into focus here as we just got the colour the sample was done in, Primavera, in stock at Artisanthropy. Not only that, but I wanted to suggest a couple of other ideas to knit the cowl in as I feel like dragon scales can easily be expressed in a range of beautiful colours, all of which are available in Malabrigo Rios from us.

Primavera is a beautiful addition to the Rios line of yarn, and we think it's perfect in this sample, particularly if you're a person who loves autumn colours. Here are some other suggestions for colours to knit this gorgeous cowl in:

When I think "dragon", I often think back to the World of Warcraft video game, for all its purples and blues. I think Leo from the Rios Zodiac Collection is the perfect fit for this type of dragon.	If you're more into the idea of "Fire Dragon" then the hot pinks, reds and oranges in Gemini from the Rios Zodiac Collection are the perfect match for you.	Let's say you prefer more ethereal-style dragons, something more on the unicorn side of things - then I think Pisces from the Rios Zodiac Collection would look fabulous done up in this pattern.
If you have a penchant for water dragons, then you may enjoy Ankara Green, a brand new to us colour in the Rios line.	If you're more on the earthy side of dragons, but prefer a more muted look, Rios in Glitter may work for you. With gold tones, it could also work if you prefer to match Smaug.	This last one feels like a more intense version of Primavera. If you like deeper shades but still lean towards earthy and autumn colours, Rios in Piedras may just be the shade for you.

To knit this cowl, you will need 2 skeins of your chosen shade of Malabrigo Rios. Be sure to alternate them while knitting them, as Malabrigo advises, since no two skeins are exactly alike, and alternating will help them to blend better.

Also, be sure to check gauge before beginning, since the pattern states it requires exactly 420 yds, which is exactly the amount you get on 2 skeins. Any  variation in gauge could lead you to needing more than 2 skeins.

Lastly, when blocking, be sure to add some vinegar to your water, to help set any dye that may not have been set the first time around. All hand-dyed yarn from any brand has a tendency to bleed when wet, and this will help against that.

I hope this post has inspired you and given you some helpful tips for working with Malabrigo yarn. While I've provided colour suggestions here, you are, of course, completely welcome to choose your own colour for this cowl!

If you choose to make this cowl, I'd LOVE to see how it turns out. Please post your project in the comments of this blog - if you can't post a photo, link to your Ravelry project page so I can check it out!

Yours truly, 

Tina, Owner at Artisanthropy