Tesla Slept Here Cowl

Tesla Slept Here Cowl by Kino Knits

Project Overview

The Tesla Slept Here Cowl is a graphic colorwork cowl designed by Kino Knits, inspired by the distinctive carpet patterns found at the New Yorker Hotel in New York City, where renowned scientist Nikola Tesla spent his final days in rooms on the 33rd floor. This downloadable knitting pattern combines historical inspiration with contemporary colorwork design, making it an engaging project for intermediate knitters interested in both science themes and geometric textile art.

Design Inspiration and Concept

Designer Kino Knits drew inspiration from years of photographing hotel carpets, which feature unique and graphical patterns rarely found in other contexts. The designer partnered with Elemental Fiber Works, a yarn company specializing in science-themed products, to translate one of these distinctive carpet patterns into a knitting design. The resulting colorwork cowl celebrates the intersection of scientific history and textile art, with an accompanying Tesla Slept Here Hat available as a coordinating project.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

This pattern utilizes graphic colorwork techniques, requiring knitters to work with multiple yarn colors to create the geometric patterns inspired by hotel carpet designs. The colorwork method allows for the creation of complex visual patterns through strategic color changes within rows and rounds. As an intermediate-level project, the Tesla Slept Here Cowl assumes familiarity with fundamental knitting techniques and introduces knitters to the challenges of managing multiple colors and maintaining consistent tension throughout colorwork sections.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern is designed for fingering-weight yarn, which provides the fine gauge necessary for detailed colorwork definition. The sample shown uses Elemental Fiberworks Electron Sock, a superwash merino and nylon blend (80% superwash merino/20% nylon) that offers both durability and easy care. The yarn is worked at 400 yards per 3.5 ounces (366 meters per 100 grams). The sample colorway features Silver as the main color (MC) and Turquoise as the contrasting color (CC). Knitters will need appropriate needles for fingering-weight yarn to achieve proper gauge and stitch definition for the colorwork elements.

Garment Details

The cowl is available in multiple sizes, with the sample shown in size Large. As a cowl design, this project creates a versatile neckwear piece that can be worn as a single or double loop around the neck, offering both warmth and visual interest through its graphic colorwork pattern. The pattern notes that knitters can switch the main and contrasting colors to create alternative colorway variations, allowing for personalization and coordination with other garments in their wardrobe or with the coordinating Tesla Slept Here Hat.

Pattern Information

This is a downloadable PDF pattern created by independent designer Kino Knits, version 3, dated September 26, 2020. The pattern is available through the designer's website at kinoknits.com and includes comprehensive instructions for completing this intermediate-level colorwork project.