The "Armor" Cowl. An armor as an ode to artists and their "attempt" at a pattern.

"This cowl project began as a mere whim, a dalliance born from my 'greedy' eyes devouring a solitary 250g skein of wool and acrylic—a color now discontinued. Every time my gaze fell upon it, I wondered: 'What could I transform these irresistible colors into?'

It all started as a flirtation, a playful pastime between my yarn and my hook... then, rheumatism and winter viruses preyed on my immune system, already weakened by the long darkness of winter, the harsh cold, and extreme humidity.

The more time I spent crocheting that cowl and reflecting on the shape it would take, the more I anchored myself in that process of sensory self-regulation—becoming utterly addicted to the oxytocin that flowed in torrents. So it went, day after day, throughout the Christmas break.

What I didn't know was that during this process, many surprises from my subconscious would also surface, and I realized that this cowl was no simple pastime. I decided to endow it with cables that would feel like the links of a suit of armor. The warmth and the gentle drape of the wool were transformed into a protective shield. Thus, multiple knotted cables gradually became a sensitive and aesthetic armor for a world increasingly dehumanized and frantic in its headlong rush.

An armor against the lack of meaning and the tyranny of algorithms; against the zombies selling the 'definitive course' that lures us to surrender to the paradox of the Altar turned into a Counter. Doing out of love, only to be crushed by producing for profit. Sometimes, sacrifice is preferable in order to feed our song to Beauty.

An armor against the insufferable and soporific charlatans of the world who, under the guise of 'creating content'—and without having read so much as their own shopping list—offer opinions on international politics, economics, the lives of others... anything, just to exercise an extremely stupid sense of political correctness.

An armor against the naivety of all those candid souls who barely make ends meet, yet momentarily feel like heroes—like Spiderman—by claiming they feel 'deep shame' for sharing their crochet on social networks while the world crumbles. As if that shame could stop the hunger, the misery, the suffering, and the inequality created with dedicated and profuse care by those psychopathic magnates of our planet who, having the means, refuse to act to create a better world.

I do not know what misfortune will subject me in the future, for we are all always, without knowing it, on the edge of a cliff. But my 'Armor' cowl will remind me that I am not a hamster; that I must not succumb to conditioned learning or the brainwashing promise of a measly external reward for something I love doing—only for it to stop being mine and become the property of the 'supposed client'.

Friends, creativity needs the luxury of wasting time, mistakes, and silence. The soul is not a business to be optimized. And we—the knitters, painters, musicians, and poets—we are THE REVOLUTION. Take up your 'armors' and turn your back on decay, misfortune, and bitterness.

Let us look directly into the beautiful light of Life: the harmony of elements in perfect proportions. Silent and resilient, let us close the door on sadness; let us continue creating from nothingness and turning the bad into the good. Let us become a legion of alchemists!"

Pattern: The "Armor" Cowl (Rows 1 to 6)

Abbreviations (US Terms):

• ch: chain

• st: stitch

• sl st: slip stitch

• sc: single crochet

• dc: double crochet

• BLOdc: double crochet in back loop only

Foundation: Start with a magic ring or a chain ring. For the chain ring: ch 5 and join with 1 sl st in the first chain to form a circle.

Row 1: Inside the ring: ch 3 (counts as the first dc), 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc. ch 1, turn.

Row 2: 3 dc in the first stitch, skip the next 2 dc. In the chain space from the previous row (the center gap): 2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc. Skip the next 3 dc and work 3 dc in the last stitch. ch 2, turn.

Row 3: 2 dc in the first stitch. In the next space (gap) from the previous row: 3 dc. In the center chain space: 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc. In the next space: 3 dc. Finish with 3 dc in the last stitch. ch 2, turn.

Row 4: 2 dc in the first stitch, then work 1 BLOdc (double crochet in back loop only) in each stitch across to the center. In the center chain space: 2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc. Continue with 1 BLOdc in each stitch until the end. Finish with 3 dc in the last stitch. ch 3, turn.

Row 5: Repeat Row 4, but this time create the base for the first interlocking chains wherever you choose. Work at least 4 dc, then ch 10. In the following stitch, continue working 1 dc in each stitch. Repeat this process until you reach the center chain space (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc), then repeat the same on the other side. ch 1, turn.

Row 6: 2 sc in the same stitch as the turning chain (3 stitches total in the first st). Continue with sc across and secure the gaps left by the chain loops with sc (fixing the chain loops in place).

Finishing:

Repeat Rows 5 and 6 (creating more and more "braids" or chains as the piece grows). On the last row, you can add a border of your choice to finish.