A tale two cowls – free pattern

Back in the autumn, when I came across a bargain bin with a ball of super chunky green yarn, with sparkly bits in it, I just knew exactly what to knit. Lovely Youngest’s favourite colour is green. She also often works outside. So, with winter coming up, I knew she’d appreciate a cowl.

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Because using super chunky meant very few stitches to a row or very few rows – depending on which way I knitted it – I didn’t want much of a pattern. I chose to mix moss stitch with stocking stitch.

Seed and Stocking Stitch cowl

Although Lovely Littlest liked it (and forgave me a few uneven stitches, because I hadn’t had time to block it) she said, when she’s working on set she’d really like something firmer that hugs her neck more like a polo neck jumper, than a cowl.

I wasn’t too disappointed I’d got it wrong, as she’ll wear it when not working. I also knew exactly what to knit to fit her description. I’m definitely not the first to do this, but last year I knitted a quick cowl in garter stitch from super chunky when I wanted a knit in the dark project.

Garter Stitch Cowl

Checking out the yarns in my local yarn shop, I chose some green Bergere de France Recyclaine. As the name suggests it’s made from recycled materials or at least 60% of it is. It had a much firmer feel than the creative liesl and I knitted it on 8mm needles rather than 9mm – as the ball suggested – to make a firmer fabric. I also made the circumference a bit smaller than my garter stitch cowl.

Lovely littlest was very pleased. I was a little concerned that when I tried it on the yarn felt a bit prickly around my neck – but I didn’t say anything, believing the power of suggestion may influence her. But I will ask subtly now the weather is colder.

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The garter cowl is simply knitted in a flat strip to the height and circumference desired for the cowl then seamed together. How firm it ends up will depend on the yarn and needles used. The pattern for the seed and stocking stitch cowl is below.

Hope you’re having a good and creative week,

Bekki Hill

 

Seed and Stocking Stitch Cowl

 Size: one size approx. Depth: 30cm/12inches, circumference: 53cm/22inches.

Yarn: approx.150g super bulky yarn. Yarn used: Rico Creative Liesl, colour: pistachio.

Needles: Pair of 12mm/US #17

Gauge: 6 stitches x 9 rows = 10x10cm/4×4 inches

Directions

  • Cast on 24 stitches.
  • Row 1: (k1, p1) twice, k10, p6, (p1, k1) twice.
  • Row 2: (k1, p1) twice, k6, p10, (p1, k1) twice.
  • Rep these 2 rows until piece measures 22inches/53cm or desired length.

Block then seam with right sides together along short seem of moss stitch that boarders stocking stitch, along stocking stitch and along a couple of stitches of reverse stocking stitch. Turn inside out and seem wrong sides together along the rest of the seam.

Turn right side out and fold moss stitch boarder down over the reverse stocking stitch until it is just overlaps it – hiding the reverse stocking stitch from view. Sew loosely at a few points behind the moss stitch boarder to keep in place.

Wear and enjoy.

27 thoughts on “A tale two cowls – free pattern”

  1. Aha. So that’s what you did with it. Very nice too. I do hope it’s not scratchy for her.
    Is that our King Cole Ultimate on you? I love that colour. My daughter knitted up quite a few cowls for friends for Christmas and the Ultimate was certainly my favourite!! Thanks for the patterns 🙂

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  6. Lovely scarves/cowls and beautiful models! Scratchiness is always an issue for me with things too close about my neck – well anything too close about my neck makes me uncomfortable – If I was given to fanciful thoughts I’d swear I was strangled in a former life! But I love scarves and cowls so I wear ’em fairly loosely even in the coldest days. I wonder if it is that tiny little bit of gold thread that makes the scratchy sensation. I have bought some beautiful soft yarn with a tiny gold thread running though it to make a jumper for my ED – but it has occurred to me that it might be better as a cardi or vest to avoid skin contact…………. what are your thoughts?

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    1. Actually it’s not the gold thread one that’s itchy – it’s the other one. And it may not be bothering her at all. But I would be careful with yours – metal threads can be very scratchy. What about knitting a swatch and putting it somewhere sensitive – hard to hang in your neck, so maybe the inside of your thigh inside tightish trousers? As for fanciful thoughts, I have several stories I could tell you about my neck – and, if I was given to fanciful thinking I’d wonder if I was hung in a past life.

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      1. Oh I know that feeling, recently I’ve been thinking that my necklace or shirt has moved up to be tight on my neck and when I go to remove it it wasn’t there in the first place. But no need for fanciful thoughts to think that I had been strangled, I was nearly strangled by a blind cord when I was a baby on holiday in Canada! I blame that for why I don’t like things around my neck now…
        ps. the cowls both look lovely and I am the same I do like ones that are tighter to the neck, they let less draught in… 🙂

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      2. Glad you survived the strangulation – I may well be the route of your dislike. It’s amazing how many different shapes you can make a cowl and each tiny difference, makes a huge difference when wearing it. 🙂

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  8. What’s not to like in this post? Pretty model and super knits. Back in the day I possessed an orange thing which was ribbed with a polo neck and a sort of bib that fitted across ones chest in the coat neckline and a smaller bib to the back of the coat. I suppose a bit like in a chaps formal dinner attire. It was perfect! Never seen one anywhere else. Very 1960s!

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    1. Good idea. Littlest likes them because they don’t fall all over the place when she’s working – like a scarf would. I assume that would be the same for you. Don’t want a scarf tangled round your hands while you’re doing CPR 🙂

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  12. Pingback: What’s the difference between seed stitch and moss stich? What is double moss stitch? Does double seed stitch exist? And where do rice and box stitch fit in? | Dartmoor Yarns

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