Padma is a delicate cowl that combines rows of detailed lotus-like lace knitted in the round, starting with picot stitch cast on. The pattern is worked upwards in lace pattern and then cast off with picot stitch. This picot cast on and cast off gives this cowl a fun, feminine look. It’s designed to fit snug around the neck but can easily be customized for longer length.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Size: 10” height x 24” in circumference.
Gauge: 24 sts and 32 rows = 4” [10 cm] in St st after wet blocking
2 repeat = 6” in lace pattern
Exact gauge is not important but do note that a looser gauge will result in the use of more yardage.
Materials
Yarn:
Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light (100% Merino Wool; 420 yards [384 meters]/100 grams): Leopard, 1 skein.
Needles: US size 5 (3.75 mm): 24” circular.
Notions: Stitch markers (one of different color for beg of rnd); tapestry needle.
Abbreviations
BO Bind off
CO Cast on
K Knit
K2tog Knit 2 sts together
P Purl
m Marker
Rnd Round
sm Slip marker
ssk Sl 2 sts individually as if to knit, then knit them together through the back loops
St st Stockinette stitch
st(s) Stitch(es)
Yo Yarn over
Sssk Sl 3 sts individually as if to knit, then knit them together through the back loops
Sk2p Sl 1 st, k2tog, pass slipped stitches over
Special Stitches
P1, K1 Rib
Rnd 1: *P1, k1; rep from * around.
Rep Rnd 1 for patt.
Padma Lace Pattern (worked over a multiple of 20 sts)
Chart A
Rnd 1: P1, k1tbl, p1, k2tog, k4, yo, k1, yo, k4, ssk, p1, k1tbl, p1, k1 – 20 sts.
Rnd 2: P1, k1tbl, k2tog, k4, yo, k3, yo, k4, ssk, k1tbl, p1, k1.
Rnd 3: P1, k2tog, k4, yo, k5, yo, k4, skp, p1, k1.
Rnd 4: K2tog, k4, yo, k7, yo, k4, ssk, k1.
Rnd 5: K3, k2tog, k4, yo, k1, yo, k4, ssk, k4.
Rnd 6: K2, k2tog, k4, yo, k3, yo, k4, ssk, k3.
Rnd 7 (Inc): K1, k2tog, k4, yo, k2tog, yo, Inc 1-to-7, yo, ssk, yo, k4, ssk, k2 – 26 sts.
Chart B
Rnd 1: K2tog, k4, yo, (p1, k1tbl) 6 times, p1, yo, k4, ssk, k1 – 26 sts.
Rnd 2: Yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, (k1tbl, p1) 7 times, k1tbl, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k1.
Rnd 3: K4, (p1, k1tbl) 8 times, p1, k5.
Rnd 4: K1, yo, sssk, yo, (p1, k1tbl) 8 times, p1, yo, k3tog, yo, k2.
Rnd 5: Rep Rnd 3.
Rnd 6: K2, yo, ssk, (p1, k1tbl) 8 times, p1, k2tog, yo, k3.
Rnd 7 (Dec): K4, (p1, k1tbl) twice, p1, ssk, k1tbl, p1, k1tbl, k2tog, (p1, k1tbl) twice, p1, k5 – 24 sts.
Rnd 8 (Dec): K3, yo, ssk, (k1tbl, p1) twice, ssk, p1, k2tog, (p1, k1tbl) twice, k2tog, yo, k4 – 22 sts.
Rnd 9 (Dec): K5, (k1tbl, p1) twice, sk2p, (p1, k1tbl) twice, k6 – 20 sts.
Rnd 10: Yo, k4, ssk, p1, k1tbl, p1, k1, p1, k1tbl, p1, k2tog, k4, yo, k1.
Rnd 11: K1, yo, k4, ssk, k1tbl, p1, k1, p1, k1tbl, k2tog, k4, yo, k2.
Rnd 12: K2, yo, k4, ssk, p1, k1, p1, k2tog, k4, yo, k3.
Rnd 13: K3, yo, k4, ssk, k1, k2tog, k4, yo, k4.
Rnd 14: Yo, k4, ssk, k7, k2tog, k4, yo, k1.
Rnd 15: K1, yo, k4, ssk, k5, k2tog, k4, yo, k2.
Rnd 16 (Inc): Yo, ssk, yo, k4, ssk, k3, k2tog, k4, yo, k2tog, yo, Inc 1-to-7 – 26 sts.
Chart C
Rnd 1: P1, k1tbl, p1, yo, k4, ssk, k1, k2tog, k4, yo, (p1, k1tbl) 5 times – 26 sts
Rnd 2: (P1, k1tbl) twice, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, (k1tbl, p1) 5 times, k1tbl.
Rnd 3: (P1, k1tbl) twice, p1, k9, (p1, k1tbl) 6 times.
Rnd 4: (P1, k1tbl) twice, p1, yo, k3tog, yo, k3, yo, sssk, yo, (p1, k1tbl) 6 times.
Rnd 5: Rep Rnd 3.
Rnd 6: (P1, k1tbl) twice, p1, k2tog, yo, k5, yo, ssk, (p1, k1tbl) 6 times.
Rnd 7 (Dec): (P1, k1tbl) twice, p1, k9, (p1, k1tbl) twice, p1, ssk, k1tbl, p1, k1tbl, k2tog – 24 sts.
Rnd 8 (Dec): (P1, k1tbl) twice, k2tog, yo, k7, yo, ssk, (k1tbl, p1) twice, ssk, p1, k2tog – 22 sts.
Rnd 9 (Dec): (P1, k1tbl) twice, k11, (k1tbl, p1) twice, sk2p – 20 sts.
Pattern
Loosely CO 160 sts. Join to work in rnd and place a marker for the beginning of the round.
Note: For a longer cowl, CO a multiple of 20 sts. This will result in increased yardage requirement for completing the project.
Work 8 rnds in P1, K1 Rib.
Work Rnd 1 of Padma Lace Pattern over 20-st rep, working from written instruction or chart.
Cont as est until all 7 rnds of Chart A is complete.
Note: You may choose to use a different color marker after each set of 20 sts.
Work Chart B for next 16 rnds, followed by Chart C for 9 rnds.
Rep Charts A, B, and C once more for 32 rnds.
Work 8 rnds in P1, K1 Rib.
BO all sts loosely.
Finishing
Weave in all ends. Gently steam block the cowl. 
If garments for photos were knitted in light colours the patterns would show. Dark knitting doesn’t show anything e.g. the Lotus Cowl. Coats, jerseys, etc. just show as outlines.
What’s “tbl”?
It means Through the Back Loop
What does increase 1-7 mean? How do I do that? Love the pattern. I’ve started knitting the cowl and I ran into that step and had to stop knitting – help. Thanks, Judi
Hello Judyth,
Thank you for your comment. To make the Inc 1-to-7 st, work into the front and back of the st indicated until that 1 st has increased to 7 sts. I hope this helps.
cant find chart for Lotus cowl
Hi Betty,
Charts can be found to the right, under the photo under heading DOWNLOADS. I hope this helps!
The blurb mentions a picot cast on and bind off but this is not reflected in the pattern itself, nor is there any mention of how to do it. Perhaps a link or atleast adding the word ‘picot’ to the pattern might be a good idea. Just a suggestion – I really appreciate the pattern.
I hope I cando this!
Can you please tell me what ply is quoted as I need to buy an alternative yarn?
Just below the image are charts
Too bad the charts download only as .jpeg files. Why are they not included with the pattern instructions in a .pdf format? The .pdf is much more user friendly.
look under downloads. Directly under picture of pattern
Thank you. Lovely pattern.
Where are the charts for this pattern? Thanks,