The first design in this set of coordinating cowls features a simple yet elegant lace pattern with a picot bind off. For the second, the composition includes easy, angular twisted stitches for added interest. The cowls make excellent gifts and are quick to knit since both can be made from just a single 100-gram skein of worsted weight yarn.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Size
Cowl 1 Size: Width: 6 inches Length: 15 inches
Cowl 2 Size: Width: 5.5 inches Length: 16 inches
Gauge
Gauge is not crucial for this pattern.
Cowl 1 Gauge: 30 stitches = 4 inches
Cowl 2 Gauge: 20 stitches = 4 inches
Materials
Yarn:
Cascade Yarns Cascade 220 Superwash (100% Wool; 220 yards [201 meters]/100 grams): 818 Mocha, 1 skein.
Needles: US size 7 (4.5 mm)
Notions: Stitch marker; tapestry needle; (optional) crochet hook (same size to match knitting needles for cast on)
Abbreviations
CO: Cast on
BO: Bind off
St(s): Stitch(es)
K: Knit
P: Purl
K2tog: Knit 2 sts together
Ssk: Sl 1, sl 1, k them together
Yo: Yarn over increase
LT: Left twist, see notes
Sl: Slip
Sk: Skip
Special Stitches
S2KP: Sl 2 sts at the same time, k next st, pass the 2 sl sts over the k st.
LT: Sk 1 st, k the second st through the back loop, sl the skipped st purlwise onto the right needle and then finally sl the k st off as well. Do not k the skipped st. This is what creates the elongated slanted st.
Pattern Notes
The cowls are worked in the round, working from the written instruction or chart.
When casting on, use the technique of your choice. My favorite is the Chinese Waitress CO, worked with a crochet hook. There are many videos that demonstrate this technique.
To make the Women’s Cowl longer, work additional repeats of Rnd 3-4 and 27-28, adding the same number of rounds to each end of the cowl. For a wider cowl, cast-on additional sts (multiple of 14 sts).
To make the Men’s Cowl larger, cast-on additional stitch (multiple of 20 sts) and work more repeats of the stitch pattern.
Cowl 1
Loosely CO 84 sts. Place marker and join in the rnd.
Rnds 1-2: (K11, p3) 6 times.
Rnd 3: (K2tog twice, [yo, k1] 3 times, yo, ssk twice, p3) 6 times.
Rnd 4: (K11, p3) 6 times.
Rnds 5-10: Rep Rnds 3-4, 3 times.
Rnd 11: (K3, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k3, p3) 6 times.
Rnd 12: (K11, p3) 6 times.
Rnd 13: (K2, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, ssk, k2, p3) 6 times.
Rnd 14: (K11, p 3) 6 times.
Rnd 15: (K1, k2tog, yo, k5, yo, ssk, k1, p3) 6 times.
Rnd 16: (K11, p3) 6 times.
Rnd 17: (K2tog, yo, k7, yo, ssk, p3) 6 times.
Rnd 18: (K11, p3) 6 times.
Rnd 19: (K1, yo, ssk, k5, k2tog, yo, k1, p3) 6 times.
Rnd 20: (K11, p 3) 6 times.
Rnd 21: (K2, yo, ssk, k3, k2tog, yo, k2, p3) 6 times.
Rnd 22: (K11, p3) 6 times.
Rnd 23: (K3, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k3, p3) 6 times.
Rnd 24: (K11, p3) 6 times.
Rnd 25: (K4, yo, s2kp, yo, k4, p3) 6 times.
Rnd 26: (K11, p3) 6 times.
Rnd 27: (Ssk twice, [yo, k1] 3 times, yo, k2tog twice, p3) 6 times.
Rnd 28: (K11, p3) 6 times.
Rnd 29: (Ssk twice, [yo, k1] 3 times, yo, k2tog twice, p3) 6 times.
Rnd 30: (K11, p3) 6 times.
Rnds 31-34: Rep Rnds 29-30 twice.
Rnd 35: (K11, p 3) 5 times, k11, p2. Do not purl the final st of the last round. You will begin your BO one st early.
If you begin your bind off here, you can work the picots as written and all should line up properly.
Finishing
The BO for this cowl is a bit unusual in that some of the stitches are worked as a picot BO, while others are bound off loosely as normal. Remember to start your BO with the last stitch of the previous round.
*BO 3 sts as normal. You will have 1 st from the BO on your right-hand needle. Begin first picot, CO 2 sts onto the left needle using the Cable Cast-On technique. BO 4 sts. You have completed one picot BO.
Complete 2 additional picot BOs as above for a total of 3 picots. (Note that for the 2nd picot, you should be working the CO sts in the center of the lace repeat.)
BO 5 sts as normal. One repeat has been bound off. Go back to * and do the other 5 repeats in the same way.
Weave in all yarn ends. Wash gently and block on a flat surface. Pull the picot sections downward and pin down, creating curves along the edges. When your cowl is nearly dry, you may wish to turn it over so that the other side dries completely as well.
Cowl 2
Loosely CO 100 sts. Place marker and join in the round.
Rnds 1-3: (K4, p1, k4, p2, k7, p2) 5 times.
Rnd 4: (LT, k2, p1, LT, k2, p2, LT, k5, p2) 5 times.
Rnd 5 and all odd number rnds: (K4, p1, k4, p2, k7, p2) 5 times.
Rnd 6: (K1, LT, k1, p1, k1, LT, k1, p2, k1, LT, k4, p2) 5 times.
Rnd 8: (K2, LT, p1, k2, LT, p2, k2, LT, k3, p2) 5 times.
Rnd 10: (LT, k2, p1, LT, k2, p2, k3, LT, k2, p2) 5 times.
Rnd 12: (K1, LT, k1, p1, k1, LT, k1, p2, k4, LT, k1, p2) 5 times.
Rnd 14: (K2, LT, p1, k2, LT, p2, k5, LT, p2) 5 times.
Rnd 15: (K4, p1, k4, p2, k7, p2) 5 times.
Rep Rnds 4-15 twice more or to desired length.
Rep Rnds 1-3.
Finishing
BO all sts loosely. I did not BO in pattern (using P sts for the reverse stockinette st) as I wished it to match the CO edge.
Weave in all ends. Wash gently and block on a flat surface. For this cowl, do not block hard or your twisted sts will not show up well.