I’m constantly amazed at how quickly I shifted from Cowl skeptic to daily wearer.
What did it for me was finding the perfect combination of form and function, in other words, something that not only looked good but also worked to keep me warm.
Thanks to my conversion, expect to see and increasing collection of styles and designs in this section of my pattern store as they’re such enjoyable knits too.
Latest Release: Valdes
The Valdes Cowl
Houndstooth is a classic, even iconic woven pattern, often associated with woollen outerwear. With the first known example, the Gerum cloak found in Sweden dating back thousands of years, it’s use in 19th century for lowland scots shepherds cloaks, it’s adoption by fashion designers such as Christian Dior and Coco Chanel, its use on a 16th century Japanese tea jar, a 20th Century Inuk parka, Hawaiian plaited grass and African woven basketwork, it could be said to be woven into our collective consciousness.
Here in knitted form, the pattern is instantly recognisable and provides a similar warm fabric to its woven counterpart that is equally perfect for those colder months. This tubular infinity cowl knitted with a simple but incredibly effective one colour at a time slipped stitch houndstooth pattern, is a great meditative knit that is bound to become a timeless wardrobe staple. Playing with the colour change sequencing, it lends itself to both intentional colour blocking or random use of leftovers.
The Valdes cowl is names for Beverly Valdes, the first African-American woman to be hired as an in-house model by a significant fashion designer in the Unites States, Pauline Trigère, who herself used houndstooth fabrics in her designs. I share more of their story on my blog
The cowl is knitted in the round with either a provisional cast on and kitchener stitch graft to finish or a standard cast on and cast of and sewn up.
Size
One size – 156cm/62.5 inches circumference – 16.5cm/6.5 inches wide
Yarn & Gauge
Yarn
Rowan Felted Tweed, 50g 191yds/175m (50% wool, 25% alpaca, 25% viscose)
1 x 50g Yarn A – Col 154 – Ginger
2 x 50g Yarn B – Col 161 – Avocado
2 x 50g Yarn C – Col 152 – Watery
Gauge
22 sts x 41 rows = 4 x 4 inches / 10cm x 10cm over the slipped stitch houndstooth pattern.
Needles and Notions
- 3.5 mm (US4mm) 40cm/16inch circular needle, or needle size that will enable you to get gauge.
- Crochet hook in the same size for the provisional cast on (optional).
- Spare 3.5mm (US4) circular needle for grafting (optional)
- Waste yarn for the provisional cast on (optional)
- Stitchmarker
- Tapestry needle for sewing in ends and grafting.
Format
The pattern is provided as 5 page english language PDF document. The first page contains the overview and photograph, and page 4 is dedicated to written instructions for the recommended but optional provisional cast on and kitchener stitch graft.
Price: £4.00 (or equivalent in your country dependent on local taxes)
This pattern is available from Payhip, LoveCrafts and Ravelry via the links below:
The Dorotea Cowl
The Dorotea Cowl combines texture with stocking stitch to create a deep shaped and cowl that is so easy and cosy to wear.
The shaping keeps it snug and draught proof at the neck while it keeps sits nicely on the shoulders and there is sufficient length to pull it up over the head snood style.
Please note:This pattern includes instructions to knit this cowl with 2 weights of yarn, 4ply fingering **or** sportweight.
In both cases it’s perfect for leftovers and yarns can be held double to work to the appropriate gauge. For example, the Green main colour sportweight versions uses Malabrigo lace held double for the contrast section. A lace plus a fine mohair silk blend would also work wonderfully.
Like the wraparound shawl which inspired this cowl, the Dorotea Cowl is perfect for using up oddments for the contrast sections. Worked with either 4 ply or (sportweight) each contrast section will use up to 6(7)g or 22(24)m/24(26) yds, with the initial rounds at the widest point using the most and the final sections using a gram or two less.
This pattern uses an optional provisional cast on, picot edges and hems at the top and bottom which elevate the cowl to a very stylish accessory and an accomplished piece of knitting.
Full detailed instructions for the provisional cast on are provided, as is a photo-tutorial for the folded and knit down hem: the hem is knit in place as you cast off in a single process. Pictures of the wrong side of the cowl are provided here so you can see how neat this looks.
Size
60cm/23.5 inches around at the top
84cm/33 inches around at the bottom
56cm/22 inches height
Yarn & Gauge
Yarn
Sportweight – 347m/379yds of main yarns and a total of 243m/266yds of contrast yarns – 7g/24m for each of the 10 contrast stripes. (I used malabrigo laceweight held double)
4 ply – 366m/400yds of main yarns and a total of 240m/262yds of contrast yarns – 6g/22m for each of the 10 contrast stripes.
Gauge
4 Ply – 22sts x 35 rows =10cm x 10cm / 4in x 4in in stocking stitch.
Sportweight – 17. 5sts x 35 rows =10cm x 10cm / 4in x 4in in stocking stitch.
Needles & Notions
Sportweight – 4.5mm/US7 60cm/24 inch circular needle
4 ply – 3.75mm/US5 60cm/24 inch circular needle
Stitchmarker & Tapestry needle for sewing in ends
Format
The pattern is provided and a 8 page English Language PDF download.
Pages 6&7 provide a step by step photo-tutorial for the knitted down hem finishing
Page 8 provides full written instructions for the optional Provisional cast on.
Price: £4.00 (or equivalent in your country dependent on local taxes)
This pattern is available from Payhip, LoveCrafts and Ravelry via the links below
Tyto Alba
Tyto Alba is worked from the bottom up in the round and features a striking central cabled panel complemented by a slipped stitch pattern to create a warm, bouncy fabric for those chilly days. The difference in the row gauge of the two patterns is used to positive effect, creating a dramatically shaped front section which sits perfectly where your coat closes; at the back there is less bulk, so the cowl sits comfortably against the back collar. Short rows are worked at the top of the cowl back to keep out those chilly winds!
Techniques: Knitting in the round Working cables Slipping stitches knit, purl, yo, knitting stitches together German Twisted cast on or preferred stretchy cast on German short rows
Size
Measurements – after blocking
Height at centre front: 22. 5 cm / 9 inches
Height at sides and back 20cm / 8 inches
Circumference at base of cowl 76 cm / 30.5 inches
Circumference at top of cowl 51 cm / 20.6 inches
Yarn & Gauge
Susan Crawford Barn – 100% British wool, a unique blend of Jacob, white Shetland and black Shetland fleeces, DK weight, (225m / 246yds per 100g skein approx) 1 skein in the shade Dry Stone Wall
or an equivelent Bouncy DK yarn with good stitch defiition
Gauge 15 sts and 43 rounds = 10cm (4in) over the Elongated Purl Slip Stitch Pattern (as show in pattern Chart B) knitted in the round, after blocking.
Needles & Materials
Suggested needles
5mm (US 8) circular needle (40 – 60cm in length)
cable needle
2 Stitch markers
tapestry needle for sewing in ends
Format
The pattern is provided as a 12 page English Language PDF download.
The first 5 pages contain all the pattern instructions, both written and charted, with subsequent pages containing the picture gallery.
Price: £4.50 (or equivalent in your country dependent on local taxes)
This pattern is available from Payhip, LoveCrafts and Ravelry via the links below
Anglebury
Anglebury is a textured cowl that uses yarn overs and cables to sculpt a fabric with sufficient structure to both sit on the shoulders and stand proud. The scallops and the reversibility of the pattern however, also allow it to be worn with the top edge folded down.
A single skein project, Anglebury is perfect for those special skeins and would make a wonderful gift.
Sizes
Measurements
22 in/56cm around at top
25 in/64cm around at bottom unstretched
17 in/43cm around at centre narrowest point
8 ½ in/22cm deep from point of scallop to point of scallop
Yarn & Gauge
The sample photographed was knitted using a single 100g /250m skein of John Arbon Viola Merino DK. This is a round, bouncy, structured merino yarn with great stitch definition.
Gauge _ 18 stitches and 36 rows = 10 cm x 10cm in garter stitch.
Needles & Materials
4.5mm (US7) 40cm circular needle is recommended as your starting point but you may need to go up or down a needle size to achieve the required gauge
Stitchmarker
Format
Knit in one piece in the round, the pattern instructions are provided in both with fully charted and round by round written instructions.
The pattern is supplied as a 4 page English Language PDF download.
If working from the charted instructions, all instructions are provided on page 2, if working from written instructions, you’ll need pages 3 and 4.
Price & Purchase Options
£4.00
(or equivalent in your country dependent on local taxes)
Payhip
Buy NowLoveCrafts
Ravelry
Sherbourne
Reminiscent of Elizabethan collars, this cowl is named after Sherbourne New Castle in Dorset, which was built by Sir Walter Raleigh on the estate in Sherbourne Dorset, leased to him by Queen Elizabeth I. The original Lodge has been added to over the centuries and Capability Brown redesigned the parkland in the 18th Century.
The cowl uses picot edged pleats to create warm and structure without being bulky.
Sizes
The cowl comes in 1 size and is shaped to be wider at the shoulders narrowing at the neck.
Yarn & Gauge
1 x 100g skein of Manos del Uruguay Silk Blend (300yds/270m) 30% silk/70% merino extrafine wool, shown in colour 7325
or
2 x 50g Malabrigo Silky Merino (50g,150yds/137m) 51% silk/49% merino
Gauge
22 sts and 30 rows = 10cmx10cm/ 4inx4in using 3.75mm needles over stocking stitch
Needles & Materials
3.75mm (US5) short circular needle or dpns
3.5mm (US4) short circular needle or dons for cast off only
Waste yarn
Tapestry needle
Stitchmarker
Format
The pattern is provided as a 3 page English Language PDF download
Price & Purchase Options
£3.75
(or equivalent in your country dependent on local taxes)
Payhip
Buy NowLoveCrafts
Buy now – combo pattern with hat
Ravelry