Little Leaf Cowl by Helen Gray Designs

Little Leaf Cowl

Knitting
July 2025
DK (11 wpi) ?
22 stitches and 30 rows = 4 inches
in stockinette stitch
US 6 - 4.0 mm
260 - 300 yards (238 - 274 m)
One size
English
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Quick to knit and easy to wear, this cowl is essentially a knit-in-the-round stockinette tube with a half-twist, lifted out of the ordinary by an easily memorized lace pattern, which you can choose to knit once or twice around.

Calling for between 260 - 300 yards (237 - 274 meters) of a sport or light DK yarn, the cowl starts with a provisional cast on, worked to the required length then given a half-twist before grafting ends together.

Gauge, whilst not crucial, should be somewhere in the region of 22 sts to 4” (10cm). The cowl can be adjusted for length or width by adding repeats of the lace pattern, and by adding or reducing stockinette stitches either side of the lace panel(s). Note that these adjustments may affect yarn quantities.

Sizes of samples
Cream sample (lace panel knitted once around)
Rennie’s Supersoft Lambswool 4ply, shade Putty, held together with a pale pink laceweight mohair/cashmere blend yarn.
Note - if knitting with two yarns held together, you will require the same yardage of each yarn.
Width measured flat: 5.5” (14cm)
Length: 24” (61cm)
Cowl weighs 49g.

Purple sample (lace panel knitted twice around)
Rico Melange Aran Wonderball, (which knits up more like a light DK weight yarn) shade 16 - Purple Rust
Width measured flat: 6.5” (17cm)
Length: 24” (61cm)
Cowl weighs 57g.

Pink/Beige sample (lace panel knitted once around)
By Laxtons Sheepsoft DK shade Kilnsey
Width measured flat: 7” (18cm)
Length: 24” (61cm)
Cowl weighs 103g

Needles & Notions
4mm (US 6) circular needles or dpns for knitting small circumferences in the round - 40cm length or 80-100 cm if using magic loop method. Spare 4mm needles for grafting.

Stitch markers - one unique marker for beginning of round; small lace markers to section off lace panel(s) from stockinette stitch; locking markers for finishing and grafting the cowl.

Smooth waste yarn in a contrasting colour for provisional cast-on; crochet hook (same or similar size to gauge needles) if using provisional crochet cast-on method.

Tapestry needle and scissors for weaving in ends.

Gauge
22 sts and 30 rounds = 4” (10cm) over stockinette stitch in the round using 4mm needles (US6) before blocking.

Take time to work a swatch in the round, then wash and block, adjusting needle size if necessary to obtain gauge.

Techniques
Provisional cast on; grafting stitches; reading charts.
(Lace pattern is charted and written).