About Fiber Queen VT - Hi, I’m Marjorie from Vermont, mother of three sons and married to a crazy artist. I’ve been knitting for over 50 years and love seeing family and friends snuggled in handmade hats, scarves, mittens or sweaters!

Hidden Lace Cowl is an intermediate knitting pattern using bulky superwash yarn worked in the round, from the bottom up. For beginners looking to learn how to knit lace, I have a full video tutorial of the entire pattern on my website and YouTube channel.

Why “Hidden Lace”? When you work a lace pattern in bulky, it looks entirely different, with a squishy, stretchy feel that is wonderfully cozy as a cowl. The Twin Rib pattern does not curl, so that cowl stands up on its own to cover the neck area. My mom would have loved this feature (she always joked about getting a face lift and never did). This pattern is in honor of her, Jane Stanley, gone now for many years and still missed.

One size - This is a snug cowl with 1-2 inches of positive ease. If you like a wider, more drapey cowl, you can increase the circumference by adding stitches in multiples of 6. Pattern is 90 stitches, but could easily be 96, 102, etc. Two skeins might be needed for larger sizes.

Suggested Yarn - Olann Gra “Jane” Bulky Merino Superwash yarn, one skein of 136 yds (124 m), or Berroco Ultra Wool Chunky, one skein of 145 yds (133 m). Approximately 120 yds (110 m) needed for cowl.

Gauge - 17 sts and 22 rnds = 4” (10 cm) in lace pattern worked in the round on size 9 (5.5 mm) needles. I recommend knitting a gauge swatch in the Twin Rib pattern, then pulling it out and using that yarn to start the cowl. Otherwise you might need two skeins of yarn.

Needles/Supplies - US 9 (5.5 mm) 16” (40 cm) or 24” (60 cm) circular needle. A blunt tipped needle is better for knitting with bulky 3-ply yarn. 1 stitch marker for BOR and tapestry needle for weaving in ends.

This is my first pattern release and it’s perfect for cheering up an overcast day in Vermont so I’ve knit it in many different colors!

Feel free to reach out for help at https://www.fiberqueen.net/hidden-lace-cowl/ for a full video tutorial or to ask questions.
I would love to see your finished projects! Tag posts with #hiddenlacecowl on Instagram & Facebook or to link your project to here on Ravelry.