A quick project for when winter arrives a little too early and you’re not quite prepared.

I have a soft spot for cowls—they’re fast to knit, wonderfully practical, and the perfect excuse to use a special yarn without needing a large quantity. They also make ideal gifts, and when they’re quick to finish, that’s an added bonus.

The first sample was knitted simply to try a new yarn from my studio: Purrino, a beautiful blend of merino and New Zealand brushtail possum. I’m very much the type of knitter who needs to make something useful rather than just a practice square, so this design evolved naturally as I knitted. By the time the cowl was finished, there were already plenty of people asking for both the yarn and the pattern. Thankfully, I had kept my notes and was able to refine the design and make a few thoughtful adjustments.

The pattern features slipped stitches that resemble links—an intentional detail that reminds me of the knitting community itself. We are all linked together through our shared love of this craft.

The sample used approximately 1.5 balls of 40 g Purrino (140 m / 40 g). Other DK-weight yarns should also work well.

The cowl is knitted flat for the first section (the links pattern). For the second section (the neck), a small number of stitches are bound off, and the work is then joined to knit in the round in ribbing.

Gauge is not critical. The sample gauge is approximately 20 sts / 28 rows = 10 cm (4 in) after blocking.

My knitting style is quite loose, so if you tend to knit firmly, you may wish to go up a needle size (4.5 mm to 5 mm). When working the elongated stitch, make sure it remains untwisted (as shown in the sample). If you prefer a twisted version, that’s perfectly fine—just be consistent and twist it every time.