The Melon Cowl is a classic accessory worked flat diagonally and seamed at the back. It is made in an all over 2 color slip stitch motif resembling melon skin, but it will look just as juicy in one or many more colors, which means it is perfect to use up single skeins or leftovers.

The cowl can be knit up with any yarn weight from lace to aran weight and comes in 5 sizes, fitting small children to adults wearing bulky coats. You can also choose between two shape options to further customize the fit: the Narrow fit will hug your face and keep you warm, while the Straight fit will flop open in a more stylish way.

To see different versions of the pattern knit in various yarns, sizes, fibers and colors, you can check out the testers version under the “Project” tab at the top of the page, or the #MelonCowl on Instagram.

The pattern has been tested and professionally tech edited.

KEY FEATURES
Gaugeless
Any yarn weight from Lace to Aran
2 colors (also works with 1 or more)
Worked flat then seamed
All over slip stitch texture
I-cord edges worked as you go
2 fit options
5 sizes, fitting children to large adults

SIZES
1, 2 (3, 4, 5)

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Circumference of the top of the finished cowl (see full size chart in the images):

Straight version: 50, 55 (60, 65, 70) cm / 20, 22 (24, 26, 28)”
Narrow version: 41, 45 (49, 53, 57.5) cm / 16.5, 18 (19.5, 21.25, 23)”

Suggested positive ease around the chin: 6 - 20 cm / 2.5 – 8”. The pattern includes guidance to select a size.

The models have a 43 cm / 17.2” head circumference at chin height. They are wearing Sizes 3.

SUGGESTED YARNS
This is gauge-less design, you can use any Lace to Aran weight yarn. You will need 2 colors, a Main color (MC) and Contrast color (CC). The two yarn weights can be slightly different.

Light pink sample (5.5 mm / US 9 needles): superwash fingering weight sock yarns held double

Purple and black sample (4.5 mm / US 7 needles): MC is La Choyeuse by La Ferme du Beau in colorway Fée (100% wool, 400 meters / 437 yards per 100 g, heavy fingering weight)
CC is handspun “Noire des Aravis” (100% carded wool, approx. sport weight)

Lilac and navy sample (3.5 mm / US 4 needles): Small by Cardiff Cashmere in Lilly (MC) and Indaco (CC) (100% cashmere, 170 meters / 186 yards per 25g, light fingering weight)

YARN REQUIREMENTS
The estimates can be found in the chart in the images.

The lengths are for the Straight version with a single
strand. The Narrow version will need slightly less yarn (~6% less).

GAUGE
This pattern is gauge less. It is worked to measurements and doesn’t use specific stitch counts.

SUGGESTED NEEDLES AND NOTIONS
The slip stitch texture makes the fabric very dense; you will need to size up needles considerably to obtain a comfortable fabric.

The recommended needles per yarn weights are as follows:
Lace: 3.5 mm / US 4
Fingering: 4 mm / US 6
Sport: 4.5 mm / US 7
DK: 5 mm / US 8
Worsted: 5.5 to 6 mm / US 9 to 10
Aran: 6 to 7 mm / US 10 to 10.75

Notions:
removable stitch markers
scissors
darning needle
measuring tape

SKILLS

• Knitting flat
• Slipping stitches
• Reading the knitting
• Judy’s magic cast on
• Increases
• Decreases
• I-cord bind off
• Grafting an i-cord
• Whip stitch

Photo credit: @alexialinn__ on Instragram
Model: yours truly and @ici_annajuraskova