This Simple Striped Cowl is a great project when you want to practice with knitting in the round.
For a more experienced knitter, working with different colours makes this a fun project. Using a stretchy cast on and bind off and knitting the stripes will give enough challenge, while at the same time keeping this a very relaxed knit. This cowl you’ll want to make again and again, playing with different colours. Because it is a quick knit, it also makes the perfect knitted gift.

Notes:

• This pattern is for a cowl, worked in the round on a circular needle.
• The pattern uses the German Twisted Cast On and Jenny’s Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off for stretchy edges. Video tutorials are provided (in Dutch; use subtitles or auto dubbing in the language of your choice, when needed).
• You could also use a larger needle, using the Long Tail Cast On and a regular bind off in pattern, to create enough stretch along the borders of the cowl, so you can easily get it over your head. Or use your preferred stretchy cast on and bind off method.
• New to knitting in the round and/or reading an English knitting pattern? Please check out my online knitting courses, where I teach you step-by-step how to navigate through an English pattern and how to knit this cowl in the round (Dutch only): https://www.mirjammolenbeek.nl/cursussen/

Yarn:
Approximately:

• 45 grams (65 meters) of worsted weight yarn in colour A.
• 40 grams (60 meters) of worsted weight yarn in colour B.
• 40 grams (60 meters) of worsted weight yarn in colour C.
• 45 grams (65 meters) of worsted weight yarn in colour D. You can also work the cowl in one colour only, without knitting the stripes, using 170 grams (250 meters) of worsted weight yarn.

Sample used:
Rosários 4 Bio-Wool, 41 (colour A), 01 (colour B), 26 (colour C), 23 (colour D). 50 grams (72 meters), 100% organic wool.
Needles:
5.00 mm (or size needed to obtain gauge), 40 cm circular needle.
And a 40 cm circular needle 0.5 mm bigger if you want to do a stretchy cast on and bind off by using a larger needle.

Notions:

• 1 stitch marker (closed, matching your needle size)
• tapestry needle for weaving in your ends
• wool wash, blocking mats and T-pins for washing & blocking
• measuring tape

Gauge:
17,5 sts x 25 rows in stockinette stitch (washed & blocked) = 10 cm

Gauge isn’t super important for this pattern.
The most important factor is that you like the drape and feel of the fabric: not too tight and not too loose.

Finished measurements:
Width (flat): 31 cm
Width (in the round): 62 cm
Length: 36 cm
Measurements after washing and blocking.

You can widen the cowl easily by casting on more or fewer stitches (multiple of 4) and/or add/subtract length by knitting fewer or more striped rounds or adjusting the length of the borders.

Please note: if your gauge is way off, or if you choose to knit fewer or more pattern repeats, you’ll need less/more yarn and the finished measurements will be different.