Sunburst Cowl by Julia Billings

Sunburst Cowl

Knitting
May 2025
Fingering (14 wpi) ?
28 stitches and 33 rows = 4 inches
in Stocking Stitch
US 3 - 3.25 mm
US 2½ - 3.0 mm
656 - 875 yards (600 - 800 m)
1 (2)
English
This pattern is available from yarnjournal.com for £24.00.

The Sunburst Cowl was inspired by the iconic banded gneiss rocks of the north-west of Scotland that are so often seen covered in luminous maritime sunburst lichen, a species traditionally used for dyeing textiles in Scotland.

The pattern combines an intricate North Atlantic colourwork motif with rhythmic stripes to create a cowl that is easy to knit and wear.

SIZE

Sizes: 1 (2)
Folded finished height: 21 (29) cm / 8.25 (11.5) in
Finished circumference: 63 cm / 25 in

YARN

Woollenflower Earth 4-ply, Exmoor Blueface and Zwartbles, 400 m / 438 yds per 100g skein

1 skein each of MC, CC1 and CC2

Sample 1: MC: Cool Gold CC1: Light Grey CC2: Mid Grey
Sample 2: MC: Soft Pink CC1: Stormy Blue CC2: Deep Night

OR in 4ply / fingering weight yarn which knits to the specified gauge and has a good amount of woolly bounce for colourwork, along with softness and drape to help the cowl sit softly around the neck.

APPROXIMATE YARDAGE REQUIRED

MC: 300 (400) m / 328 (437) yds
CC1: 225 (300) m / 246 (328) yds
CC2: 75 (100) m / 83 (110) yds

TECHNIQUES

Stranded colourwork, knitting in the round, reading charts, provisional cast-on, grafting or 3-needle cast-off, Duplicate stitch (for finishing).