This soft, warm, easy-to-knit cowl features columns of stitches that are dropped at the end of the project to form stripes of delicate, lacy floats.

Cast on row: Using either knitted-on or backwards loop cast on method, CO 64 stitches (or a multiple of 8). Join round.

Round 1 (and every odd round): ☆ k1tbl, k5, k1tbl, k1; repeat from ☆ to end.

Round 2 (and every even round): ☆ p1tbl, p5, p1tbl, k1; repeat from ☆ to end.

Work 60 rounds (30 garter stitch ridges), ending with a purl round.

Cast off row: ☆ BO 7 sts, drop next stitch, and allow the 1-stitch column of knit stitches to run down to the cast-on row. Stretch the loop on the left needle to the same length as the floats formed by the dropped stitches; repeat from ☆ to the end of the round. To finish, knit into the first stitch of the round, cut yarn, and pull the cut end through the last loop.

NOTES:

The floats left by one dropped stitch will have a width approximately equivalent to three knitted stitches. In this pattern, the work will measure approximately 15 inches in diameter on the needles and will yield a cowl of 18.75 inches in diameter after dropping the columns of stitches.

The twisted stitches on either side of the dropped stitch are to prevent the floats from loosening the edges of the knitted columns.

Do not use a long-tail cast on or any other cast on that will not allow the dropped stitch to unravel at the cast-on edge. A simple backwards loop cast-on is best.

This pattern is adapted to knitting in the round from a similar pattern, the “Tencel Dropped Stitch Scarf” by Laura Bryant.