Because of the nature of this garment, it is not necessary to adhere strictly to the size and gauge stated in the pattern. You will want the cowl to fit easily and comfortably over your head without unduly disturbing your hairstyle. To make the cowl either larger or smaller, you can increase or decrease the number of stitches by multiples of 4. If you do change the size of this cowl, you may need more yarn or less yarn than this pattern indicates.