I love this stitch. It’s one I’ve used many times over the years in hats, scarves and garments – and this time I’ve brought it into a cowl. A simple, short cowl that hugs around the neck to keep you cosy and warm, and keeps the chill away.

This design has a special name. I called it ‘Tor’ after the street I lived on as a child. It was on a very steep hill, with rumours that some of the houses even tunnelled back into the rock. ‘Tor’ is old English for rock or hill, and when I looked at these little stitches, they reminded me of tiny hills – so the name felt perfect.

This is actually a pattern I knitted for myself years before I ever wrote it down. I wore it often and always received so many compliments on it, which is why I finally decided to publish it for others to enjoy too. I’m knitting it again now in a colourful shade and can’t wait to wear the finished piece!

The version you see here takes just two hanks of Studio Donegal Soft Chunky to make it this length. If you’d like it longer, there is enough left over to knit until you use up the hank or reach your desired size.

CONSTRUCTION
Knitted in rows from the bottom up in one piece with one seam.

TECHNIQUES USED
Cast on, knit, purl, simple increasing and decreasing stitch technique, decreasing. Joining one seam. Optional but recommended to create the feeling of joy when joining your pieces: mattress stitch.

YARN
Two 100g hanks of Studio Donegal Soft Chunky.
125m/136yds per 100g

SUGGESTED KNITTING NEEDLES
6mm.

GAUGE (tension)
18 stitches and 18 rows to 10cm square over pattern. I obtained this gauge with 6mm needles.
It is important to obtain gauge so do swatch and change your needle size to achieve the correct gauge if you need to.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Approx. 16cm (wide) x 110cm (long).

NEED HELP?
I am here for you! Pop into the Skipton studio, send an email, or check out the Purl &Jane YouTube channel for tips, inspiration and guidance including handy resources like gauge (tension) guides and how to tutorials.