Note: pattern updated on 27 Dec 2023. Make sure you are using the newest version of the PDF, please!

Are you looking for a quick, stranded colourwork project? This cowl provides a gentle introduction to stranded knitting, as the motifs are small with (mostly!) short floats. The sturdy yarns provide structure so the cowl stands up protectively around the neck and the thicker yarns make this a quick knit. The stranded fabric is double thick to help keep the wind off your neck and the fitted shape (more of a neck gaiter) helps too.

Pattern is both written out and charted. On the last page of the pattern, you’ll find a colouring sheet so you can experiment with your favourite combinations.

Suggested yarns:
Custom Woolen Mills Mule Spun 2-Ply 100% Canadian wool, 112g/198m
Briggs and Little Heritage 100% wool, 113g/196m
Haynes Creek Heathers Aran 100% wool, 100g/180m
Peace Fleece Worsted 75% wool/25% mohair, 113g/183m

The suggested yarn is a non-superwash, plied wool yarn with some rustic character. The contrasting colour yarn will provide the pattern interest – tonal, variegated, or gradient yarns would be great here. The yarns in the sample photo are Custom Woolen Mills (CWM) Mule Spun 2ply (blue, yellow, green) and Peace Fleece worsted (purple).

MC: CWM 2ply, blue, approx. 50m / 28 g
CC1: CWM 2ply, green, 36m / 20g
CC2: Peace Fleece worsted, Latvian Lavender, 54m / 30 g
CC3: CWM 2ply, yellow, 15m, 8g

After a short amount of ribbing, the rest of the cowl is worked in stranded stockinette stitch, followed by ribbing to complete the cowl. The colourwork sections have at most two colours at one time. You can carry the unused colours up as you work, catching them every few rounds, so that you have fewer ends to weave in. Skills needed: cast on, knit stitch, purl stitch, bind off. When floats are longer than 4 stitches, I recommend you catch the floats using some form of float management (twist the two working yarns around each other).