Knitting: Country Cowl (Tutorial)

 

Here's my take on the "it" accessory this Fall: the Country Cowl. There are so many fun cowls out there--I would like a bunch of different ones--but I had to pick one to start with to duke it out on the knit side of the battle over at luvinthemommyhood, so I chose to do this one in a chunky wool blend and included a knitted drawcord to give several options for wearing it (click below to read more and see the options).

It was so much fun knitting I couldn't wait to finish and wear it and I love it! It's also the first knit pattern I'm sharing, which is fun, and adventurous... If you want to knit yourself a Country Cowl click below for the  tutorial. You can also download the pattern in PDF form here.

Country Cowl Materials:

--Two skeins Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick and Quick yarn (I used "Spice")

--Size 15 circular needles (10 mm)

--Tapestry needle for weaving in ends

--Stitch marker (or safety pin, as I used instead)

Gauge:  8 stitches=4" (finished cowl measures about 33" around and 15" long)

Abbreviations:

--k2tog: Knit two together

--yo: Yarn over

Here are a couple great how-to resources for beginning knitters--great illustrations and videos:

--from Lion Brand

--from Knitting Help

To begin, cast on 70 stitches. (I use a "long tail" cast on. See here.)

Row 1: Knit all stitches. Place stitch marker on first stitch and join to knit in the round being careful not to twist stitches (all rows will be knit rows on the right side). Move stitch marker at the start of each row (this is essential to maintain the pattern).

 

Row 2:  *Knit 3,  yo, k2tog.**  Repeat from * to **  to complete row, ending with a k2tog.

Row 3:  Knit all stitches.

(Photo below shows how decorative holes from the yarn-overs start forming in the knitting.)

(Photos below illustrate the yo and k2tog--please keep in mind that I knit Continental style...)

(yarn over...)

(insert needle through next two stitches)

(wrap yarn back...)

(and around your needle...)

(...and pull through to complete knit stitch.)

Repeat rows 2 and 3 until...

...work measures...

(you'll need to switch to your second skein of yarn about 10 inches into this, I always temporarily knot the two tails together until I finish the work and then I unknot and weave in the ends...)

...15 inches.

Bind off all stitches. Using tapestry needle, weave in ends.

You have your cowl! Wear it like this (pictured at the top of this post) or add the drawcord.

To knit the drawcord, start by casting on 100 stitches. Now working in straight knitting, rather than working in the round, continue by turning.

Row 1: Bind off all stitches. 

Weave in ends.

Weave the drawcord through the holes along the top of the cowl and cinch under your chin...

 

...or leave a bit looser.

Or flip the cowl inside out, weave the drawcord through the middle,...

...and wear as a double collar.

There you have it! The Country Cowl.

PDF version of the pattern is here.