The Design

“A perfect intro to stranded colorwork.”

Searching for a small project to ease you into stranded colorwork? This cowl—a free pattern—is perfect! A simple one-by-one repeat in two high-contrast colors helps to get you used to alternating strands of yarn, while producing a striking, checker-like fabric. With one-color ribbing at each edge, and sized just right to keep your neck warm, you’ll have a cozy colorwork cowl in no time.

We knit the Simple Colorwork Cowl in Brooklyn Tweed Shelter, one of our favorite woolen-spun yarns. Worsted-weight and spun from 100% Wyoming-grown Targhee-Columbia fleece, Shelter is multi-talented. Not only does it have beautiful stitch definition, it achieves a characteristic lofty spring and a fabric with great structure—perfect for this cowl!

The Details

FINISHED SIZE
Approx. 24"/61cm around x 10"/25.5cm deep.

YARN
2 skeins Brooklyn Tweed Shelter ( 140 yds/128m each).
Or approx. 220 yds/201m of an equivalent worsted-weight yarn: 125 yds/114m MC and 95 yds/87m CC.
Shown in Cast Iron and Fossil.

NEEDLES & NOTIONS
US 7 (4.5mm) 24"/60cm circular needle, or size to obtain gauge.
US 5 (3.75mm) 16"/40 cm circular needle, or 2 sizes smaller than gauge needle.
1 stitch marker.
Darning needle to finish.
Blocking wires and T-pins.

GAUGE
Approx. 20sts= 4"/10cm in colorwork stitch in the round, after blocking.