How to Make a Knitted Winter Cowl
An alternative to the ubiquitous scarf, the cowl, provides just as much warmth without the loose ends. Cowls are like leg warmers for your neck -- a tube that you can pull over your head to help keep you warm on a cold, blustery winter day. They're convenient and hard to lose, and you're highly unlikely to trip over the end of your cowl. Knitting your own winter cowl can be a quick and rewarding project.
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Things You'll Need
- One 24-inch circular knitting-needle set, size 8
- 450 yards of worsted weight yarn
- One stitch marker
- One tapestry needle
Instructions
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1
Cast on 120 stitches by using the long-tail, cast-on method. Ensure that your cast-on stitches are loose and stretch enough to pass over your head and shoulders.
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2
Place a marker after the last stitch. Pass the marker onto the right needle. Join your last stitch to the first stitch, making sure that all cast-on stitches are straight and not twisted.
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3
Knit two stitches and then purl two stitches. Continue alternating two knit stitches and two purl stitches to create ribbing all the way around until you have reached the end of a row (indicated by the marker) and your knitting measures 1 inch.
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4
Knit all stitches and continue knitting until the piece is 19-inches long. At the end of the next row, resume the ribbing pattern by alternating two knit stitches and two purl stitches. Continue ribbing for 1 inch.
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5
Bind off all stitches very loosely. Break yarn, leaving a 4-inch tail. Thread the tail through the tapestry needle and weave this loose end into your knitting.
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Tips & Warnings
These directions result in a basic, stockinette cowl with 1-inch ribbing -- a pattern perfect for beginning knitters looking to try circular knitting. If you want to embellish your cowl, you can add various stitch combinations, such as cables or lace work.
Recommended yarns for this pattern include alpaca, merino wool, cashmere and silk.
When selecting the yarn to use for this pattern, do the "neck test" to make sure your cowl's texture won't be too rough near the sensitive skin on your neck. Hold the skein or ball of yarn up to your neck. If the yarn feels "scratchy," then try another yarn.
Be sure to wash your cowl according to the directions that come with the yarn.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit laine image by martine wagner from Fotolia.com
