Crazy for Cowls

I just wanted simple, mindless, big-needle knitting for our Thanksgiving drives to and from Minnesota.


Erica- Knits Chunky Knit Cowl Pattern got me going. It was fun to try different yarns and combinations. With each project, I made a few tweaks to the pattern, adding some ribbing and making the cowl a bit snugger around the neck. My version of the pattern is below, following photos of several cowls. Enjoy!

Yum! Baby alpaca and angora

Betty's handspun with mohair curls

Arucania Lumari: wool, alpaca, silk

Laines du Nord Giglio: Wool, viscose, acrylic



Black Forest Naturwolle Handspun


Rowan Cashsoft and Crystal Palace Kid Merino

Betty’s Bulky Knit Cowl

(based on Erica-Knits Chunky Knit Cowl Pattern)

Yarn: 115 yards of super-bulky yarn, or combination of yarns to attain gauge

Needles: size 17, 24-inch circular

Gauge: 2 stitches/inch

Loosely cast on 60 stitches, join.

Rows 1-2: Knit even

Row 3: For an edge with minimal rolling, purl around; otherwise knit even around

Rows 4-10: Knit even

Row 11: *Knit 3, knit 2 together* around

Rows 12-20: Knit even

Row 21: *Knit 3, knit 2 together* around, ending knit 3

Row 22: Knit 2 together, purl 1, then *knit 1, purl 1* around

Rows 23-32: *Knit 1, purl 1* around

Rows 33- 48: Knit even (adjust length with more or less rows, as desired)

Cast off loosely.

Cowl may be worn as a neckwarmer or pulled up over head as a hood.