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Texture Cowl – Pattern

Two different yarns make up a fully reversible cowl

This fun cowl only takes a couple skeins of yarn, and will keep you entertained without being overly complex. Each new section can be quickly memorized, but because you’ll keep changing techniques, you won’t get bored. Mix up not just colors, but also yarn types, such as a single ply with a multi-ply, or smooth with fuzzy, for maximum texture.

I hope you enjoy the pattern below. I am providing this pattern for free, but if you like it, please consider making a donation to a charity. If you send me proof of a donation of $10 USD or more, I can email you the PDF. Users who donate at least $50 USD and register a username will gain access to my new “Pattern Library” where I will add PDFs of all patterns I offer for free in my blog posts.

Four views of the same cowl draped over a chair back. Cowl is knit in a gradient yarn from blue to green to pink to yellow and back again, paired with a white yarn. It has basic brioche, knit/purl texture and reversible cables. First image shows it folded flat, while the remaining three show it twisted three times like it might be to be worn snug against the neck.

Supplies:

Yarn

  • Main color (MC) Yarn: 270 yards (244.4 meters) in DK weight yarn
  • Contrast color (CC) Yarn: 220 yards (197.2 meters) in DK weight yarn

Sample done with Schoppel-Wolle Gradient in “2357 Streiflichter” as the Main Color and The Fibre Co. Lore in “Logical” as the Contrast Color.

Needles

Size 5US (3.75mm) circular, at least 32in or size required to get gauge.

Notions

  • 1 required + 10 optional stitch markers
  • Yarn needle for weaving in ends
  • Cable needle

Gauge & Sizing:

Gauge is not critical for sizing, but will impact size and feel of finished object, as well as yardage needed. Fabric should not be too loose, or texture won’t have that “squish” and brioche will be floppy. Adjust needle size to get a gauge appropriate to your yarn choices.

Gauge:

  • 4in x 4in (10cm x 10cm) is 20st x 28-30rows in stockinette

Gauge of Sample:

  • Main Color: 4in x 4in (10cm x 10cm) is 20st x 28rows in stockinette
  • Contrast Color: 4in x 4in (10cm x 10cm) is 20st x 30rows in stockinette

Finished Size:

Circumference: 62in / 158cm

Length (laid flat): 31in / 79cm

Width: 9in / 23cm

Terms and Special Stitches:

Basic

K – knit

P – purl

 PM – place marker

RM – remove marker

SM – slip marker

Brioche Stitches

Sl1yo – slip one yarn over: Slip one stitch and loop working yarn over from front to back. These will be worked as a single stitch Brk – brioche knit: knit the slipped stitch with its corresponding yarn over

Brp – brioche purl: purl the slipped stitch with its corresponding yarn over

Cables

Xsts CNB – place the specified number of stitches on a cable needle and hold to the back.

Reversible Cables:

These are done just like a normal cable, except over a k1 p1 pattern. In effect, the cables look like a cable over half the number of stitches. Example over eight stitches: place next four stitches on a cable need and hold behind. Next 4 stitches: K1 P1 K1 P1, then K1 P1 K1 P1 from cable needle. 8 stitches total worked

Instructions:

Cast on 264st with MC.

Optional: place markers every 24 stitches as you cast on. This is 24st x 11, so by placing markers every 24 stitches, when you place your 11th marker you are done casting on.

Place marker before joining in the round – this is the only marker you need to have. Other markers are suggested but can be skipped based on your personal preferences and ability to read your knitting.

Border:

Rounds 1-2: *k3 p3* repeat until end of round (x44) – there are four repeats of *k3, p3* between each marker

Round 3-4: *p3 k3* repeat until end of round (x44)

Repeat rounds 1-4 once more – 8 rounds total, removing all but the marker for the end of round on the last round.

Brioche

Round 1 MC – set up: *k1, sl1yo* – repeat all the way around to marker (x182), let yarn fall to the back of work

Round 1 CC – with CC, *sl1yo, brp* – repeat all the way around to marker (x182), let yarn fall to the front of the work

Round 2 MC – with MC *brk, sl1yo* – repeat all the way around to marker (x182) , let yarn fall to the back of work

Round 2 CC – with CC, *sl1yo, brp* – repeat all the way around to marker (x182), let yarn fall to the front of the work

Repeat Round 2 six more times (total of 8 rounds of brioche)

Reversible Cables

Rounds 1-12: CC

Round 1: with CC *brk1, p1* repeat around (x182)

Rounds 2: (*k12, p12, PM* three times, PM, *k1, p1* eight times, PM) three times

Rounds 3-5: (*k12, p12, SM* three times, SM, *k1, p1* eight times, SM) three times

Round 6: (*k12, p12* three times, *4sts CNB, k1 p1 k1 p1 from left needle, k1 p1 k1 p1 from cable needle* twice) three times

Rounds 7-11: (*k12, p12, SM* three times, SM, *k1, p1* eight times, SM) three times

Round 12: (*k12, p12* three times, *4sts CNB, k1 p1 k1 p1 from left needle, k1 p1 k1 p1 from cable needle* twice) three times

Rounds 13-27: Switch to MC

Rounds 15-17: (*p12, k12, SM* three times, SM, *k1, p1* eight times, SM) three times

Round 18: (*p12, k12* three times, *4sts CNB, k1 p1 k1 p1 from left needle, k1 p1 k1 p1 from cable needle* twice) three times

Rounds 19-23: (*p12, k12, SM* three times, SM, *k1, p1* eight times, SM) three times

Round 24: (*p12, k12* three times, *4sts CNB, k1 p1 k1 p1 from left needle, k1 p1 k1 p1 from cable needle* twice) three times

Rounds 25-27: (*p12, k12, SM* three times, SM, *k1, p1* eight times, SM) three times

Note: if you are short on yarn in the MC, or want a slightly narrower cowl, skip rows 19-24.

Rounds 28-39: Switch to CC

Round 29: (*p12, k12, SM* three times, SM, *k1, p1* eight times, SM) three times

Round 29: (*k12, p12, SM* three times, SM, *k1, p1* eight times, SM) three times

Round 30: (*k12, p12* repeat three times, *4sts CNB, k1 p1 k1 p1 from left needle, k1 p1 k1 p1 from cable needle* repeat twice) repeat three times

Rounds 31-35: (*k12, p12, SM* three times, SM, *k1, p1* eight times, SM) three times

Round 36: (*k12, p12* repeat three times, *4sts CNB, k1 p1 k1 p1 from left needle, k1 p1 k1 p1 from cable needle* repeat twice) repeat three times

Rounds 37-38: (*k12, p12, SM* three times, SM, *k1, p1* eight times, SM) three times

Round 39: (*k12, p12, RM* three times, RM, *k1, p1* eight times, RM) three times, leaving just the marker for the end of the round

Repeat Brioche Section

Round 1 MC – set up: *k1, sl1yo* – repeat all the way around to marker (x182), let yarn fall to the back of work

Round 1 CC – with CC, *sl1yo, brp* – repeat all the way around to marker (x182), let yarn fall to the front of the work

Round 2 MC – with MC *brk, sl1yo* – repeat all the way around to marker (x182) , let yarn fall to the back of work

Round 2 CC – with CC, *sl1yo, brp* – repeat all the way around to marker (x182), let yarn fall to the front of the work

Repeat round 2 six more times (total of 8 rounds of brioche). Break CC

Repeat Border

With MC:

Round 1: *brk1, p1* repeat around (x182)

Round 2-3: *k3 p3* repeat until end of round (x44)

Rounds 4-5: *p3 k3* repeat until end of round (x44)

Repeat rounds 2-4 once more. 8 rounds total

Bind off

Bind off loosely in p3, k3 pattern. If necessary, use a needle one size larger for the bind off. Bind off should be as stretchy as your cast on.

Finishing

Weave in ends. Wash per yarn instructions (if your yarns have different instructions, go with those for the more delicate of the two) and lay out flat to dry.

Four views of the same cowl draped over a chair back. Cowl is knit in a gradient yarn from blue to green to pink to yellow and back again, paired with a white yarn. It has basic brioche, knit/purl texture and reversible cables. First image shows it draped flat to show the front and back surfaces, and remaining three show it twisted like it would be worn around the next.

Pattern is for personal use and may not be copied or distributed without permission. Finished objects from the pattern may be sold for profit if this pattern is cited as the source of the design.

Texture Cowl Ravelry Link for those who like to log their patterns.

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