Cashmere Cowl

 

One of my all-time favorite patterns is the cowl, which is technically just a knitted tube. But, when I slip it over my head it becomes a softly draping beautiful necklace that I want to wear every day from December til March.

This is the perfect travel project - it has so few ingredients!  I knit my cashmere cowl as Nick and I travelled from Seattle to Portland and back again, crossing the mouth of the mighty Columbia River. 

My cowl is a variation of the beautiful Pashmina Cowl from Joelle's Last Minute Knitted Gifts. She used a smaller needle to knit Joseph Galler's luxurious pashmina yarn in stockinette stitch.  -- Isabelle

 

Materials for Cowl

 

yarn - You'll need about 250-350 yards of lace weight yarn or fingering weight yarn.  I used Lobster Pot 2-ply Cashmere, an absolutely amazing hand-dyed cashmere.  The way to audition yarns for this project is by holding them up under your chin and feeling how soft they are.

 

circular needles -  This project is knit in the round.  I suppose you could also knit it back and forth on straight needles and then sew it together. I used Addi Turbo 16" circular needles in US size 8.

I also used a stitch marker to help me find the beginning of the round. 

Cashmere Cowl Pattern

Gauge should be about 5 - 6 stitches per inch on US size 8 needles in K1, P1 Rib Stitch pattern. This stitch creates a very slinky, loose, and stretchy fabric that is breathable but still quite warm.   

Loosely cast on an even number of stitches between 100 - 110.

Join into a round.  Take care not to twist your stitches as you begin knitting!  As you prepare to knit the first stitch, take a second to look at all of the stitches to make sure they are all heading in the same direction. not spiralling around the needle. 

Rib Stitch pattern: *K1, P1, repeat from *.   

Work in K1, P1 Rib Stitch pattern until cowl measures about 13 inches, or desired length. Bind off very loosely and weave in tails.

Cashmere Cowl - Share Your Photos!

Have you made this cowl?  Or perhaps you've made a cowl from our "cashmere cowl number 2" project journal?  We'd love to see your photos!  You can post your own photos on our special "handmade cowl" flickr group, which you can find here:

www.flickr.com

This is a Flickr badge showing public photos from the handknit cowls group pool. Make your own badge here.