Amy Gropp Forbes of Eclectic Mom: Braided Cowl for Kids | Purl Soho

Although it is hard to imagine, fall is right around the corner, and nothing beats a cozy hand knit cowl for keeping you warm. I particularly like cowls for kids; they look great and somehow seem easier to manage than a scarf.

This is a perfect project for a weekend away… it takes just one skein of yarn and only a few hours to knit. The chunky yarn and simple braid add lots of texture, and I just love Blue Sky Worsted with its subtle hand dyed variations and super soft touch! Enjoy! -Amy of Eclectic Mom

Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, and #PurlSohoBraidedCowl. We can’t wait to see what you make!

Materials

Amy Gropp Forbes of Eclectic Mom: Braided Cowl for Kids | Purl Soho

  • 1 skein Blue Sky Worsted Hand Dye, 50% Royal Alpaca, and 50% Merino. Each skein is 100 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 100 yards required.
    This color is Dungaree Blue.
  • A US 11 (8 mm), 16-inch circular needle
  • A cable stitch holder
  • Three stitch markers (optional)
  • Split ring stitch markers (Optional: I use these to count the rounds. Since I tend to lose track of how many plain rounds I have knit, I hang a split ring marker on the beginning-of-the-round-marker each time I complete a round.)

Gauge

3½ stitches = 1 inch in stockinette stitch

Size

18 inches in circumference and 11 inches from bottom to top

Pattern Note: How to Work the Braided Cable

The entire braided cable is worked over 9 stitches, but for the two rounds it takes to form the cable, you will only work 6 stitches at a time. The other 3 stitches are knit either before or after the cable, depending on which round you’re working.

CABLE 6 FRONT (“C6F”)

Slip next 3 stitches onto cable stitch holder and bring to front of work…

Amy Gropp Forbes of Eclectic Mom: Braided Cowl for Kids | Purl Soho

… knit next 3 stitches from the left needle…

Amy Gropp Forbes of Eclectic Mom: Braided Cowl for Kids | Purl Soho

…and then knit the 3 stitches from the cable stitch holder.

Amy Gropp Forbes of Eclectic Mom: Braided Cowl for Kids | Purl Soho

CABLE 6 BACK (“C6B”)

Slip next 3 stitches onto cable stitch holder and bring to back of work…

Amy Gropp Forbes of Eclectic Mom: Braided Cowl for Kids | Purl Soho

… knit next 3 stitches from the left needle…

Amy Gropp Forbes of Eclectic Mom: Braided Cowl for Kids | Purl Soho

…and then knit the 3 stitches from the cable stitch holder.

Amy Gropp Forbes of Eclectic Mom: Braided Cowl for Kids | Purl Soho

Pattern

Cast on 63 stitches. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.

Place a marker and join for working in the round, being careful to not twist the stitches.

Round 1: K24, place a marker, p3, k9, p3, knit to end of round.

Round 2: Knit to first marker, p3, C6F (see note above), k3, p3, knit to end of round.

Rounds 3-5: Knit to first marker, p3, k9, p3, knit to end of round.

Round 6: Knit to first marker, p3, k3, C6B (see note above), p3, knit to end of round.

Rounds 7-9: Repeat Rounds 3-5.

Repeat rows 2-9 five more times.

Repeat Rounds 2-7 one time.

Loosely bind off knitwise.

Weave in the ends and ta da!

Amy Gropp Forbes of Eclectic Mom: Braided Cowl for Kids | Purl Soho