This winter New York City streets are filled with people who have learned the secret of keeping warm. They are all wrapped up in the big soft folds of the oversized cowl. A long loop that you twist and double around your neck, it’s definitely a glamorous touch in a what can otherwise be pretty frumpy season. Don’t you love when fashion and function meet in such happy harmony?

Big Herringbone Cowl | Purl Soho

This cowl was inspired by Joelle’s classic Herringbone Poncho from her very first book, Last Minute Knitted Gifts. I have always been so taken with the drape and texture of Joelle’s poncho that I was really excited to borrow her idea for this project!

I stuck with Joelle’s choice of yarn, Blue Sky’s Worsted, because it is by far one of Purl Soho’s softest, most cuddly yarns, perfect for wearing around sensitive skin areas like your neck. A blend of fine merino wool and royal alpaca, it has a beautiful weight that creates cascading, dramatic fabrics. Just what I was looking for!

Big Herringbone Cowl | Purl Soho

The cowl’s final look keeps one foot in the past with a traditional herringbone stitch. It’s such a distinctive stitch on such a powerful garment, you’re going to feel about one foot taller when you wear yours! -Whitney

Designed by Purl Soho designer, Whitney Van Nes.

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

Materials

Big Herringbone Cowl | Purl Soho

Gauge

15 stitches = 4 inches in herringbone stitch

Size

58 inches circumference x 14 inches high

Pattern

Cast on 220 stitches; we used a basic Long Tail Cast On. To ensure that your first round isn’t too difficult, cast on fairly loosely; your stitches should easily slide up and down the needle.

Join into the Round

Make sure the stitches aren’t twisted around the needle, and slip the last stitch you cast on from the right needle to the left needle (so that it is next to the first stitch cast on).

Big Herringbone Cowl | Purl Soho

Place a replaceable jumbo stitch marker on the right needle.

Big Herringbone Cowl | Purl Soho

K2tog and slip only the first stitch off the left needle (leaving the second stitch on the needle)…

Big Herringbone Cowl | Purl Soho

…so it looks like this.

Big Herringbone Cowl | Purl Soho

Continue

Round 1: *K2tog and slip only the first stitch off the left needle, repeat from * until 1 stitch remains.

Big Herringbone Cowl | Purl Soho

Remove the stitch marker and k2tog, slipping the first stitch off the left needle. Place the stitch marker to the right of the first stitch on the right needle.

Big Herringbone Cowl | Purl Soho

The next stitch looks like this…

Big Herringbone Cowl | Purl Soho

Remove that stitch from the needle and twist it so it looks like this…

Big Herringbone Cowl | Purl Soho

Round 2: *K2tog through the back loop (K2tog tbl), slipping the first stitch off the left needle, repeat from * to last stitch. Remove the stitch marker and k2tog tbl, slipping the first stitch off the left needle. Place the stitch marker to the right of the first stitch on the right needle.

The next stitch looks like this…

Big Herringbone Cowl | Purl Soho

Remove that stitch from the needle and twist it so it looks like this…

Big Herringbone Cowl | Purl Soho

Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 until piece measures 14 inches from the cast on edge, ending with all the steps of Round 2.

Here’s what the right side of Herringbone Stitch looks like:

Big Herringbone Cowl | Purl Soho

And here’s what the wrong side looks like:

Big Herringbone Cowl | Purl Soho

Bind Off

NOTE: You will continue to work the Herringbone Stitch for the bind off.

Bind Off Round: [K2tog and slip only the first stitch off the left needle] 2 times, pass the first stitch over (just like a normal bind off), *k2tog and slip the first stitch off the left needle, pass the first stitch over, repeat from * until 2 stitches remain (1 stitch on the left needle and 1 stitch on the right needle), knit the last stitch tbl and pass the first stitch over. Cut the yarn and pull it through the remaining stitch.

Weave in the ends, gently block and then bundle up!

Big Herringbone Cowl | Purl Soho