Bandana Cowl
Working at Purl Soho, I have a front row seat to the parade of effortlessly chic people that give our neighborhood its renowned style. From here I can report that, for men and women alike, this season’s prevailing trend in neckwear is the bandana. Jauntily tied around the neck, it tops off everything from Sunday’s T-shirt and jeans to Friday’s night-on-the-town dress! The bandana is a sassy, casual touch that suggests that the wearer possesses an innate stylishness. It’s the perfect accessory for those cool mornings when you’ve hit snooze a few too many times and need to turn “thrown–together–in–a–rush” into “casually glamourous”!
My Bandana Cowl is inspired by my desire to make “effortlessly chic” even more effortless. I was so excited to create something with the same freshness as the tied bandana but without the fiddly aspect of actually having to tie anything!
I chose to make my Cowl out of Swan’s Island Bulky, a brand new yarn made from a beautiful blend of undyed merino and alpaca that feels wonderfully soft against the skin. The yarn creates a dense, rich fabric that’s cuddly perfection for the chilly days of fall!
Update
OCTOBER 14, 2012
Materials
- 1 skein Swans Island Bulky, naturally dyed colors are 100% Organic Merino and undyed colors (Natural, Oatmeal and Seasmoke) are 85% Organic Merino and 15% Alpaca. (This color is Oatmeal).
- A US #10, 16-inch circular needle
- Jumbo Locking Stitch Markers, 3 total (optional)
OTHER IDEAS
This cowl uses approximately 100 – 130 yards and would be stunning made out of many of Purl Soho’s yarns. Here are some beautiful options:
- 1 skein of our Worsted Twist in 100% merino
- 1 skein of our Understory in 50% baby alpaca, 25% baby yak, 25% silk
- 2 skeins of Jade Sapphire’s 8 Ply Cashmere, 100% Mongolian cashmere.
- 1 skein Manos Del Uruguay’s Maxima, 100% extrafine merino
Gauge
4 stitches and 6 rows = 1 inch in stockinette stitch
Size
19 inches in circumference and 12 inches from top to bottom.
Notes
S2KPO: Slip 2 stitches together knitwise, knit 1, pass the 2 slipped stitches over the knit stitch. (This makes a centered double decrease.)
Pattern
Cast on 89 stitches.
Place a marker and join for working in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches.
Set-up Round: Purl all stitches.
Round 1: K43, S2KPO (see Pattern Note, above), knit to end of round. (87 stitches)
Round 2: P42, S2KPO, purl to end of round. (85 stitches)
Round 3: K41, S2KPO, knit to end of round. (83 stitches)
Round 4: P40, S2KPO, purl to end of round. (81 stitches)
The next section is worked back and forth in short rows, building from the point of the bandana to the back of the neck. You’ll be turning the work between each row instead of continuing around the needle. For a great Short Row Tutorial, click here!
Row 5: K42, wrap and turn.
Row 6: P3, wrap and turn.
Row 7: Knit to the wrapped stitch, knit the wrapped stitch making sure to pick up the wrap, k1, wrap and turn.
Row 8: Purl to the wrapped stitch, purl the wrapped stitch making sure to pick up the wrap, p1, wrap and turn
Repeat Rows 7 and 8 eighteen more times. Don’t worry if you lose count; you’ll know you’re done when you wrap and turn the stitches right next to the marker!
You’ve finished the short rows!
Next Round: With the knit side facing you, knit to the marker, making sure to pick up the wrapped stitch.
Continue with the knit side facing you, working again in the round. Knit 2 rounds, picking up the wrap of the first stitch.
Set-up Round: K18, place marker, k45, place marker, knit to end of round.
*Decrease Round: Knit to two stitches before the first marker, k2tog, slip marker, knit to the next marker, slip marker, ssk, knit to end of round. (2 stitches decreased)
Knit 3 rounds (or for 1/2 inch).
Repeat from * five more times. (69 stitches)
Next Round: Purl
Next Round: Knit
Repeat the last 2 rounds once more.
Bind off very loosely in purl. (I like to go up several needle sizes to bind off. In this case, I bound off with a US #15 needle.)
Weave in your ends and block as desired. Blocking isn’t strictly necessary for this project, but it significantly improves the drape and softness of the yarn. I’m personally convinced that Soak wash makes anything short of a Brillo Pad feel next–to–the–skin cuddly!
Enjoy your Bandana Cowl on all the brisk fall days to come! -Erin
PRINT
I would love to make this in Jade Sapphire 8-ply cashmere. Does the pattern remain exactly the same, needle size and all, or will I have to rework the pattern?
Hi Margaret,
Thanks for reaching out! Jade Sapphire 8-Ply Cashmere is the same weight as the original yarn, so you can knit the pattern as written! Another great option would be our Cashmere Tend, which is also 100% cashmere and knits up to the same gauge.
Happy knitting!
Julianna
Please please do a video for German short rows specific to this pattern. It has to be easier than I think it is.
Hi Ande,
Thanks for reaching out! Unfortunately, we don’t have the resources at the moment to do a video tutorial for this cowl, but our German Short Rows tutorial does include instructions for converting a wrap and turn to pattern to German Short Rows. Essentially, when working this pattern, whenever you get to a wrap and turn, you will either knit or purl one more stitch, then turn and work a double stitch.
I hope that helps, and happy knitting!
Julianna
Thank you for this pattern. I am new to short rows. Starting on Row 5, after that wrap, where do you purl back to (to start a new row?)
Or as soon as you wrap, you are considered to be on Row 6?
Thanks again!
Hi Kate,
Thanks for reaching out! As soon as you work the wrap and turn, that is the end of the row, and you will move on to the next row -in this case, Row 6 will be your purl row.
I hope that clears things up!
Julianna
I love Purlsoho patterns, but this one has given me some trouble. According to the instructions, I should keep doing short rows until I reach either side of the marker. That gives me over 60 rows instead of the 18 repeats of rows 7 and 8 in the pattern. And I still haven’t reached the marker! Did I miss something?
Hello Joyce,
Thanks for reaching out! There are two things that could be happening here. First off, you could be forgetting to knit or purl a stitch between your previous wrap and your new wrap. The second thing that could be happening is that you are increasing at your wrap and turn, instead of knit your wrap with your stitch.
If it doesn’t seem to be either of these things let us know and we can continue to trouble shoot this issue!
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
Marilla, you need not respond–I figured it out. With German short rows, I need to knit not one but two stitches after the wrapped stitch. The first one becomes the spacer stitch between wrapped stitches, and the second one becomes the next wrapped stitch. I was doing one, per the instructions. Whew! This was driving me crazy!
Joyce
Hi Joyce,
I’m glad you were able to figure it out! Yes, when you are substituting German Short Rows in a pattern written for wrap and turns, you do have to knit or purl one extra stitch before turning. You may find the additional information in our German Short Row tutorial helpful!
Best,
Julianna
Hello, please help does not rain pretty even doing many times. The yarn on the back side loosens from the row 7 row and knits. It cannot be knitted neatly like the second picture.
The yarn has become fluffy and felt as it is re-knitted over and over again.
No matter how many times we knit it, the back thread becomes stretched and cannot be knitted neatly.
“ Row 7: Knit to the wrapped stitch, knit the wrapped stitch making sure to pick up the wrap, k1, wrap and turn.
Row 8: Purl to the wrapped stitch, purl the wrapped stitch making sure to pick up the wrap, p1, wrap and turn ”
Do you have a video or knitting drawing of Bandana Cowl?
Please. I have been working hard since last year, but I can’t. I want to braid Can you tell me because I really want to knit this wonderful knit?
Hi Ryoko,
I’m sorry to hear that you’re having trouble with this cowl! We don’t have a video that is specific to the Bandana Cowl, but you may find out Wrap and Turn Tutorial helpful for this step!
Best,
Julianna
My seven year old daughter would like one of these (she LOVES mine.) Can you suggest a way to make a smaller version? Is there a magic ratio for converting adult sizes to children’s sizes?
Hi Felicity,
Great question! Although there is a good trick for downsizing scarves for kids (just knit them as long as the child is tall!), there isn’t a reliable method for cowls. Since you have already made one for yourself, I would suggest trying it on her and pinching the back of the cowl to make it the right size. You can then count how many stitches you need to remove from the cast on, make sure you are still casting on an odd number, and then on Round 1, knit to one stitch before the center stitch of the cowl before working the SK2PO. On each of the next three rounds knit or purl one less stitch than the row previously before working the decrease.
To begin the short rows, on row 5, knit to one stitch past your center stitch, which should now be easy to see due to the column of decreases, work your wrap and turn, and then follow the rest of the short row instructions without changes. You will still have to decide on placement for the markers for the second set of decreases but once the short rows are complete you should be able to decide where to place the markers without too much trouble.
I hope that helps, and happy knitting!
Julianna
I’ve stated making this cowl and the picture seems to be a much closer knit than mine. I’m using bulky yarn on #10 needle. This isn’t suppose to be double yarn by chance is it?
Thanks for your response.
Hi Hilda,
Thanks for reaching out! Our cowl is knit with a single strand of aran weight yarn on a US 10, but the yarn we used is quite lofty so it fills in the gaps quite well. I would suggest measuring your gauge and comparing it to our gauge of 4 stitches and 6 rows = 1 inch in stockinette stitch and adjusting your needle size if necessary!
Best,
Julianna
Hi there! I’ve made this once for myself, and am getting ready to make another smaller one for my toddler. Would it be okay to decrease to CO 69 stitches and then just subtract 10 from each side in the directions (in other words, keep the center stitch in the same place, but with 20 fewer stitches overall)? Or would that throw off the directions in some way?
Hello Shannon,
Thanks for reaching out! Yes, this will work beautifully. If you are getting 4 stitches per inch for you gauge, This will cut you circumference by 5″.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
I completed this and I love this pattern. It was so much fun! Thank you 🙂
I am losing my mind with this pattern; big hole after first sl 2pass sl st over.
Also, finally think I understand that you don’t purl all the way back after first wrap and turn but then do first purl w and t,
Right?
I realize 11,000 others have made this but I am completely baffled but not willing to give up!
Please shed some more light on how to count the wrap and turn rows
Thanks
Hi Marley,
Thanks for writing in! After the first wrap and turn, you will only purl 3 stitches, and then wrap and turn again. On each row after that, you will knit or purl to the previous wrapped stitch, knit or purl the wrapped stitch together with its wrap, and then wrap and turn the next stitch, so you are always working one more stitch than on the previous row. You may find our Short Rows: Wrap + Turn tutorial helpful!
Happy knitting!
Julianna
I have made two of these but I do not think I’m doing the last set of short rows correctly. If do as the directions state – wrap and turn till I wrap and turn on both sides of the marker – this means I have created, but not joined a round, which leaves a hole in the work. How do you correct this?
Hi RJ,
Thanks for reaching out! Since the first section of the cowl is knit in the round to create a border, your stitches should already be in the round. It may seem like there is a hole at first, but after you work the final wrap and turn and knit all the way around, picking up the final wrap on the last stitch of the round, and begin the next round, the gap should close up nicely on subsequent rows.
I hope that clears things up, and happy knitting!
Julianna
Hi
I am in the UK, we don’t have skeins, we have balls of yarn. Would you know what our UK equivalent would be so we can have a go too please?
Thanks Sue xx
Hi Sue,
Thanks for reaching out! As long as your yarn is the right weight and you check the label to make sure you have enough yardage, it doesn’t matter whether it comes in skeins or balls! For our cowl, we used 130 yards, or 120 meters, of aran weight yarn, which is the same in both the US and UK.
Happy knitting!
Julianna
I am have trouble with repeating row7and 8. The first time I tried repeating to my center marker. ( that’s the only marker I see in pattern) it is way more then 18 rows. So 2nd time I just market to 18 stitches before I started row 7. I am now at the the edge of the first 6 rows knitted but have like 6 more stitches until I get to the point I marked. Why should I stop??
Hi Lori,
Thanks for reaching out! When repeating Rows 7 and 8, you should not be taking the center marker into account at all – in fact, you can remove it at this point, leaving just the beginning of round marker. Instead, you should be knitting or purling to the stitch that you wrapped on the previous row, knitting or purling that stitch together with its wrap, knitting or purling one more stitch, and then working a wrap and turn. If you have trouble seeing the wrapped stitch, you can hook a removable marker into the wrapped stitch immediately after working each wrap and turn, and then remove and replace it on the following row. Each short row should move two stitches further out than the previous one, so you eventually reach the beginning of round marker. You may find our Short Rows: Wrap + Turn tutorial helpful!
I hope that clears things up!
Julianna
Have you this pattern in danish version, if is do you know were?
I really hope there is because it hard for me to understand your pattern and I really love your pattern. I hope you can help me far away from Greenland. I really want to try this in moskux wool. Sincerelly Lone M.
Hi Lone,
Thanks for writing in! At present, our patterns are only available in English. We certainly appreciate the request!
Best,
Julianna
Just found this:
https://strikkeglad.dk/24409/bandana-halsvarmer/
I love this cowl! I plan on making a few more but had a question about the decrease. One side doesn’t look as good as the other and it kinda looks obvious. The side that’s ssk. Is there a way to make it blend more like the k2tog side?
Hi Tessa,
Thanks for reaching out! To some degree, it is unavoidable that a SSK and K2Tog will look a little different, but after blocking, they should match much better! You might want to try the SSK variation we show in our tutorial. We find that it matches a K2Tog a bit better!
Best,
Julianna
Hello,
I am resubmitting this question as it may not have been sent it to you (maybe I didn’t hit the submit button!) On Rounds 2 & 4 “purl rows”, the yarn is in the front as for purling. Does it go to the back for the knit stitch in S2KPO before or after the S2 (slipping the 2 stitches together knitwise. ).
Thank you for this interesting and very well done website with lovely yarns and patterns.
Jean
Hi Jean,
Great question! For the s2kpo you do move the yarn to the back before you slip the stitches, even on the purl rows. Doing it this way creates the pretty line of decreases at the point. Again, thank you so much for your question!
Happy knitting!
Cassy
Thank you!
I just made two of these for my grandson and son-in-law and we all love them. My other son-in-law is 6’3″ and would like it to be a little bigger in the circumference. If I add 4 more stitches do I add two to the center and one to each side for the decreases or what do you think?
Hi Nancy,
Thanks for reaching out! I’m happy to hear that your cowls have been so well received! Yes, you can add any multiple of four stitches to the cast on to make this cowl bigger, and then on Round 1, knit to one stitch before the center stitch of the cowl before working the SK2PO. On each of the next three rounds knit or purl one less stitch than the row previously before working the decrease.
To begin the short rows, on row 5, knit to one stitch past your center stitch, which should now be easy to see due to the column of decreases, work your wrap and turn, and then follow the rest of the short row instructions without changes. You will still have to decide on placement for the markers for the second set of decreases but once the short rows are complete you should be able to decide where to place the markers without too much trouble.
I hope that helps, and happy knitting!
Julianna
I’ve read the other comments and tried the solutions. I’m doing everything right with the wrap and turns and knitting/purling them and then a stitch. But I’m a lot more than 18 rows away from the marker. About half way. I’m am moving up just not fast enough.
Hi Lanita,
Thanks for reaching out! You will actually be working 18 repeats of rows 7 and 8, or 36 rows total. As long as you are working the short rows correctly, you can just continue until you wrap the stitches on either side of the marker!
I hope that clears things up!
Julianna
Is it possible to knit this cowl with straight needles? If so, would you give me some pointers? Writing from Argentina…
Hi Veronica,
Thanks for reaching out! Unfortunately we do not have instructions for knitting this cowl in the round, but it shouldn’t be too hard to knit flat! After working the first 4 rows in garter stitch by knitting every row, you can work the short rows as written. It should be fairly straightforward from there to work the rest of the cowl flat in stockinette stitch by alternating knit and purl rows!
I hope that helps, and happy knitting!
Julianna
Thank you! I’ll give it a try!!
Hi! Hope you all are staying healthy, safe and creatively satisfied!! I have a question about the length of the back section. So I notice that there is more length on your cowl pictures than what I am seeing with mine. When I am done with the short rows, the next couple steps after say to knit two rounds. Can I knit more to get the length? Mine is not as long as yours in the pic at this point? Any help would be greatly appreciated?
Hi Carrie,
Thanks for reaching out! You can definitely add a few rows after the short row section – that’s what I did with my own Bandana Cowl. It’s a very forgiving pattern with lots of room for adaption and adding personal touches!
Happy Knitting!
Cassandra
Such a fun, quick project! I’m working on my third one and each time I’ve wondered if I’m getting the pattern right at the end. For the decreases before during the final knit/purl section, the pattern says to decrease before the markers, then knit three rounds, and “Repeat from * five more times. (69 stitches).” I interpret this to mean that between each round of decreases, I should knit three regular rounds. The reason I’m not sure this is correct is because the final measurements provided are 12 inches long, but my projects end up being much longer despite having the correct gauge (or gauges that are actually small than those provided in the pattern). The question is: do I knit three regular rounds between each decrease round during the 5 rounds of decreases at the end of the project? Thanks for your help!
Hi Myra,
Thank you for writing in! It sounds like you’re doing everything right, although I’m not totally sure why your projects are coming out so much longer! According to the pattern you should be working 24 total rows in this section, 6 of which are decrease rows, adding up to a total of 4″ of knitting. If you’re finding that you’re getting more than ½” per 3 rows of knitting, or you’d just like to make a shorter cowl, feel free to knit 1 or 2 rows in between decreases instead. I hope that helps!
Happy knitting!
Gaby
I’m interested in this pattern, but 19″ circumference might be a tad tighter than I’d be comfortable wearing. If I cast on more stitches (four, say for another inch), will that work? Or do I need to adhere to a certain multiple to maintain pattern?
I was intimidated until I watched your tutorial and saw all the questions and answers. This is my first time visiting your site and I love the support I see here.
Hi Susan,
Thanks for writing in! Yes, you can certainly increase the size of this cowl! The easiest way to do so is to add a multiple of 4 stitches to the cast on, and then on Round 1, knit to one stitch before the center stitch of the cowl before working the SK2PO. On each of the next three rounds knit or purl one less stitch than the row previously before working the decrease.
To begin the short rows, on row 5, knit to one stitch past your center stitch, which should now be easy to see due to the column of decreases, work your wrap and turn, and then follow the rest of the short row instructions without changes. You will still have to decide on placement for the markers for the second set of decreases but once the short rows are complete you should be able to decide where to place the markers without too much trouble.
I hope that helps!
Julianna
Hi there,
I’m new to knitting and would like to try this cowl as a first project. Does anyone know if there’s a video tutorial available for walking a beginner through this pattern? Thank you!
Bridget
Hi Bridget,
Thanks so much for writing in! We don’t currently have a video for this project, but we do have a lot of really helpful tutorials on our tutorials page, for many different techniques: . In particular, you’ll want to check out the one on short rows here: Short Rows: Wrap + Turn
I think this would be a great project for an adventurous beginner! You’ll learn a lot of different techniques, and it’s a great and really wearable accessory! Please feel free to reach out if you have any other questions, we’re happy to answer them!
Best,
Cassandra
Hi there,
I finished the short rows and am now transitioning to knitting in the round. I’m following directions to pick up the wrapped stitch but even still I am seeing a big gap / hole when I begin knitting in the round. Am I doing something wrong?
Hi Rebecca
Thanks for writing in! It sounds like you are doing everything correct! It may seem like there is a hole at first, but after you pick up the final wrap on the last stitch of the round, and begin the next round, the gap should close up nicely on the following rows. Your tail from casting on is also a few rows down from this point if you feel like it needs any adjustments after you finish and weave it in. I hope this helps!
Happy Knitting
Jessica
Re: Bandana Cowl
While reading through others’ projects notes for this pattern, there were a couple references of there being a worsted version of this Bandana Cowl. In English. Is this available?
Thanks
Hi Elanie
Thanks for reaching out! This pattern has been worked up in worsted/aran weights also. You may need to drop your needle size to an 8 or a 9 but as long as you can get 4st= 1″ you can follow the pattern as written. I hope this helps, and happy knitting!
Best
Jessica
Can this be changed into a crochet pattern some how?
Hi Kim,
Thanks for writing in! We don’t have crochet instructions for this cowl, unfortunately, but I will be sure to pass your request along to the design team!
Best,
Julianna
I love the Bandana Cowl but would like to make it in Mulberry Merino.
If I double the yarn and use 2 strands of Mulberry Merino would that work?
What size needle would I use?
Thank you!
Hi Lisa,
I think the Bandana Cowl would work out nicely with the Mulberry Merino! Holding two strands together would give you a yarn weight similar to the Jade Saphire 8-ply and we recomend a needle size US 8 or 9. These are approximations so we defintely recommend doing a gauge swatch and adjusting your needle size to obtain the proper gauge.
I hope this helps!
Oscar
Hi, I would like to try this pattern. I have a bulky yarn with 108 yds. Do you think this yardage will suffice? If not, where is the appropriate place to shorten the pattern?
Thanks very much, Susan
Hi Susan,
Thanks for writing in! We used 130 yards for our cowl, so you are just a little short. However, you may be able to omit or reduce the rounds between the decreases in the body of the cowl after completing the bandana point! We knit three rounds between each decrease row, so I would try knitting just one round in between. The neck of the cowl will be a little shorter, but it should still be quite cozy!
Happy knitting!
Julianna
I am going to be knitting this in a DK instead of bulky weight and am trying to figure out if it’s knit from the bottom up, or from the top down for size/gauge. Is the 89 stitch cast-on what will end up being the upper circumference, or the base?
Hi Reed,
Thanks for reaching out! The cowl is knit from the bottom up, so the 89 stitch cast on will end up being the base. Please let us know how this pattern turns out in a DK weight yarn!
Good luck and happy knitting!
Gianna
I’d like to make the bandana cowl for a small child. I’m not experienced enough to understand how many to cast on. Can anyone help me with this pattern. Thank you
Hi Bonnie,
Thanks for reaching out! Unfortunately this pattern is only available in an adult size currently. Thank you for expressing your interest in making this in a child size, I will be sure to pass this along!
Best,
Gianna
Hi,
I found your pattern on Pinterest a few days ago and I just love it! I admit I haven’t read all the comments since they start in 2011 (I think), so you might have answered this question, but what is your policy regarding selling items knit from your pattern?
I also wanted to add that I knit with a light worsted and adjusted your pattern, so if anyone wants to give it a go:
US 6/4mm circular needle
Cast on 99 stitches
Round 1: K49
Start of short rows, Round 5: K48
Set up round: K20, pm, K51pm, knit to end of round
Knit 4 rounds = 1/2″
I hope this helps! Thanks for such a lovely pattern!
Hi Michelle,
Thank you for reaching out! I am so glad to hear you love the pattern! While we’re happy you like our Bandana Cowl, our patterns and designs are copyrighted and are for home use only. This means that you can’t use our patterns to make things for sale. We hope you understand!
Thank you for getting in touch and for sharing your adjustments to the pattern!
Gianna