Knitters who have made their fair share of garter stitch scarves, ribbed hats and stockinette sweaters, will understand the hankering to shake things up a bit. I love the rhythm and certainty of the basic stitches, but every now and then I relish the challenge of stitch patterns that unfold in surprising ways, that teach me yet something else about the wondrous potential of knits and purls!

Stitch Block Cowl | Purl Soho

I’ve done a lot of knitting in my life, so much that I sometimes wonder if there are any stones left unturned, but this Stitch Block Cowl took me into new terrain. I’ve knit colorwork and I’ve knit “in the row below”, but I’ve never done the two together. It’s terrifically easy and proves, once again, that knitting is inexhaustibly interesting.

Stitch Block Cowl | Purl Soho

Each of the three stitch patterns in our Stitch Block Cowl employ this simple technique of knitting stitches in the row below (don’t worry, we explain what that means in the pattern with photos and everything!). This is ultimately a lot like slipping stitches and has the same effect of creating a very cozy fabric with a whole lot of squish and depth. Add to that the remarkably soft merinos of Purl Soho’s Worsted Twist and Madelinetosh’s Tosh Merino and you’ve got one voluptuous cowl!

Stitch Block Cowl | Purl Soho

Ready to take your own journey into uncharted knitting territory? Make sure you pack materials to knit your very own Purl Soho’s Stitch Block Cowl, in this warm and sunny Yellow or any other of our pretty palettes. And don’t forget to send a postcard! -Whitney

Designed by Purl Soho designer, Whitney Van Nes.

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

Materials

To knit your own Stitch Block Cowl, you will need five skeins in the following breakdown…

  • Color A: 3 skeins of Purl Soho’s Worsted Twist, 100% merino wool. Each skein is 164 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 492 yards required. (NOTE: We no longer offer Worsted Twist, but choose from one of our other worsted/aran weight yarns.)
  • Color B: 1 skein of Worsted Twist; approximately 164 yards required.
  • Color C: 1 skein of Madelinetosh’s Tosh Merino, 100% superwash merino. Each skein is 210 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 60 yards required.

Stitch Block Cowl | Purl Soho

The eight colorways are, clockwise from the top left corner…

Yellow
  • Color A: Worsted Twist, Heirloom White
  • Color B: Worsted Twist, Yellow Yellow
  • Color C: Tosh Merino, Candlewick
Oatmeal
  • Color A: Worsted Twist, Heirloom White
  • Color B: Worsted Twist, Sea Salt
  • Color C: Tosh Merino, Weathered Frame
Pink
  • Color A: Worsted Twist, Heirloom White
  • Color B: Worsted Twist, Super Pink
  • Color C: Tosh Merino, Pop Rocks
Navy
  • Color A: Worsted Twist, Heirloom White
  • Color B: Worsted Twist, Timeless Navy
  • Color C: Tosh Merino, Charcoal
Aegean
  • Color A: Worsted Twist, Heirloom White
  • Color B: Worsted Twist, Peacock Blue
  • Color C: Tosh Merino, Esoteric
Aqua
  • Color A: Worsted Twist, Heirloom White
  • Color B: Worsted Twist, Dragonfly
  • Color C: Tosh Merino, Oceana
Pale Blue
  • Color A: Worsted Twist, Heirloom White
  • Color B: Worsted Twist, Ice Blue
  • Color C: Tosh Merino, Well Water
Gray
  • Color A: Worsted Twist, Heirloom White
  • Color B: Worsted Twist, Oyster Gray
  • Color C: Tosh Merino, Whiskers

Please note, we are no longer carrying the pre-built bundles for this project as several of these colors have been discontinued but a range of options are still available for inspiration in Worsted Twist and Tosh Merino!

You will also need…

  • US 7 (4.5 mm), 24-inch circular needles (You need a circular needle because one of the stitch patterns requires you to slide the stitches from one of the needle to the other.)

Gauge

5 stitches = 1 inch in garter stitch, using the Color A.

4 stitches = 1 inch in any of the three stitch patterns.

Size

Finished Dimensions: 12¾ inches wide by 60 inches around

NOTE: To change the width of the finished cowl, cast on any odd number and follow the directions as written.

Note

All three of these stitch patterns use the technique of “knitting into the row below.” Here’s how to do it…

Insert the right needle into the center of the stitch below the first stitch on the left needle. The place to insert the right needle is indicated below by the arrow.

Stitch Block Cowl | Purl Soho

And here is the needle going into that place…

Stitch Block Cowl | Purl Soho

Now knit as normal, bringing the working yarn around the right needle in a counter clockwise direction and pulling through a stitch. When you allow the stitch to fall off the left needle, it will actually be two stitches: the one from the previous row and the one from the row before that. It may feel like you’re doing something dreadfully wrong, but if you’ve properly inserted the right needle, then all will be well!

Pattern

Block #1, Rambler Pattern

Here’s the right side of the finished Rambler Pattern:

Stitch Block Cowl | Purl Soho

And here’s the wrong side:

Stitch Block Cowl | Purl Soho

With Color A, use a Provisional Cast On to cast on 51 stitches. (Why a provisional cast on? So that at the end of the project you can graft together the two ends, avoiding a seam. However, if you find a Provisional Cast On a bit overwhelming, then just use a regular long tail cast on, and when you’re done, you can sew the two ends together. Your cowl will still be beautiful!)

Row 1 (wrong side [ws]): K2, *p1, k1, repeat from * to last stitch, k1.

Row 2 (right side [rs]): K1, *k1 in the row below, p1, repeat from * to last 2 stitches, k1 into row below, k1. (See Pattern Note, above, for “k1 in the row below” instructions.)

Rows 3-8: Repeat Rows 1 and 2 three more times.

Row 9 (ws): K1, *p1, k1, repeat from * to end of row.

Row 10 (rs): K1, *p1, k1 in the row below, repeat from * to last 2 stitches, p1, k1.

Rows 11-16: Repeat Rows 9 and 10 three more times.

Repeat Rows 1-16 until piece measures 20 inches from cast on edge, ending with Row 14.

Block #2, Checked Rose Fabric

Here’s the right side of finished Checked Rose Fabric:

Stitch Block Cowl | Purl Soho

And here’s the wrong side:

Stitch Block Cowl | Purl Soho

Row 1 (ws): With Color A, k1, *k1 in the row below, k1, repeat from * to end of row.

Row 2 (rs): With Color A, k2, *k1 in the row below, k1, repeat from * to last stitch, k1.

Row 3 (ws): With Color B, repeat Row 1. Do not turn the work at the end of the row.

Row 4 (ws): Keeping the wrong side of the work facing you, slide the stitches to the right end of the needle and with Color A, repeat Row 2. Turn the work.

Row 5 (rs): With Color A, repeat Row 1. Do not turn the work.

Row 6 (rs): Keeping the right side of the work facing you, slide the stitches to the right end of the needle and with Color B, repeat Row 2. Turn the work.

Repeat Rows 1-6 until piece measures 40 inches from cast on edge, ending with Row 5.

Block #3, English Rose Tweed

Here’s the right side of finished English Rose Tweed:

Stitch Block Cowl | Purl Soho

And here’s the wrong side:

Stitch Block Cowl | Purl Soho

Set-Up Row (ws): With Color A, k1, knit into front and back, knit to end of row. (52 stitches)

Row 1 (rs): With Color B, k1, *p1, k1 in the row below, repeat from * to last stitch, k1.

Row 2 (ws): With Color B, knit.

Row 3: With Color C, k1, *k1 in the row below, p1, repeat from * to last stitch, k1.

Row 4: With Color C, knit.

Rows 5 and 6: With Color A, repeat Rows 1 and 2.

Rows 7 and 8: With Color B, repeat Rows 3 and 4.

Rows 9 and 10: With Color C, repeat Rows 1 and 2.

Rows 11 and 12: With Color A, repeat Rows 3 and 4.

Repeat Rows 1-12 until piece measures 60 inches from cast on edge,…

If You Used a Provisional Cast On

…ending with Row 4.

Next Row (rs): With Color A, k1, *p1, k1 in the row below, repeat from * to last 3 stitches, k2tog, k1. (51 stitches)

Cut all the yarns, leaving a 32-inch Color A tail.

Put the Provisional Cast On stitches onto a second (preferably smaller) needle.

Thread the Color A tail onto a tapestry needle. With wrong sides together (being careful to not twist the cowl), hold the two circular needles parallel to each other and use the Kitchener Stitch to graft together the cowl’s two ends.

Stitch Block Cowl | Purl Soho

Stitch Block Cowl | Purl Soho

If You Used a Long Tail Cast On

…ending with Row 5.

Next Row (ws): With Color A, bind off in purl.

Cut all the yarns, leaving a 32-inch Color A tail.

Thread the tail onto a tapestry needle and with wrong sides together and making sure the cowl isn’t twisted, sew together the two ends. Sew under one cast on stitch and then across under a bind off stitch, continuing back and forth until you’re done!

Either Way…

Weave in the remaining ends and gently block your cowl, if desired. Then wrap yourself up!

Stitch Block Cowl | Purl Soho