Two-Color Cotton Cowl
I love a surprise, so it should be no surprise that Fisherman’s Rib worked with two colors is one of my favorite stitches to knit. With the magic of a single simple technique, a pattern that you’d assume, at first glance, would make horizontal stripes, in fact, creates vertical ones!
The simple technique: working into the stitch below! New to it? Fear not! Our video tutorial will make you a “k1b” expert, as you knit up this pretty Two-Color Cotton Cowl. Watch your single-row striping transform into broad, textured, vertically-striped ribbing. Like brioche stitch, but with a fraction of the abbreviations!
Yarn lovers, if you adore the yarn used in this project, you’ll love exploring all of our other yarn collections! Discover over 45 thoughtfully designed yarns in nearly every natural fiber and in every spectacular color you can imagine. Only available here at Purl Soho’s online yarn store, where every skein is created with care and your creativity in mind!
With its interlocking stitches, using two colors to work Fisherman’s Rib is fun and surprising. Pick soft and summery colors like we did for our Two-Color Cotton Cowl, or dip into Cotton Pure’s palette of 43 beautiful colors to create your own color expression! -Laura
Designed by Purl Soho designer, Laura Ferguson.
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoTwoColorCottonCowl, and #PurlSohoCottonPure. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
- 2 skeins of Purl Soho’s Cotton Pure, 100% organically grown cotton yarn. Each skein of this sport weight yarn is 279 yards/ 100 grams.
- Main Color (MC): 1 skein; approximately 279 yards required. We used Pink Sand.
- Contrast Color (CC): 1 skein; approximately 279 yards required. We used Egret White.
- US 4 (3.5mm), 40-inch circular needles
- US 6 (4mm), 40-inch circular needles
Gauge
16 stitches = 4 inches in stitch pattern, on smaller needles
Size
Finished Dimensions: 10½ inches wide by 57½ inches in circumference
Notes
WORKING INTO THE STITCH BELOW
- k1b [knit one below]: Insert the tip of the right needle into the stitch below the next stitch from front to back, knit normally (wrapping the yarn around the needle and pulling it back through the stitch below) and let the stitch above fall from the left needle.
- p1b [purl one below]: Insert the tip of the right needle into the stitch below the next stitch from back to front, purl normally (wrapping the yarn around the needle and pulling it back through the stitch below) and let the stitch above fall from the left needle.
For more information about these techniques, be sure to visit our Working into the Stitch Below Tutorial!
SINGLE ROW STRIPING
In this pattern, you will alternate yarn each round. Although the finished fabric doesn’t look like stripes in the round, the technique for switching yarns is the same. Learn how to do it with our Stripes in the Round Tutorial.
Pattern
Begin with Stockinette Stitch
With MC, cast 230 stitches onto the larger circular needles. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.
Place marker and join for working in the round, being careful to not twist the stitches.
Work in stockinette stitch, knitting each stitch, for six rounds.
Continue in 2-Color Fisherman’s Rib
Change to smaller needles.
Round 1: With MC, * k1b (see Notes), p1, repeat from * to end of round.
Round 2: With CC, * k1, p1b (see Notes), repeat from * to end of round.
Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 until piece measures 10 inches from the beginning rolled edge, ending with Round 1.
End with Stockinette Stitch
Change to larger needles.
With MC, work in stockinette stitch for five rounds.
Bind off knitwise.
Finish
Weave in the ends and block as desired.
Learn About Cotton Pure + All Our Beautiful Yarns
As special as it is popular, our Cotton Pure brings true natural beauty to this project. 100% organically grown cotton, this sport-weight yarn feels exceptionally soft and supple in your hands, and it comes in tons of gently heathered colors you won’t find anywhere else! Making something big, like a blanket or sweater? Shop our 1,000-gram Cotton Pure On A Cone collection, too!
More Free Knitting Patterns
- Be sure to explore our vast collection of (mostly free!) Cotton Pure knitting patterns and cast on!
More Sport-Weight Yarns
- Shop our entire collection of sport-weight yarns
- If you want to use a different yarn, be sure to take the time to get the correct gauge. Need help? Check our All About Gauge Tutorial!
More Yarns With Similar Fiber
- Shop cotton yarn (What helps cotton keep its cool? Learn all about this soft, natural fiber in our guide to cotton yarn!)
- Shop plant-based yarn
- Shop machine-washable yarn
Looking for more inspiration? Explore all of our free knitting patterns and knitting tutorials, buy one of our many knitting kits and yarn bundles, and shop for beautiful yarn. We have over 35 gorgeous natural fiber yarns in 100’s of magnificent colors, designed to bring integrity, beauty, and joy to your next knitting project and only available at Purl Soho!
What a gorgeous cowl! Would you be able to convert this into crochet instructions? The colors are so perfect and the pattern is magnificent!
Thank you.
Hello Susan,
I’m so happy you love the look of this cowl. I too think it’s gorgeous. Unfortunately this stitch cannot be duplicated into crochet but stay tuned for more patterns with this yarn!
-Adam
Love this yarn! I too am a crocheter who would love to see a cowl or scarf pattern in this yarn.
would it kill you to add metric needles sizes for the rest of the world?
Hi Linda,
Thanks for writing in! We will keep your request in mind for future posts!
Best,
Adam
Thank you. I only takes a moment for you but might mean a bit of fussing for non-US knitters. Most of us have a sense of how our favourite needle sizes translate, but still…Your yarns are lovely.
I’m so taken back by the rude request from Linda Wilson on 7.18.16! I have to take the time to comment. Unreal.
Yeah, that wasn’t really phrased politely, was it? In any case, as a Canadian-European knitter all my knitting needles (in my case, mostly German Addis) mention both US and metric sizes. I don’t even have to google. It’s not that complicated. One can also get a chart or print one for future references. I just love that international patterns (like this one) are available all over the internet.
There are dozens of conversion tables you can access by searching for “knitting needle conversion” with your favorite search engine. Here’s an especially straightforward one: http://www.yarnfwd.com/needleconv.html
The people at purlsoho are a really kind and helpful group of folks . . . be kind!
What a rude way to ask a question! Considering you are getting a free pattern. Clearly you have access to the Internet …search up the conversion. Show some kindness. Enough of this already.
I agree, let’s be nice because boy, Purl Soho sure is!
Kind regards, Julie
There are so many ways you could have asked for the needle size. Hope you have a better day today!
Wow, that is really rude.
I am quite shocked.
I am from the Uk and need metric sizes, but never in my wildest dreams would I expect someone who doesn’t use metric to tell me. I am a big girl and more than capable of finding out myself what I should need for this great pattern.
As a Canadian and a metric knitter I was slightly horrified at the tone of Linda Wilson’s comment. I would suggest she google search a chart for needle sizes and keep it with her knitting needles as I have done. Thank you Purl Soho for your beautiful website and kindly giving us a variety of lovely “free” patterns.
Hi Leanne,
Thanks for the wonderful comment! We will still try to please everyone though and maybe one day we will add metric!
All the best,
Adam
US 4 is 3.5 mm; US 6 is 4 mm. There are some really helpful conversion tables on the Internet — Google is your friend.
Love this pattern and wonder if I can get this cotton in Canada. If not I will be back to order it.
Hi Burtine,
Thank you for your kind words! Good news! Our Cotton Pure is available on our website and we do ship internationally! For further information on our shipping rates, you can check out our shipping page here: https://www.purlsoho.com/shipping/
Happy knitting!
Cassy
Bom dia!
Uma linda gola, em ponto brioche, as duas cores são
muito delicadas.
I wish you had a PDF download for this! I’m old school and need a paper pattern 😉
Hi Valerie,
Good news! You can download a PDF of this pattern. If you’re on a desktop version of the site, you will find a “print” icon in the right column just below the date and tags. If you’re on a mobile version of the site, you will find a “print” icon below the pattern and above the comments.
Follow the easy on-screen instructions to delete whichever parts of the pattern you don’t want to print or save. For example, you may decide to shorten the pattern by omitting certain images or the list of materials.
I hope that this helps and happy knitting!
Cassy
This is EXTrEmeLY helpful information! Thank you so much!
I love the pattern. Could one use worsted weight (also 4 stitches/inch) instead of the cotton? Thanks!
Hi Mary,
I’m so happy you love the pattern! You could certainly use worsted weight for this pattern, but the cowl would come out rather long. I’d do a swatch in the round and see how many stitches per inch you get. Multiply this number by how long you want the cowl to be and this result will be your cast on. Best of luck knitting this pattern! Let us know how it goes!
-Adam
I just received a box filled with your Line Weight (love it!) and was wondering what size needles you suggest I use to knit this pattern with it. I was going to experiment, but decided to ask the pros. This will be my next project after I finish knitting the Tiny Stripes Hat (so cute). Trying to decide what colors of Cotton Pure to order. They are all beautiful.
Hi Susan,
I’m so happy you love the pattern and your new Line Weight! The Line Weight knits best on a US 2-3 needle. However, the Two-Color Cotton Cowl is a DK weight yarn, so you’ll have to adjust the cast on amount to knit with the line weight. I suggest doing some swatches in the round to figure out your stitches per inch. Best of luck on your project! Let us know how it goes!
-Adam
Can I ask – is the first 6 rows one color (the MC)?
Thank you! 😉
Hi Bernie,
Thank you for writing in! You are correct! The first 6 rows are knit in the main color!
Happy knitting!
Cassy
Is the Fisherman’s Rib stitch similar to Brioche? It looks very similar in the finished project. I think I’m going to try this one 🙂
Hi Karen,
Great question! Brioche and Fisherman’s Rib produce a nearly identical looking stitch pattern. We love both and have created this cowl using Fisherman’s Rib and Gina’s Brioche Cowl.
We hope that you love this new pattern!
Cassy
Could this item be knitted on straight needles? If so what size would they be in the uk
Many thanks
Hi Jackie,
Thanks for your question! This pattern is knit in the round but you can certainly knit flat and then seam the cowl up at the end. You’ll want to refer to the Color Dipped Scarves pattern for how to knit this stitch flat. The only thing is that your knit stitches will be lay horizontally instead of vertically. For this cowl we knit on US 4 and 6 needles, which is 3.5mm and 4mm in metric. I hope this helps! Let us know how it goes!
Best,
Adam
Hi: As usual a brilliant and beautiful garment. I am wondering if the cotton will stretch upon use or if the Fisherman’s rib will keep the cowl in shape?
Hi Susan,
Thank you for your interest in this pattern! Cotton, as a plant fiber, has a lot of drape which makes it beautiful but stretchy. The cowl will naturally have a lot of drape, but if you’d like to add a bit of structure, you can knit down a needle size or two. This will make the fabric denser and less likely to grow. Best of luck on the project! I hope you’ll like it!
-Adam
Too bad the ravelry entry is at best incomplete, at worst misleading… Fisherman’s rib is considered by many sources to be a form of tuck stitch, which on ravelry is listed as ‘attributes, fabric characteristic, brioche/tuck stitch.’ It’s definitely NOT just plain ‘rib’ as you’ve attributed it, and not nearly so easy.
Hi Topher,
Thank you so much for writing to us! We apologize for misleading you. We have updated the Ravelry page. Hopefully no one else will be confused. Thanks again for taking the time to write in.
Best,
Adam
Lovely idea to mix these two techniques
One day I’ll come from FRANCE (Paris)
stay in an hotel near PURL SOHO and knit, knit, knit
day and night all the gorgeous projects till I CAN TAKE NO MORE
Kisses for all the creative team
Régine
Can this be converted to two needles instead of circular?
Hi Helen,
Thanks for your question! This pattern is knit in the round but you can certainly knit flat and then seam the cowl up at the end. You’ll want to refer to the Color Dipped Scarves pattern for how to knit this stitch flat. The only thing is that your knit stitches will be lay horizontally instead of vertically. Let us know how it goes!
-Adam
Could I knit this on a 80cm circular needle?
Hi Lynn,
You sure can! Your stitches might be a little squished but you’ll be able to squeeze it in.
Best,
Adam
Wow, how beautiful!
I’ve swatched this pattern in fingering weight yarns, with #4 needle. Because the yarn is so light (one is cashmere & the other merino), I wonder if it will be too flimsy – and yet I want it to be light.
I haven’t worked Brioche-type patterns before, so I wonder what your advice would be about the needle size and density of the fabric? What I’ve done is gorgeous, I should say.
Hi Karen,
I’m so glad you like the pattern! I think that a merino/cashmere version of this scarf would be great and so luxurious! Keep in mind that this scarf wraps around the neck twice, so if the fabric is on the lighter side it will still hold close to your neck. As long as you like the stitch definition and can recalculate the pattern to fit the gauge, you should be good to go! If you’d like a denser, more structured cowl, I’d go down to a US 3, but it’s up to you!
Happy knitting!
-Adam
I missed that it wraps twice. Always so much good info in the comments.
Hi,
This cowl is gorgeous. Since cotton pure comes in so many colors could you possibly give any more color combinations? Trying to choose two is overwhelming, in a good way.
Thanks!
Hi Blair,
I’m so happy you love the pattern! I would maybe do Nocturnal Blue with Raven Black, Pale Almond with Warm Cider, Green Shadow with Sterling Green, Yellow Curry with Rose Bark or Silver Fern with Egret White. I hope this gets your wheels turning!
Best,
Adam
Oooh! Wonderful suggestions, I can’t wait to start my cowl! Thank you!
I am about to become a great grandma and the sparks have been flying off my knitting needles kitting
the new baby (boy) out. I have just found your cowl in a two tone rib stitch and thought it would make a fantastic baby blanket. Would it be possible to knit it flat and achieve the same result?
Hi Caryl,
Thanks for your question! This pattern is knit in the round but you can certainly knit flat. You’ll want to refer to the Color Dipped Scarves pattern for how to knit this stitch flat. I think this will make a lovely blanket!
-Adam
Hello to the great and creative team at Purl!,
I’m simply writing to compliment all of you on how you answer our questions with patience, kindness, and class.
You guys rock!
Marie
Thanks Marie!
That means a lot to us! We always strive to help out our customers as much as we can.
Best,
Adam
I love this cowl and am thinking about making a couple for my sons’ girlfriends. One of them loves purple so I was thinking about using Purple Heath. Could you suggest a contrasting color to go with this purple yarn. Also, do you have any other color combinations that you think would be especially pretty? Unfortunately, neither girl wears much pink even though I think the pink yarn is lovely.
Hi Jane,
Thanks so much for the sweet comment! For a darker version with Purple Heath, I’d go with Nocturnal Blue. This way the purple will really stand out. You could also do Golden Taupe or Silver Fern for a lighter version. There are so many choices! I hope I’ve got your gears turning!
-Adam
Hello PurlSoho,
THis pattern is gorgeous, I got all the way to the first row where you add the contrasting colour and then everything went sideways, I messed up the P1B and had to rip everything out and start again. Any additional advice you can provide on this stitch would be appreciated. Do you have a video tutorial of this stitch?
Hi Sarah,
I’m sorry you had trouble with this part of the pattern! I think that ripping back was a good idea. Make sure you are very careful when knitting below. I like to take my time on this kind of stitch. It saves a lot of frustration in the long run. We do have a tutorial for this stitch and you can view it by clicking here. I hope this helps!
-Adam
Thanks Adam. I appreciate your response. I have the pattern down pat now. When I started the next round I kept knitting with the same colour yarn. I noticed right away but, now I need to rip out approx. 10 K1B stitches. I cannot find anything online that demonstrates this. Do you have any advice on this? I would hate to rip the whole thing out again.
Thanks Again,
Sarah
Hello Sarah,
Thanks for writing back. We don’t have a tutorial on how to fix k1b stitches, but there are a few good ones on YouTube. I would check there because it will be a lot clearer to watch a video. Best of luck on the project!
-Adam
My yarn is on its way! One question- any advise to measure yarn for Long tail cast on so I can get those 230 stitches CO the first time!? I normally co 50 , take it off and multiply- but if there’s a more efficient way…
Looking forward to this project!
Hi Kim,
Thanks for contacting us! I hope you’ll like this pattern and the finished piece. The cotton is especially wonderful to work with. To guarantee an accurate cast on, I like to wrap my yarn around the needle I am working with 10 times, starting at the very end of the working yarn. This represents 10 stitches and then you can use that as a guide from there on out. I hope this helps! Best of luck and let us know how it turns out!
-Adam
Thank you!! Are all these beautiful yarns in your shop as well? Looks like mine is coming from Californian! I really need to drive in because my next project is the blanket with the giant yarn, so NJ is right around the corner!
Hi Kim,
You should definitely stop by the shop! We have most items in the stop, save the sale products. Plus, it’s a treat to see all the wonderful color inspiration!
-Adam
just confused from the start – instructions say ‘stockinette’ and also says ‘knit all stitches’, so do we knit / purl each row or not? sorry to be so dense….trying to teach myself how to knit using YouTube instructions. Thanks! sally
Hi Sally,
Thanks for writing us! When you knit stockinette in the round you are only knitting the face side — there is no purling. When you knit flat, however, you do purl the reverse side. Since this pattern is knit in the round, you only knit for the first portion of the scarf. I hope this clears things up! Let me know if you have any other questions. Happy knitting!
Best,
Adam
Did you use the whole skein of each color?
Hi Christine! Great question – yes, we used almost the entire skein of the master color and had a few yards remaining of the contrast color.
Thanks for writing in!
Keith
I LOVE this pattern, enjoy working with the Pima cotton. Unfortunately, my yarn will only make it about half way. I’m using the suggested needle size and getting suggested gauge. Has anyone else had this problem?
Hi Sandra,
Thanks for writing in. Are you using our Cotton Pure yarn? The pattern should work with the amount of yarn listed. Please let me know so we can figure this out!
-Adam
I’m having the same issue! I purchased the Cotton Pure bundle and am using the correct needles and seem to be getting the right gauge. My cowl is about four inches from the rolled edge and my ball of yarn is looking alarmingly small so it looks like I’ll have to order more 🙁
Hi there,
I’m sorry this isn’t working out for you! Is the cowl 4″ from the suggested finished height or from the cast on? I’m thinking your gauge is off because there is no other way you would be this short 4″ from the end. How wide is your cowl at this point? If it’s significantly wider, you might have to go down a needle size. Let me know how it goes.
Thanks,
Adam
This pattern is gorgeous and a fabulous reason to learn the Fisherman’s Rib! I’d love to try it in one of your merino or alpalca yarns for their warmth and loft. Is there one that you would recommend that would be a good substitute for the Cotton Pure? Looking forward to my first project of the fall!
-Gina
Hi Gina,
Thank you so much for your kind words! I love the idea of a warmer winter version of this cowl. For this, I would suggest our Mulberry Merino. The wool and silk combination would be quite a bit warmer and just as lovely! For this version, you will need the same number of skeins of yarn and use the same needles!
Happy knitting!
Cassy
I’m really enjoying learning this new stitch ! Beautiful pattern and great yarn . I just checked my Gauge in the pattern -about 20 stitches to 4″ –should I change needle size ? ( I don’t mind starting all over -I’ve made several mistakes in my learning curve of the new stitch ) thank you !
Hi Luann,
thank you for the kind words! Though gauge isn’t AS important on cowls, you are off by one stitch per inch and that can change things drastically in terms of sizing. I would go up a needle size to see if you can hit a closer gauge. I’d say go for it if you can get around 17-18 stitches per inch. Even better if you are spot on! Also, be sure that you like your stitch definition if you hit gauge!
Best of luck and happy knitting!
-Adam
What other kind of yarn can be used for this pattern.
Hi Anita,
Thanks for writing in! Our Cotton Pure is a sport weight yarn coming in at 5-6 inches on a US 4-6 needle. For this lovely cowl, you can substitute any sport weight yarn for the Cotton Pure. Mulberry Merino would be quite nice if you were looking for a wool alternative to the cotton!
Happy knitting!
Cassy
How would this be done in one color?
Hi Ellen,
Thanks for writing in! I think that this cowl would be lovely in a single color. To accomplish this, you will use the instructions listed above but when it calls for switching colors, you will carry on with the single color. That is to say the when is says to continue in 2 color fisherman’s rib, the rows will now read as follow:
Round 1: * k1b (see Notes), p1, repeat from * to end of round.
Round 2: * k1, p1b (see Notes), repeat from * to end of round.
I hope that this helps and happy knitting!
Cassy
Thanks, Cassy.
I realized that my question could be interpreted in two ways. (I meant, would it look nice?). So, thank you very much for answering both!
Ellen
Love, luve, & liebe your yarns! No snow in SF for decades otherwise I would have to order more. Customer Service is superb! For those who want to try an easier stitch below…try K1, K1below; repeat, and one can do this one both sides (back side and front side – depending on what you are doing, remember to do some kind of selvage stitch or two…
Adam – I believe I have spoken to you on the phone. Wondering if you are Adam from Iowa? Whether yes or no, you were the nicest most friendly helpful person answering my questions regarding a purchase I wanted to make. No one deserves a question with that kind of edge when asking for help.
Hi,
Like everyone else, I love everything about this pattern, but am overwhelmed by the gorgeous color choices, so, sorry, but this is yet another color combination set of questions. I am looking for cool-based colors as opposed to warm, especially in your neutrals. What 2 cool grays would work best? Does Gray Plum work with Purple Heath?
What other neutral (grays, taupes, etc) work best?
Thanks so much. Love you guys!
Hi Nancy,
Thanks for writing in! I think that Gray Plum and Purple Heath go together, but I also really like Freshwater Pearl and Birch Bark together. If you want to go darker, I would go with Flannel Gray and Blue Whale. Those are so rich. Sterling Green and Silver Fern are also some of my favorites too!
-Adam
Hi Purl Soho,
I’m sure this is an obvious question but I’m a double checker! Anyway, for the gauge, I’m assuming that pattern stitch is the fisherman’s rib, correct?
Hi Kim,
Yes, the gauge is in fisherman’s rib!
Thanks,
Adam
Thanks Adam!
Few more questions:
1) Will the entire 2 skeins be used or there enough to make it a bit longer?
2) In your opinion, would Birch Bark and Thicket Green go well together?
Hi Kim,
Sorry for the late reply! I had to weigh the sample. The cowl takes up the entire two skeins, so if you want to make it larger you will have to buy one more of each color. I think that Birch Bark and Thicket Green would look great together as well! I hope you’ll enjoy making this cowl! Best of luck!
-Adam
This is a beautiful cowl. I’m terrible with color combinations – would you be able to suggest which colors might go well with the “Sea Pink” or “Blue Whale?” Thank you.
Hi Emily,
Thanks for writing in and for your kind words! For this cowl, I would pair Sea Pink with Teacake Pink and Blue Whale with Raindrop Blue. The main thing to look out for is if there is enough of a value contrast between the two colors. The best way to do this is to turn both photos black and white (I do this using my smart phone) and make sure that they still look like different colors.
I hope that this helps and happy knitting!
Cassy
I loved making this in your Cotton Pure, could you please let me know what needle sizes you would use for the same pattern in your Cashmere Merino Bloom? THANKS!
Hi C Match,
Great question! I think that this cowl would be lovely in Cashmere Merino Bloom. You will use US 5 and US 7 needles and will need 1-2 skeins of each color. With 2 skeins of each, you will have some of each left over. With 1 skein of each, you will have a slightly smaller cowl.
I hope that this information helps!
Cassy
I have two questions. If I were to knit in fisherman’s rib instead of brioche would the results be similar, that is, the color changes vertical not horizontal? Also if I were to use the blackberry merino yarn would you suggest some color combinations and needle size?
Thanks, Linda
Hi Linda,
Thanks for writing in! This lovely cowl is achieved by using Fisherman’s rib instead of brioche! To knit this cowl using Mulberry Merino, I would suggest using the same needles as for the Cotton Pure. As for color combinations, I think any of the following would be lovely: Artemisia Green with Peacock Blue or Storm Gray with Oyster Gray or Black Green with Green Turquoise
I hope that this helps and happy knitting!
Cassy
My cowl doesn’t look nearly as deep as the photograph but measures between 7 and 8″ from rolled hem to rolled hem. Does one block the fisherman knit and if so, how do you do that? Thanks.
Hi, Laura!
Thank you so much for writing in! Our cowl is about 10 1/2-inches wide, that may be why yours doesn’t look as deep as ours. You can definitely block it, check out our blocking tutorial here and if you have further questions please let us know!
Best,
Kumeko
I too love this pattern! When finished does it wrap 2x around the neck? I’m asking b/c I wondered if I could use a thicker yarn and cast fewer on and just slip over my head. ..
Thank you so much for all that you do! Julie
Hi Julie,
Thanks for the kind words! Yes, you can wrap the cotton cowl around twice. I think that a once-over cowl would be a great idea for this stitch pattern. Let us know how it goes!
-Adam
I am making this in Pure Cotton and loving it and so very much enjoy knitting it (although it is slow). Is this brioche knitting?
Love your patterns and your yarn selection. Keep ’em coming to us knitting and fiber junkies!
Much thanks.
Hi Margie,
So glad you like the pattern and the yarn! Fisherman’s rib is a “cousin” of brioche knitting. They are very similar and you actually fix fisherman’s rib with brioche techniques. Let us know how the project turns out! Glad to hear it’s going well so far!
-Adam
I’d love to give this a go but being in NZ, we don’t really have a grade called ‘sport’ weight and am never sure what ply yarn to substitute in patterns on Pinterest. Also, while these cotton yarns look beautiful, I wondered if this cowl could be made in other combinations, eg a wool/cotton yarn, or one cotton and one wool? Thankyou.
Hi Pam,
Thanks for writing in! We have seen this cowl done in a variety of yarn types, including wool and blends it it comes out great in them all! I have looked up a couple of conversion charts and see that Sport weight roughly corresponds with Australian 5 ply but a better metric would be the stitches per inch. For our Cotton Pure we are getting 5-6 stitches per inch on US 4 – 6 (3.5 – 4 mm) needles. I would be on the look out for yarns that fill those requirements and you should be good to go!
Happy knitting!
Cassy
Hi Pam,
Thank you for writing in! You can totally make this cowl in any wool or cotton combination and doing so would add a lovely level of texture to your knitted fabric! What we call a “Sport” weight yarn is a yarn that would get you about 24 stitches and 34 rows to 10 cm (4 inches). So, any yarn that gets you that gauge would work for this pattern.
Please let us know if you have further questions!
Best,
Kumeko
I have some Merino Script yarn. Would it work for this pattern? How would I adapt this pattern for that yarn? Thanks!
Hi Lisa,
Thank you for your question. The Merino Script is a slub yarn, it’s thick in some places and thin in others so, using it for this pattern would give you a different texture than the Cotton Pure. Some examples of this texture can be found in our Braided Cable Cowl and our Classic Cuffed Hat in Merino Script.
To modify the pattern I recommend making a gauge swatch. I’d start with US 11 needles and if you find that your swatch is too tight or too lose you can either increase or decrease your needle size. After you make your gauge swatch you’ll need to calculate the number of cast on stitches. To do this you’ll take the number of stitches per inch you get and multiply that by 57 1/2 (the scarf’s circumference). For example, if you find you are getting 2 stitches per inch: 2 x 57 1/2 = 115, you would cast on 115 stitches. Then you can follow the pattern as written.
Please let us know if you have further questions and again, thank you for writing in!
Best wishes,
Kumeko
I am having a lot of trouble with this scarf and I’m not sure what to do. The 40″ circulars seem too long somehow. I can’t get a tight enough stitch and what I am knitting looks nothing like the scarf you show. I have watched the stitch video endlessly and think I am doing things correctly, but the tight rib you show simply doesn’t resemble my scarf. No one else has mentioned having a similar problem…..
Also does the very first row of the scarf attempt to join the ends. That is, is your first stitch or last stitch in the first row the joining stitch?
Thanks
Hi Nancy,
Thanks for writing us! There could be a few different issues going on, but hopefully I can pin down one of them. First, your gauge might be too loose. Also, you might want to pull down on the work to lock in the fisherman’s rib. If you feel that the 40″ needle is too long to fit the work, move down to a 32″ needle and this should definitely be more comfortable. Let me know how it goes!
-Adam
Hi,
This is a lovely pattern – I have purchased some extra flax down that I would love to use for this scarf! Do you think that’s possible? Would it require any modifications (ie needle size)? And how many skeins would I need?
Thanks for the help!
Teri
(also from Canada and loving this site!)
Hello Teri from Canada!
Thanks for the lovely comment. I think you could use the exact same needle size and cast on in the Flax Down. It would be lovely and very warm. I think you’d just need one skein each of Flax Down because the gauge is already a bit larger than the cotton and this will make up for however much difference there is in yardage. Best of luck and happy knitting!
-Adam
Hi is it possible to make this with the flax down? Are any modifications required? How many skeins would I need? Thanks!
Hi Teri,
It’s totally possible and a great idea! I think you’ll be good with two skeins. The gauge might be a little different for the Flax Down but it shouldn’t affect the cowl too much. If you’d like, you can omit an even amount of stitches. Thanks!
-Adam
Salut,
I want to knit this flat, but I don’t understand how to achieve the coloured ribbing doing it flat. When do I change colours? How do I get one side to look mostly pink and one side mostly cream?
I have tried changing colours each row, and ever other row, but neither achieves the desired effect. The first way detaches the two side from one another, and the second way produced horizontal rather than vertical stripes.
Help!
Hi Sarah,
Thanks for writing in! Converting 2 color fisherman’s rib from in the round to flat can be a bit challenging! I would recommend checking out the directions for our Color-Dipped Scarf which utilizes this technique!
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
I just finished a shawl in Cotton Pure for a friend who is allergic to wool. The yarn is amazing, so soft and such a lovely shade. Not having worked much with cotton, I am a little concerned about blocking it. Do I have to block it, do you think it will grow too much? Also, when washing and drying, will it retain shape? I was wondering if you could give me your opinion about my concerns…..before I proceed.
Thanks for your help and for wonderful patterns and amazing yarns!!
Susan
Hi Susan,
Thanks for writing in. If it’s a lace shawl you can try pinning it to stretch the lace and steaming it by hovering your iron over it. If this doesn’t stretch out the yarn overs, then you’ll want to wet block it. Wet blocking cotton can get tricky, but if you put the cotton in a cold soapy bath, it’ll probably be fine. Whether it’s a lace shawl or not, you’ll be fine because shawls don’t require a precise fit. Thanks!
-Adam
Hi Again,
I’m getting ready to purchase my Cotton Pure to make each of my daughters this cowl.
One of them wants to know if it will wrap 3 times when completed?
I should add that she is very petite and wants it to be close around her neck.
Thanks,
Chris
Hi Chris!
Thank you for writing in! Sorry for the delayed response! In the images above the Cowl is wrapped twice. If you’d like it to be a bit more snug perhaps you could cast on fewer stitches so that the cowl is a bit shorter. The cowl as written is about 57 1/2-inches wide, if you knocked off 5-inches it would fit more snug. To make it 52 1/2-inches you would cast on 210 stitches (because 52.2 x 4 [stitches per inch] = 210).
Please let us know if you have anymore questions.
Best wishes,
Kumeko
Thank you Kumeko!
I’m just getting going and have a big problem!
I used the loop method to add on my second color. When I got to the 3rd row (back to the main color) the first stitch was a K1b and as soon as I drop the stitch I realized it wasn’t attached to anything!
Is there a good way to start the new color so this won’t happen?
I decided to make one following the pattern and let her try it on. I think she will want me to make it smaller so Thank you again!
Chris
Hi, Chris!
Thank you so much for writing back! Could you explain a bit more what you mean by the “loop method?”
Best,
Kumeko
Hi Kumeko,
I am having the same issue as Christine. I have used this ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5d3PHPGXDRo ) method for adding the CC but when I come to return to the MC for the third round of fisherman’s rib, the first stitch of CC unravels when I K1B as there is nothing holding it in place any more. Any help would be greatly appreciated as nothing I can find online addresses this!
Hi Sam,
Thank you for writing us! The video you posted is for adding a color in color work, which doesn’t really help with the fisherman’s rib. I searched YouTube and found nothing about how to add another color for fisherman’s rib, so instead I knit up a swatch myself. I found that yes, the yarn isn’t attached to anything, but you can drop off the stitch for the first color change round and it won’t affect the fabric. This is because the yarn is secured in the next stitch and it won’t unravel past that one stitch. Fisherman’s rib essentially unravels the stitch above, so this makes sense. If you notice a difference in stitch definition on the CC side of the cowl, you can fix this when weaving in your ends by duplicating the stitch definition. All the best!
-Adam
Could I make this in Mulberry Merino? If so, how many skeins would I need and what size needle should I use? Thanks!
Hi Blair,
Thanks for writing in! You can certainly substitute Mulberry Merino here and use the same needle size that we used for this Cotton Pure version. The yardage of Mulberry Merino is about 20 yards shy of the yardage of Cotton Pure and for this cowl, we used nearly all of the two skeins. If you made the cowl a little shorter, you may be able to get away with 1 skein of each color for a total of 2 skeins. To get a cowl of equal size, you will need 2 skeins of each color.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Looking for a summery combination using the egret white and a blue. Would white caps blue work? Or would you make a suggestion? Thanks.
Hi Laura,
Thanks for writing in! I love the idea of your color combination! I think that egret white and white caps blue would make a great combination! If you want a bit more stark of a color combination, egret white and stream blue would also be lovely!
Happy knitting!
Cassy
Thanks, loving the white caps blue and egret white combo!
How would pale lilac and cloud grey look?
Love to try this technique out – interesting stitch, new to me.
Hi Catherine,
Thanks for your interest in this pattern. I love the combo of pale lilac and cloud grey and would also consider pale lilac and purple heath. I think both are lovely.
Best of luck and happy knitting!
-Adam
Wow, came across this beautiful pattern while trying to decide which brioche pattern to purchase. How can it look identical to brioche and be so much simpler – it’s stunning! And free! Thank you again Purl Soho – you never fail to amaze!
I would like to knit this cowl with White Caps Blue as the dominant color. Would you suggest a companion color(s)?
Many thanks, Linda
Hi Linda,
This is a lovely Cowl. To compliment the White Caps Blue you could do Seaside blue it would be a soft slightly distressed color next to it. If you preferred more of a contrast, you could do Blue Whale it is more of a washed navy.
Hope this helps.
Melissa
Melissa I followed your suggestion and purchased the seaside blue yarn to go with the white caps blue. Unfortunately the colors are so close that there is virtually no contrast so the stitch pattern doesn’t really show up.
Any suggestions?
Thanks, Linda
Hi Linda,
I apologize about the yarn not working, you could go lighter and try the icicle blue it is much lighter, the stream blue would be pretty as well.
I hope this helps,
Melissa
I would like the pattern for the little Plain dress in todays email but the pattern is pages & pages long ! Is there no way to get it shortened ? Or can I order a hard copy from you ??
Thank You for a reply
Hello Lelah,
Thank you for reaching out! I’m not sure, but I think you are trying to print our Clean and Simple Baby Dress. If you look on the right side of the screen under the “Buy this yarn” and the “Save to Favorites” buttons there is a print button. If you click this button a new window will pop up and at the top right corner of the pop up box you’ll see a drop down menu and if you click on this, you’ll be able to remove all the images. If you follow these steps you will be able to print the pattern on six pages single sided or three pages double sided.
I hope this helps! Please let us know if you have any further questions.
Warmly,
Marilla
This is a very attractive design. It looks like brioche knitting, from the pictures. Is there a similarity in the way it’s done?
Hello Crystal,
Thank you for your kind words! This stitch is very similar to brioche stitch, but with a fraction of the abbreviations. Like brioche stitch, you will be knitting into the stitch below. For a more in-depth look – check out our tutorial .
I hope this helps!
-Marilla
Thanks so much for your lovely patterns and easy to follow instructions. I’m excited to try this cowl and need to make up my mind on colors. You’ve also inspired me to try weaving and with the loom you carry. Need to study up on the process a bit.
Thx. again.
What are your thoughts on combining Warm Cider with Seaside Blue? Appreciate it!
Barbara
Hi Barbara,
Thank you for writing us! I think Warm Cider with Seaside Blue will be gorgeous. The warmth of warm cider contrasted with the coolness of seaside blue will be dynamic and rich.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
I love this scarf. Got the yarn and tried to start last night. Mine did not look like it should have. ripped it out will try again.
I purchased 438 yards of each color yarn for this cowl and I was wondering if I would have a significant amount left to use on another small project. I feel like 876 yards is a lot for just one cowl. Thanks !
Hello Alexis,
Thanks for writing in! The yarn we used for this project, Cotton Pure, Is about 262 yards and is a sport weight yarn. We use one skein for each color so the complete project takes about 524 yards of sport weight yarn. As long as you are using a sport weight it sounds like you will have a good amount of yarn left over.
I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any further questions.
-Marilla
I would like to knit this cowl in one color out of Simply Soft wool in country blue, since I have a lot left over. Should I cast on a smaller amount of stitches, since the wool seems to be heavier (4, medium) weight than the one you’re using? I also would like to make it a bit smaller (50″ circumference). Any advice would be appreciated.
Hello Sabine,
Thank you for writing in! You are correct, the yarn you are using is heavier than what the pattern calls for. I would recommend going up a couple needle sizes and knitting a Swatch in the round. Once you have the number of stitches er inch you are getting you can figure out how many stitches to cast on to get a 50″ circumference. Please let me know if you have any further questions and good luck with your project!
Warmly,
Marilla
Do you know whether this technique can be adapted for flat knitting? I’m thinking of making a two-color fisherman’s rib afghan in bulky weight yarn.
Hi Virginia,
Thanks for writing in! Fisherman’s rib certainly can be knit flat. For a 1 color version, you can reference our Seafaring Scarf and for a 2 color version, you can reference our Color Dipped Scarves.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
I love this cowl and am attempting the fisherman’s rib for the first time. The problem that I have encountered is how to fix a dropped K1B and P1 B. It is difficult finding tutorials for fixing. Please let me know how I can fix these dropped stitches! Thank you!!
Hi Karen,
Thanks for writing us! In order to fix fisherman’s rib, you need to know how to do Brioche stitch. Click here for a tutorial. When you rip out your fisherman’s rib you’ll notice that there is a normal stitch whose exiting thread of yarn floats past the next stitch and forms the stitch after that. You’ll want to pick up the “normal” stitch and then pick up the next stitch with the floating strand together. You’ll repeat this until you’ve picked up all the stitches. In order to get back to fisherman’s rib you’ll need to knit the “normal” stitch and then knit the next stitch together with the float. This will put you back on track.
I hope this helps!
Cassy
First of all thanks for this beautiful pattern! I just had a question about the yarn weight. Sometimes I see it described as sport and sometimes described as DK weight. From my understanding, sport should be lighter than DK. What would the cotton pure yarn register on the 0-7 yarn scale?
Hi Amy,
Thanks for writing in! Our Cotton Pure comes in at 5-6 stitches per inch on a US 4-6 needle. This can classify it as a Sport or a DK depending on what scale you use. Using the Craft Yarn Council standards, this also could register this yarn as a 2 or 3 (Sport or DK). The good thing here is that the yarn works as either a Sport or DK and should work for patterns using either weight.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Oh no! I’m about 2 inches in and I just realized that my knitting was so scrunched up on my needles that I started it with a single twist in it. O_o
Should I rip it out and start over or can I keep going? I love this pattern but idk if it’ll look awful with the twist or if it’ll be a detriment to the care of the piece? I’m so torn. T_T
What would you suggest?
Hi Anthony,
Unfortunately I would recommend ripping it back since there is no good way to fix a twist in a circular piece. If you think it looks nice with the twist I would say keep it! It might add a nice design element!
Best,
Carly
As you probably know, it’s so hard to discern the true color of yarn online. I’m considering Rose Bark (5700CP), Heather for the main color and Birch Bark (5200CP), Heather for the contrasting color for this beautiful cowl. What do you think? Is it too dark? I appreciate your advice.
Hi Dianne,
Thanks for writing in! Color can be a challenge over the internet but we are always happy to help! I think that you color combination will work well! When working with 2 colors, you want them to have plenty of contrast and these do!
Happy knitting!
Cassy
I’ve made this cowl according to the pattern, and now I’d like to make a single-wrap one in this style. What is the typical circumference for an adult cowl? How many stitches should I cast on?
Hi Sue,
Thanks for writing in! A single wrap cowl can range from 18-22 inches depending on how close you would like it too fit, how drapey the fabric is and how stretchy you stitch pattern is. I would try a 19 inch circumference to start out with being sure to try it on as you go. You could also take a scrap piece of fabric and measuring how you would like it to fit on you. Just be sure to leave enough slck to be able to get the cowl over your head!
Best,
Cassy
I finally got around to trying this new knit brio-like stitch! At the time, there was no “iceberg” white yarn available so I tried Seaside Blue (main color) and Fresh Butter.
It was a bit tricky at the start and especially tricky when trying to correct a mistake, but I am very happy with the results!
I tried to attach a photo. Let me know if this works.
image2.jpeg
Hi Amy,
Thanks for writing in! I am so glad that this pattern worked out for you! Sadly, photos can not be added here but we’d love to see it on Instagram. You can tag us or use #purlsoho or #purlsohobusyhands !
Best,
Cassy
can you recommend a Purl Soho woolen yarn that would translate well to this pattern?
Thanks!
…and maybe I should be a bit more specific–I like the drappy look of the cotton and wondering what sort of yarn might come close to that look
Hi Patti,
Thanks for writing in! Our Mulberry Merino or Season Alpaca would make excellent alternatives to the Cotton Pure that we used here. Season Alpaca will give you a bit more drape that the Cotton Pure and the Mulberry Merino will be a touch less. I think that Mulberry Merino would be the most similar but either would make a lovely cowl!
Best,
Cassy
nice! could I mix them?
Hi Patti!
Absolutely! Fisherman’s Rib is very forgiving with even larger differences in yarn gauges. I think mixing them could make a lovely result!
Best,
Cassy
Is this project compatible with the italian/tubular cast on? If it is, I haven’t figured out the way….
Hi DS,
Thanks for writing in! This lovely cowl begins and ends with a few rows of stockinette and thus a standard long tail cast on works well here. The tubular cast on is used for ribbing exclusively. We think that the standard long tail cast on works well here and gives a neat and clean edge!
Best,
Cassy
Any suggestions for other color combos? I was thinking of something darker – grays and blues and such – but I’m not sure.
HI ALice,
Thanks for writing in! We are happy to help with color ideas! For a blue version I think that Seaside Blue with Either Nocturnal Blue or Stream Blue would be lovely! For a gray version, I would suggest Cloud Gray and Flannel Gray. The most important thing is that there is enough of a value difference between the two colors so that you can see the difference in the two. If the color values are too close, it will be harder to see a difference in the colors once is has been knit up!
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
If I want a single wrap cowl can I cast on half of the stitches? Does the pattern need an even or uneven number of stitches?
Thanks
Hello Rose,
Thank you for reaching out! For this pattern you will need an even number when casting on so I would recommend casting on 116 stitches, this will give you an approximate circumference of 28.5″.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
Would love to be able to pick your beautiful yarn colors for our projects, by being able to click on several shades to compare them side by side on the screen to see if they “go together” for a multicolored project, instead of only being able to view one at a time.
Hello Denise,
Thank you for reaching out and for the suggestion! I will be sure to pass it along.
Happy crafting!
-Marilla
This looks absolutely gorgeous – and Pima cotton!
What do you think about Seaside green and Almond beige is it?, as a combo?
My daughter loves this color way and it matches her turquoise , brown flecked eyes.
Hello Kristy,
Thank you for reaching out! I think these will be a beautiful combination with a nice contrast- I say go for it!
Happy knitting,
Marilla
Do you think this project would work well with the pink sand color and the teacake pink? I think it would be subtle but still something different, do you think that the colors look too similar in person though?
Hi Julieanne,
Thanks for reaching out! While Pink Sand and Teacake Pink do not contrast as strongly as the colors we selected for our sample, I think they would result in a beautifully understated cowl! If you wanted a color combination that is more subtle than our original cowl but with just a tad more contrast, Pale Almond paired with either Pink Sand or Teacake Pink would also be a good choice!
I hope that helps!
Julianna
When I first switch to the CC after the first row of k1b with the MC, will my first k1 be into a purl or a knit stitch from the row before? The last stitch I did with the MC was a purl… or should I have stopped with the k1b….?
I’ve never done this type of knitting with two colors and I’m worried I’m going to mess it up.
Hi Charlotte,
Thanks for writing in! In Fisherman’s Rib, you will always be knitting on top of your knits and purling on top of your purls, regardless of whether they were regular knits and purls or K1B or P1B in the previous row. When switching from the MC to CC, you should be ending with a P1 on the MC row, and beginning the CC row with a K1 over the K1B from the previous row.
I hope that helps! You’ve got this, and let us know if we can clarify anything else for you!
Julianna
Does anyone know how to adapt this to crochet?
Hello Carrie,
Thank you for reaching out! Unfortunately we do not currently have a crochet of this cowl, but I will certainly pass along your request!
Happy crafting!
-Marilla
Hi. What size of needles do you recommend if I were to use Peerie yarn?
Hi Tessa,
Great question! I would probably try a gauge swatch in pattern with Peerie on either a US 4 or 5 needle to see which results in a fabric I prefer. The fisherman’s rib pattern works on any even number of stitches so it should be quite easy to adjust your cast on based on the gauge of Peerie if necessary!
Best of luck and happy knitting!
Julianna
Hello! So I’m doing another one of these because the first one was a) so fun, b) super adorable, and c) very well received when it was gifted. However, I seem to be running into a new problem that I didn’t have the first time and I’m not sure what I’m doing differently? When I’m adding the CC for the first time I keep getting a hard line of color on my purl going across my main color. I tend to knit my tails in along with my first few stitches in a new color to secure them so I thought maybe that was my issue? I’ve ripped it out about 3 times and I keep doing it though I’m not sure how. Any thoughts on what I might be doing wrong?
Thanks 🙂
Hi Anthony,
It’s so exciting when someone loves one of our projects so much they make it twice! Although the purl stitches look a bit odd or two-toned when you work the first row of contrast color, when you work the second row and work purl one below into each of these stitches, they should look just as you remember from your first cowl.
I hope that helps! Please let us know if you have any other questions!
Best,
Julianna
Hi. Could you use Linen Quill for this pattern?
Hi Susan,
Thanks for writing in! Linen Quill is a bit lighter weight than Cotton Pure, but I think you could make it work with a few adjustments! I would suggest knitting a gauge swatch in pattern on US 2 needles. Once you have measured your stitches per inch, multiply that number by 57.5 inches and round to the nearest even number to get your cast on number. You will then cast on and work the stockinette edge on US 4 needles, or a needle that is two sizes larger than your main needle.
I hope that helps!
Julianna
Hello,
First of all, thank you for this beautiful pattern. I can’t wait to try it. As I live in Ireland, what yarn would you suggest I use.
Hi Helen,
Thank you so much for writing in and for the kind words! Unfortunately, I’m not familiar with what yarns may be available locally to you, but the good news is that we ship internationally! Details about international shipping can be found here: https://www.purlsoho.com/shipping/. If you are out searching for local yarn, you will need about 260 yards each of two colors of sport to DK weight yarn.
I hope that helps!
Julianna
I would like to make a scarf with the pattern running the width not the length (like the cowl). I like the st stitch edging and would like it on the scarf as well.
Hi Elizabeth,
Thanks for your question! This pattern is knit in the round but you can certainly knit flat and then seam the cowl up at the end. You’ll want to refer to the Color Dipped Scarves pattern for how to knit this stitch flat. Also, when working the edging at the beginning and end of the scarf, you will want to alternate knit and purl rows to create the rolled stockinette edging.
Best of luck and happy knitting!
Julianna
Hi! I’m planning to knit this for a friend, but most of the yarn available locally are 70% acrylic 30% wool blends. Do you think they would be “drapey” enough to produce similar results to yours? If not, is there a way to make them more drapey?
Hi Jo,
Thanks for reaching out! It’s hard to say how your yarn will behave in the finished piece without seeing it, but the best way to find out will be to knit and block a swatch! I would knit a swatch in pattern and block it – acrylic responds surprisingly well to going through the washer and dryer, so if you aren’t happy with the drape after wet blocking, I would try that. If it isn’t drapey enough for your tastes, you could try another swatch with a larger needle to see if the drape improves.
I hope that helps!
Julianna
Hello! I am thinking of trying this pattern (I have never done this kind of knitting before, but am excited to try!) for my daughter, who is 7. How many stitches would you cast on to make this for say a small adult? Thank you!
Hello Heather,
Thank you for reaching out! For this pattern you can cast on any even number of stitches. I would reccomend measuring out what you would like your circumference to be. Once you have this number you can multiply it by 4 to get you cast on number.
I hope this helps and let us know if you have any further questions!
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
I finally finished mine!
Do you wrap it twice or three times?
Hi Chris,
Congratulations on the finished cowl! We styled it wrapped twice for our pictures, but if you have enough length to do so comfortably you could certainly wrap it three times!
Best,
Julianna
Hello! I have the yarn and the pattern, but I’m confused as to how we switch between the colors. I haven’t had much experience with switching colors yet, so I am unsure of whether we just drop one color, knit one round in the other, and then pick it back up again. Thanks in advance!
Hi Jayde,
Thanks for reaching out! For this pattern, which is knit in a stitch called two-color Fisherman’s Rib, yes, you will only be using one color at a time – after finishing Round 1 with the main color, you will drop the main color and work Round 2 with the contrasting color, and then repeat rounds 1 and 2.
I hope that clears things up!
Julianna
I love this and have been having so much fun knitting it… until I dropped a stitch a few rows down! I am struggling to fix my mistake and have watched videos and read about it and I’m still having a hard time fixing it. Do you have any advice or recommended tutorials on fixing dropped stitches in Fisherman’s Rib? Thanks so much!
Hi Megan,
Thanks for writing in! Although we do not have a tutorial for picking up dropped stitches in Fisherman’s Rib, it is a very difficult task, even with the best tutorial! If you are having too much trouble, I would suggest placing the dropped stitch on a holder or safety pin to keep it from unraveling any further and tinking back as much as you need to until you are at the dropped stitch and continuing on from there.
I hope that helps!
Julianna
I am making the two color striped cowl using the k1b technique. I
have no trouble with the pattern or the stitch and love the results but I absolutely cannot figure out how to correct a mistake without starting all over. Is there any easy explanation for how to do this?
Hello Nicole,
Thank you for reaching out! Fixing a mistakes in fisherman’s rib is one of the most difficult tasks in knitting, in my opinion. Sadly there is not a simple fix to this- I wish there was! I can give you some advise on how to rip back so you don’t have to go all the way back to the beginning.
When you rip out your fisherman’s rib you’ll notice that there is a normal stitch whose exiting thread of yarn floats past the next stitch and forms the stitch after that. You’ll want to pick up the “normal” stitch and then pick up the next stitch with the floating strand together. You’ll repeat this until you’ve picked up all the stitches. In order to get back to fisherman’s rib you’ll need to knit the “normal” stitch and then knit the next stitch together with the float. This will put you back on track.
I hope this helps and let me know if you have any further questions!
Happy knitting and good luck!
-Marilla
Thank you SO much.
Nicole
This might be a silly question, but is it absolutely essential that you use two different sizes of needles? If so, what is the purpose of using larger needles for the trim? I don’t have size 6 circular needles, but I really want to start on this beautiful cowl!
Thank you!!
Hi McKinzie,
Thanks for reaching out! We used two different size needles because the gauge of the stockinette stitch border is very different from fisherman’s rib. By using a smaller needle for the fisherman’s rib, the stockinette border and the body of the cowl end up the same size. If you were to use a US 4 for the entire cowl, the top and bottom borders would end up somewhat smaller than the main part of the cowl and give a puckered appearance at those edges. If you can, I would strongly recommend getting a US 6 for the borders, but you might be able to make do with a US 7 if you have one!
Best,
Julianna
Beautiful!!! Can’t wait to start on my mother’s birthday present! One question….I think she would absolutely love a matching beanie or hat. Is there a pattern for that? Can be fitted or slouchy. Thx!
Hi Kristen,
Thanks so much for the kind words and for reaching out – what a lovely present! We don’t have a hat pattern written specifically to match this cowl, but you might be interested in either our Corrugated Hat or Striped Cuff Hat. Both hats are written for sport weight yarn and incorporate two colors, so they should coordinate nicely!
Happy knitting!
Julianna
Love the look of this pattern. Do you think Super Soft Merino would work or would it be too thick? Thanks
Hi Dana,
Thanks so much for the kind words! This pattern is written for a sport weight yarn, which is much thinner than Super Soft Merino, but you could modify to use a heavier yarn if you wish, and Super Soft Merino looks fantastic in Fisherman’s Rib! I would suggest knitting a gauge swatch in the round and in pattern on US 11 needles. You can then multiply your stitches per inch by 57 and round to the nearest even number to determine how many stitches to cast on.
I hope that helps, and happy knitting!
Julianna
Hi there – I really want to make this and order your Cotton Pure yarn. What colors do you suggest that would be semi neutral? I tend to make green or grey things, but am willing to branch out. Just can’t make a decision on the website!
Hi Karla,
Thanks for reaching out! I’m happy to suggest a few neutral-leaning color combos! Carbon Black and Natural Flax would be an exciting contrast with pleasant warm undertones, or you could combine Gray Birch and Gray Shale for a cooler, somewhat more subtle look. Gray Birch and Linden Green would also be lovely together, although Linden Green is unfortunately out of stock at the moment. If you enter your email address on the product page, we will let you know as soon as we have it!
I hope that helps, and happy knitting!
Julianna
Hello,
Will the pink sand and egret white colors be restocked?
Thanks!
Hi Kim,
Thanks for reaching out! Unfortunately, we recently re-worked Cotton Pure and released an entirely new color palette, and the old colors, including Pink Sand and Egret White, will not be restocked. I’m so sorry about that! I would suggest using Beach Rose and Heirloom White from our current Cotton Pure colors to get as close as you can to the original colors of this cowl!
Best,
Julianna
Hello,
I am several inches into this pattern. I’m using the same yarn (first purchase from Purl SoHo and loving it) and the correct needles. However mine is looking much looser than it does in your photos above. I feel like I’m even trying to knit a bit extra tightly, but it looks very loose and stretchy. Am I doing something wrong?
Hi Jenelle,
Thanks for writing in! It sounds like your gauge might be too loose! Everyone knits somewhere on a spectrum from very loose to very tight, and it doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with how you knit if you are a loose knitter, but you might need to knit the cowl on a smaller needle to get the same results we did. I would suggest reading our new All About Gauge tutorial to learn the hows and whys of getting the correct gauge, and comparing your stitches per inch on the section of the cowl you have completed to our gauge of 16 stitches per 4 inches to see if you need to adjust your needle size!
I hope that helps, and happy knitting!
Julianna
I would like to try and knit this but would 36” circular needles work for this? If so, how many stitches would I need to cast on to adjust? Thank you!
Hi Michelle,
Thanks for reaching out! A 36″ circular needle should be fine for this pattern, the stitches may be closer together on the needles but you don’t necessarily need to adjust the cast on unless you want a smaller dimension for the scarf overall (in that case the pattern works over a multiple of even stitches.)
All the best,
Gianna
Thank you!!
Hi – I’m looking for contrast suggestions for Rosy Red. What would you suggest?
Hi Mary,
Thanks for reaching out! Rosy Red is such a pretty color, and there are a few options I would suggest going with for a contrasting color! I would recommend pairing it with Beach Rose, Peach Peony, or even Silver Quartz!
I hope this helps and please let me know which color you end up going with! Happy knitting!
Gianna
Hi there!
Novice knitter and have to purchase all the tools necessary for this project. I see that the Cotton Pure yarn colors have changed. I’m interested in using a natural color combination like Heirloom White and Warm Rock but am afraid there won’t be enough contrast between the two for this. Could you please offer your suggestion? If they wouldn’t work together, is there another yarn I can use that has more color options? Thank you!!
Hi Chelsea,
Thanks for your question!
I think Heirloom White and Warm Rock would make for a lovely, neutral two-tone cowl! These colors work great together but, like you said, there wouldn’t be a huge amount of contrast. If you’re looking for more contrast, I would suggest our Good Wool, which we just launched in an all new dyed color palette! Good Wool comes in many natural colors as well and I think Heirloom White and Walking Stick or Hickory Nut would look wonderful.
With any yarn substitutions, it’s always a great idea to do a swatch to make sure your gauge is consistent with the pattern. We’ve got a guide on that called All About Gauge in case you’d like to learn more!
I hope this was helpful! Have a great day!
All the best,
Cat
This was very helpful! Thank you so much, Cat! I really appreciate your thorough response, and of course, your suggestions. I can’t wait to pick some yarn out and get started. I hope you have a great day as well! 🙂
Can I use combination knitting with this pattern (western knit, eastern purl)? I thought it made sense because in order to purl one below you sort of have to work into the back of the loop to avoid twisting the purls. I’ve done a few rows and thought one side looked a little wonky, but I might just need to trust the process. Thanks!
Hi Avery!
Thank you so much for your unique idea! Combined knitting is a great way to enhance this pattern, and it would make your cowl shine extra bright!
You can trust the process like you said, but if you’re not too far along already we’d recommend making a smaller swatch of this pattern in the round so you can get a quicker idea of how much you like it or not. All you need is some scrap yarn and an even number of stitches as you cast on again!
Another important factor to keep in mind is how much your gauge might change if you alternate your knitting. The ribbed section of this cowl might be a little tighter for example, so a smaller swatch would save you more time in figuring out what looks best in the long run.
Thanks again for bringing a new perspective to this pattern!
Best,
Margaret
Could I use season alpaca and mulberry merino?
Hi Carol,
Since this pattern was originally designed for a different sportweight yarn, you could absolutely use Season Alpaca and/or Mulberry Merino! Just be sure to double check your gauge before beginning. Animal fiber yarns often require a different needle size to achieve the same gauge as a cotton yarn.
All the best,
Lili
I’m trying the pattern with two colors and my second color seems to “peek” through in some places – I don’t seem to get the nice defined ribs. What am I doing wrong?
Hi Deanna,
Thanks for reaching out, although I’m sorry to hear that your stitches aren’t coming out as expected! The issue might be due to your gauge. If your gauge is on the loose side, the stitches will appear less defined and with more space in between, allowing the other color to show through. I’d recommend double checking your gauge measurements and decreasing your needles size if necessary!
If you’re still running into issues though, I’d suggest sending a photo of your work so far to [email protected]. That way, we’ll be able to visualize exactly what’s going on!
All the best,
Lili
If I was to do some rows in the MC because I have more of it, do I need to knit per the pattern or just keep repeating what is stated for Round 1 until I want to incorporate the CC?
Hi Alexandra,
Great question! You’ll need to work both rounds as written before adding in the contrast color. Hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
Question regarding the amount of yarn because I purchased a different kind of yarn that has silk, cashmere, and merino in it. I was wondering whether the amount of yarn required for this includes a swatch?
Thank you in advance!
Hi Tamara,
Thanks for writing in! All of our yardage requirements include a 10% buffer to account for swatching and/or slightly short skeins. You can also undo your swatch and use that yarn to finish up your project if you find you’re running short. But I wouldn’t worry about that!
All the best,
Lili