Newsprint Cowl
You may think of stockinette as so basic it’s boring, but think again! Stockinette has many surprises up its sleeve, including the beauty of its “wrong” side. Sometimes ignored for its sleeker knit stitch counterpart, the purl side has the advantage of texture: nubbly and rustic, tactile and fascinating!
For our Newsprint Cowl, we pushed this texture even further by adding stripes, so those purl bumps turn into blips of color like printed words across a page. And when the knit side folds over, as it’s bound to do, the contrast is far from boring!
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!
To achieve the subtle effect of printed words, we used our light and lovely Line Weight. It’s also as soft as can be and just the right weight for fall, winter, and spring! -Michele Wang
P.S. Michele Wang is an amazing knit designer and good friend to Purl Soho. Be sure to check out her new book of patterns, Capsule Winter 2017, and thank you, Michele, for contributing this original design here! -The Purl Soho team
UPDATE: NOW IN LINE WEIGHT + QUARTZ
OCTOBER 2022
We updated our Newsprint Cowl, alternating between two of our favorite fingering weight yarns: Line Weight, a single-ply 100% merino as light as air and cloud-soft, and Quartz, a sumptuous mix of 65% merino wool and 35% suri alpaca, which adds a bit of texture and a lovely halo to the fabric. Choose the Newsprint Cowl Bundle that jumps off the page for you!
Designed for Purl Soho by Michele Wang.
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoNewsprintCowl, and #PurlSohoLineWeight. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
- Main Color (MC): 1 skein of Purl Soho’s Line Weight, 100% merino wool yarn. Each skein of this fingering weight yarn is 494 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 494 yards required. We used Wheat Flour.
- Contrast Color (CC): 1 skein of Line Weight. Each skein is 494 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 240 yards required. We used Soft Black.
- US 4 (3.5 mm), 32-inch circular needles
We love Wheat Flour and Soft Black for their classic “newsprint” look, but here are some other equally pretty color ideas…
Main Color: Heirloom White (left) + Contrast Color: Kiln Red (right)
Main Color: Honey Pink (left) + Contrast Color: Super Pink (right)
Main Color: Dove Gray (left) + Contrast Color: Trout Brown (right)
Gauge
24 stitches and 35 rounds = 4 inches in stockinette stitch
Size
Finished dimensions: 12 inches high and 58 inches in circumference
Notes
The purl side of this Cowl is considered the right side, but you will make the Cowl with the wrong side facing you. This is so that most of your stitches will be easier knits rather than more difficult purls.
Because the wrong side is facing you, when you carry up the yarns for striping, be sure to twist them on the side facing you, aka the knit stitch side of the Main Body.
For more tips on carrying up yarn, please visit our Stripes in the Round Tutorial, but keep in mind that this tutorial carries the yarn up the backside of the work. The concept is the same, but again, here, you’ll carry the yarn up the front of the work!
Pattern
Begin + Work Trim
With Main Color (MC), use a Long Tail Cast On to cast on 348 stitches.
Place a marker and join for working in the round, being careful to not twist the stitches.
Rounds 1-4: With MC, purl to end of round.
Work Main Body
Round 1: With CC, knit to end of round.
Rounds 2 and 3: With MC, knit to end of round. (See Notes, above, for tips on where and how to carry up the yarn for striping.)
Repeat Rounds 1-3 until piece measures about 11 ½ inches from cast-on edge.
Cut CC yarn.
Next Round: With MC, knit to end of round.
Work Trim
Rounds 1-4: With MC, purl to end of round.
Bind off all stitches purlwise.
Weave in the ends and gently block your Newsprint Cowl!
LEARN ABOUT LINE WEIGHT + ALL OUR BEAUTIFUL YARNS
Line Weight is a lovely choice for this project because it is sumptuously soft with a subtle luster. A lithe single ply of 100% merino wool, this fingering-weight yarn knits up into a smooth fabric that blooms beautifully when you hand wash it. Enjoy 494 yards of beautiful knitting with every 100-gram skein and choose from over 20 riveting colors!
More Free Knitting Patterns
- Be sure to explore our collection of (mostly free!) Line Weight patterns and cast on!
More Fingering-Weight Yarns
- Shop our entire collection of fingering-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 Fibers
- Shop merino wool 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!
Thank you for sharing this pattern! It’s beautiful and Lineweight is one of my favorite yarns.
I am a new knitter and this seems to be a perfect second project that will make me look like a pro (I hope). Thank you for the pattern!
This is really beautiful.
Can you share stitch # and any other details to use this to make a scarf? My husband would LOVE the texture of this but will not wear a cowl.
Please and thank you!
Natalie
Hi Natalie,
Thanks for writing in! You could modify this to make a scarf. We have a wrap pattern with a similar look, our Ticking Stripes Wrap. I would suggest looking at that pattern and using it’s cast on number of 490 stitches to get a good length scarf. Please note that if you cast on and knit the wrong side rows and purl the right side rows, you will encounter a good deal of curling. You could use the technique that we used for the Ticking Stripes Wrap or you could add an applied i cord around the edges of your finished scarf to prevent the curling.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Thank you for another classic beauty! I love the subtle color combinations that could be created with this cowl.
Julie
Hi, in South Africa we heading towards winter. The winters used to short and quite mild, especially in the Highveld, but of late the winter has lengthened a bit. We get an annual average of between eight and ten hours of sunshine, but the nights can be very cold, even below zero. The Newsprint Cowl is just the right stuff. The hugging softness is just perfect. I wonder if I can get the very type wool.This is the time when we are the envy of the coastals. Durban with hot and humid weather and Cape Town their days are cold wet. Bring your newly knitted cowls and let’s enjoy winter together.
Does anyone have tips to successfully casting on #348 stitches and not having any ‘twistsx’ along the way??? HELP!! Love the pattern, and terrified….too easy to ruin a great pattern and even better cowl!!
Hi Carol,
Thanks for the question! I understand the anxiety with casting on that many stitches and not wanting them to twist. I suggest you cast on your 348 stitches and lay your circular needle on a flat surface. Make sure the stitches reach all the way around the cord, from tip to tip of the needles. Your cast on should look like a knitted edge and you’ll want to have this edge face the center of your cord all the way around the cast on. If your cast on looks like this, you should be good to carefully pick up your work and join in the round. Best of luck!
-Adam
Another way is to NOT join into the round for the first few rows and then join when it is much easier to see the ‘direction’ of the stitches. The small gap resulting from the unjointed stitches in the first few rounds can be easily stitched together using the cast on tail.
Hi Megan,
Great thought! This method can certainly be helpful for those long cast ons. I am sure that our other readers will appreciate your insight!
Best,
Cassy
Hi Carol,
You can also use old fashioned clothes pins (mini-sized) to attach to your cast on edge every few inches to keep it from twisting. You can find them on Amazon.com.
Love this pattern!
I have done it this way, with the added step of pinning it to my ironing board to make sure everything stays in place while I get that joining stitch knitted. Just stab straight pins into the ironing board cover, leaving enough room near the needle tips to work the join.
I just had this exact problem – with 348 stitches on a 32″ needle there was no way to lay it flat – the stitches all bunched up and curled around. I got a five rows in and realized it was twisted which was impossible to tell because it was so bunched up. With a circumference of 58″ would it be better to use longer needles? I did a practice gauge so I that wasn’t an issue.
Hello Lauren,
Thank you for reaching out! You can certainly go up in cord length, you will just want to make sure that your stitches aren’t stretched out as you knit. I wouldn’t go up to more than 40″. I will also say that once you get past the first few rows it does become much easier to navigate.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Thanks so much – I got a 36″ needle and *thought* I had succeeded but somehow they were twisted again. Glad to know they will straighten out once you get a few rows in, I haven’t gotten past the fourth row yet and because the knitting bunches up and gets so curly it is hard to keep track if it is twisted or not. I am going to try again maybe using the suggestion to pin it down to an ironing board. I have never had this problem before so I have been getting so frustrated!
Hi Lauren,
It certainly is frustrating to find a twist in your knitting! I find it helpful to knit the first round before joining since it will be easier to see a twist around the needle when you have something a bit more substantial than just the cast on, and you can close up any gap when weaving in the tail of the cast on. I also like to do one last check after I have completed the first round after joining, because if there is a twist, you can still untwist it at this point when there is only a strand or two of yarn joining the cowl together without creating a too-obvious lump or bunchy area!
I hope that helps and your cowl cooperates this time!
Julianna
Is it possible to make this pattern as a scarf?
My granddaughter liked the pattern for her boyfriend. If so suggested number of stitches to
cast on… thanks
Hi Elaine,
Thanks for writing in! You could modify this to make a scarf. We have a wrap pattern with a similar look, our Ticking Stripes Wrap. I would suggest looking at that pattern and using it’s cast on number of 490 stitches to get a good length scarf. Please note that if you cast on and knit the wrong side rows and purl the right side rows, you will encounter a good deal of curling. You could use the technique that we used for the Ticking Stripes Wrap or you could add an applied i cord around the edges of your finished scarf to prevent the curling.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Beautiful and conveniently I have two skeins of line weight in my stash just waiting for a project!
I have a couple of skeins of Linen Quill. Is that okay as a substitute? And I have only a 24″ circular needle….will I have room for all those stitches or should I decrease, maybe by 50 or so?
Thanks for your help…I love your site!
Hi Eugenie,
Thanks for the question! Linen Quill is a great substitute for this pattern! Also, a 24″ cord might squish the stitches a bit but you can certainly try to cast on the 348 stitches. I think it’ll work out fine. Thanks!
-Adam
Love this pattern. The simplicity is stunning.
I love this–so simple and so effective! Will definitely be adding it to my queue. I love line weight and especially projects like these that take a while but are so satisfying and enjoyable (once you get past the cast-on!). Thanks for another great project.
what is the yardage of Purl Soho Line weight yarn?
Hi Mary,
Thanks for writing in! Our Line Weight comes in skeins that have 494 yards!
Best,
Cassy
Can you please describe in a bit more detail the way in which one carries the two yarns up the’ knit’, i.e. the ‘wrong’ side of the work? Knitting every round means that the working yarn is always in the back of the work. I don’t understand how the yarns get twisted and carried on the front. Many thanks!
Hi Jane,
Thanks for the question! Take a look at our stripes in the round tutorial for details on how to change colors in the round. Hope this helps!
-Adam
i am struggling with this also – i don’t understand how to twist on the wrong (stockinette) side. i read the tutorial a couple of times. any help will be appreciated – thank you!!
Hi Gail,
Thanks for writing in! To twist the 2 yarns in the front, you will bring both yarns to the front and twist them together one turn and then pick up the color that you will be using for the next round. I would suggest trying this on a small swatch until you get the hang of it and like the look of twist.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Hi, do you have any idea how much of each skein this pattern uses? I’m thinking of making more than one, and want to get a sense for how much yarn I need to buy. The pattern is really cute – can’t wait to get started on it!
Hi Gretchen,
Thanks for writing in! For this lovely cowl, we used roughly 350 yards of the main color and 320 yards of the contrast color.
Best,
Cassy
Thank you so much!
This yardage doesn’t seem right. For every round of CC, there are two rounds of MC, thus it would stand to reason that the amount of CC used is about half of the MC yardage (not including the beginning and ending trim which is also in CC). I think you could make two cowls with 2 skeins of MC and 1 of CC.
Hi Katie,
Thanks for writing in! And thank you for voicing your concern! We have made some updated estimates based on the sample. We now would suggest 450 yards of the main color and 200 yards of the contrast color.
Thank you again for your keen eye!
Cassy
Could I substitute Line Weight for your Cotton Pure yarn and do you think the stitch count needs to be adjusted? Thanks!
Hi Linda,
Thanks for the question! The Cotton Pure yarn is not the same gauge as the Line Weight, so you can only use the Cotton Pure if you change the cast on number. Best of luck and happy knitting!
-Adam
What a perfect project to knit up while confined to the sofa for six weeks with a broken leg! Supplies arrived quickly. Beautiful yarn. No stitches to count (after casting on) and it’s a simple, attractive pattern. I know I’ll wear this for years. Very satisfying to knit a cowl while my tibia knits itself back together again!
TWO ??S
1. So 58″ inches mean I assume you double this when you wear. Is it really long? Could I arbitrarily shorten? I am 5′ 1 and have very narrow shoulders
2. Could you just as easily use a 24″ long needle as long as you were careful to use stitch stoppers?
Hi Ann Marie,
Thanks for writing us! You can easily shorten the cowl to whatever length you desire — just cast on less stitches! Also, if you’d like to use a 24″ needle you can but the stitches might be squished based on how many you cast on.
All the best,
Adam
The rolled edge on your model looks thicker than I would expect from Line Weight (which I have used before). I like that heftier appearance. Did you double the yarn for the borders?
Hi Jeanne,
Thanks for the question. We held Line Weight single throughout this pattern.
-Adam
Thanks for this pattern, I’ve ordered the yarn and I’m looking forward to knitting it. I have a question about the cast-on though – is it necessary to use the long-tail method? I’ve never cast-on using that method and I was going to use the sling-shot method that you demonstrate in your tutorial, but measuring out three times the width of yarn seems like a lot, and I will probably make a mistake. Is there another cast-on method I could use? Would a cable cast-on give the same effect?
Thanks!
Hi Ashlyn,
Thanks for the question. You can use any cast on method you prefer for this cowl. With long cast ons I like to place a marker every 20-30 stitches so I don’t have to count again and again. We used the long tail cast on, but you can use a backward loop cast on, cable cast on, etc etc. Thanks again for taking the time to write in!
Adam
I would like to make this pattern into a stroller size baby blanket. Any advice on washable yarn and number of stitches to cast on?
Hi Nancy,
Thanks for writing in! Given that this is written in the round, converting it to a flat blanket would require quit a bit of work! We do have a pattern for a steeked blanket that has a similar look to this lovely cowl, the Learn-to-Love-Steeks Blanket. You could also convert our Ticking Stripes Wrap to a blanket by casting on fewer stitches and knitting it wider.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Thanks Cassy, what yarn would you recommend for a baby blanket?
Hi Nancy,
Thanks for writing in! You can use just about any yarn for a baby blanket. We have used our Worsted Twist, Mulberry Merino, Blue Sky Worsted Cotton and many more! If you would like to take a look through all of our blanket patterns, they can be found here: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/category/knit/knit-blankets/ If you are looking for a washable option, Anzula’s yarns are a great option as are the superwash options from Cascade.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
I have started this cowl twice only to discover that I have 1 twist the first time and 2 twists the second time. I have spent a month of trying to get it done right. I love the pattern but how can I get he look as I can’t seem to deal correctly with the cast on although I put the stitches on a separate needle then transferred them. Thank you for any suggestions. Bev
Hi Bev,
Thanks for writing in! I know how challenging it can be to cast on a large amount of stitches and join them in the round only to find that you have made an inadvertent twist. The technique that works best for me is to cast on all of the stitches, lay the needle down on a table and make sure that each stitch is properly oriented. I then, very carefully, join in the round and knit on. This technique always works for me. It takes a bit of time but I find that it is worth it in the end.
Best,
Cassy
I knit left-handed and find purl stitches much easier (and faster!). Can I reverse the purl rows at the beginning to knit and then purl the body of the work? I am afraid there is a problem I am not aware of?
Thanks in advance for your advice!
Hello Beth,
Thank you for your question. I don’t see why not. The reason it is mostly knit stitches is to make it easier and faster so if Purl stitches are easier and faster for you – go for it! The only thing to note is to make sure you are carrying your yarn up on the knit side (wrong side).
Happy knitting,
Marilla
Hi I would like to knit this for someone who thinks wool is too itchy! I was looking at cashmere or cashmere blends – can you recommend a yarn that would be suitable substitute? Specifically, I was thinking about Jade Sapphire Cashmere Silk blend. the details are:
55% Silk/45% Cashmere Yarn 400 Yards / 55 Grams
Weight/Gauge: Lace
Recommended needle: 2 – 4
Would this yarn be too fine? It’s half the weight of the line weight so worried about that. Many thanks!
Brenna
Hi Brenna,
Thanks for writing in! You can certainly substitute a thinner yarn here. You will need to cast on more stitches to get the same size. To determine your cast on number, knit a small gauge swatch, count your stitches per inch and then multiply that number by 58 inches and that will be your cast on number!
Happy knitting!
Cassy
Can I knit the newsprint cowl with Berroco Folio yarn? If so what size needles should I use?
Hello Sheila,
Thank you for writing in! The first thing I would do is knit a gauge swatch. For this project we used a fingering weight yarn and got a gauge of 24 stitches per 4 inches in stockinette stitch with size US4 needles. The needles you use will be determined by the weight/gauge of your yarn. I hope this is helpful. Let me know if you have any further questions!
-Marilla
Thank you very much for this and all patrons.
I am weaving this neck with a mix very similar to the one recommended. I did the sample and got the measurements they have by quantity of turns. From my result I can tell you that it is obvious that you need 300 gr and not 200 gr.
Hello Alicia,
Thanks for writing in! The sample in our shop weighs approximately 125 grams. We used about 420 yards of the main color and 220 yards of the contrast color. What type of yarn are you using? Are you using US4/3.5mm needles? I hope I can help!
Warmly,
Marilla
I’d like to knit this with jade sapphire’s silk and cashmere 2 ply (for someone who thinks all wool is itchy). Should I use a double strand or simply go down a few needle sizes with this yarn? I knit a swatch with size 4 needles and it seemed way too loose and sloppy looking.
Hello Brenna,
Thanks for reaching out! This cowl will be beautiful in Cashmere. Before going down a needle size I would be sure to block your gauge swatch. If the texture remains to loose I would go down in needle size.
I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any further questions.
-Marilla
I have the choice of a 29″ or a 36″ circular needle. Which would you recommend?
Hi Rachel,
Thanks for writing in! I think that either needle would work well for this project. I would probably use the 36″ needle myself. When working in the round, it is best to choose a needle that is smaller than the finished circumference so that the stitches are not stretched. With a circumference of 58″, I think that the 36″ needle would be quite comfortable!
Best,
Cassy
Curious about how much of the yarn is used in one cowl–for example would double the yarn make 3 cowls?
Hi Judith,
Thanks for writing in! For this lovely cowl, we would suggest 450 yards of the main color and 200 yards of the contrast color. If you were to purchase 2 skeins of the main color and 1 color of the contrast color, you could make 2 cowls as you use most of the skein of the main color and a little less than half of the skein of the contrast color.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
I live in the Deep South . Any suggestions for a different yarn in black and white that would be less warm?
Hi Sonia,
Thanks for the question. We think this would look lovely in both Linen Quill and Cattail Silk, for a lighter cowl!
Hope this helps!
Kindly,
Anna
Is the colour kiln red more orange than red ?
Thank-you.
Hi Kathleen,
Thanks for writing in! I would say that Kiln Red is far more red than orange. I would call it a red with a slightly orangey cast.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Would you please translate The Newsprint Cowl as if making a shawl? I do not like anything around my neck but love the thought of it as as shawl.
Thanking you in advance.
K. Hardy
Hello Karen,
Thank you for reaching out! You could certainly make this into a shaw. I would suggest looking at our Ticking Stripe Wrap as a guide.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
Rows 1-3 are knit rows, thus making it purple on both sides. But from words and picture you say it’s knit on one side and purled on the other. The directions are confusing.
Hi Ani,
Thanks for writing in! I think that I see where the confusion is happening. When knitting in the round, as with this lovely cowl, if you knit every round, you will have one side with a knit texture and one side with a purl texture. IF you were to alternate between knit rows and purl rows when knitting the round, the effect would be garter stitch or purl texture on each side.
I hope that this clears things up!
Cassy
I commented about a discrepancy about the pattern, I’ve since realized my mistake in how I was interpreting the patten. Ani
So if I’m correct the long tail cast on would be 14 feet long??
Hi Maura,
Thanks for writing back! You have it spot on! 14 feet should do the trick!
Best,
Cassy
I loved working on this pattern and just finished my cowl. But I’m terribly disappointed in the way it rolls into a narrow curl from both sides to the middle. HELP! How can I get it to lay flatter and not look like a tube. I have “gently” sprayed and blocked it to dimension twice but it is still has a tube look.
Hi Janet,
I think fully submerging this piece in warm water and then laying it flat should do the trick!
Best,
Carly
Nope.. fully submerging doesn’t work.. it rolls into a tube with the wrong side out immediately after blocking.. very disappointing.. do you think a 1×1 rib on the edge would make a flat edge??
Hi Pati,
Is the entire cowl rolling into a tube or just the edges? If only the edges are giving you a problem I would say that knitting a ribbed edge could be helpful. If the entire cowl is rolled up it might help to knit the cowl taller so that it isn’t so thin and then giving it a wet block.
Let me know how it works out!
Carly
Yes the entire cowl rolls. It was pretty wide, 12″ wide and it still rolled into a tube. So, I made another smaller one with 3 rows of garter stitch on the edges instead of the 4 rows of purl. It still rolled… only thing that worked was sewing the cast on edges together with the wrong sides together so it doubles the thickness of scarf. It’s still very soft and comfortable and at least the stripes show which is why I liked the pattern in the first place!
Hi, I love the look of this cowl. I recently bought some alpaca yarn that I’d love to use on this but the yarn is worsted weight (thought it looks/feels more like DK weight to me). Of course I know I’ll have to to swatch and change the number of stitches but how do you think this would look with WW/DK weight yarn? Thanks!
Hello Kathy,
Thank you for writing in! I have not seen this project done in a worsted weight yarn, but think this cowl could look lovely in a heavier yarn. I would recommend knitting up a gauge swatch in the round to see if you like the look.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
I followed the pattern and it ended up significantly longer (instead of 58 inches it’s maybe 68?) … What did I do!
I have been knitting for 26 years -___-
This is not my first rodeo.
Hi Ben,
I’m wondering if you checked your gauge or substituted the recommended yarn?
Best,
Carly
Hello! Question…I have accidentally started with a knit stitch for the first four rounds. I am not as comfortable with pearl stitching so I was curious if continuing the pattern in a knit stitch throughout would cause the scarf to curl? Is it best to start over? Perhaps pearl the CC for four rounds to help the scarf lay flat?
Thank you,
Hello Meg,
Thank you for writing us! I have certainly been there before… Unfortunately, you are correct, without the border your cowl will be much more likely to curl. Since you are still so close to the beginning of the scarf I would recommend starting over.
Let us know if you have any further questions and happy knitting!
-Marilla
if I am casting on 348 stitches, how long is the piece of yarn ?
Hi Susan,
Thanks for writing in! If you are using a long tail cast on, the general rule of thumb is that you want a tail that is 3 times as long as your cast on. For this lovely cowl, the cast on circumference is 58″ so you would want a tail of 174″ to ensure that you have enough of a tail!
Best,
Cassy
Thank you for this beautiful pattern. I’m looking forward to knitting along with my knitting buddy. i have a question with casting on. can I use a different method? Will single cable cast on work or long tail is the best for this project? If with long tail, how long of a tail for 348 stitches? sorry…too many questions. I’m just afraid i won’t nave enough long tail that i would have to start all over.
Hello Mai,
Thank you for reaching out! I hear you, it is always so frustrating to run out yarn at the end of a cast on. I find that when using the long tail cast on a good rule of thumb is to use three times the width of your project. If you use this method you should have enough!
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
How would this be worked on 10/12 (6.5mm) needles? Many thanks, in advance.
Hello Gandalf,
Thanks for writing! This scarf is designed to be knit with a fingering weight on a size 4(3.5mm) needle, so if you are interested in knitting it on a size US10 you would need to go up to a bulky weight yarn and reduce your cast on number. This will change the look of the cowl quite a bit, so I would recommend knitting up a little gauge swatch before jumping in!
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
I asked this question incorrectly before and so this time I am asking if the cowl is 58 inches in circumference, then you must be doubling it around the neck, correct?
My cowl came out 10 shorter? Perhaps my gauge was off. It is a gorgeous cowl when knit up. So the cowl is doubled around the neck correct? thank you
Hello Marjorie,
Thank you for reaching out- I’m so happy to hear you are enjoying your cowl! You are correct, This cowl is designed to be wrapped around your neck twice.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
Love the cowl only want around my neck once, what would be my cast on number using this same yarn. Thxs
Hello Joni,
Thank you for reaching out! I would reccomend knitting up a cowl with a circumference of 24″. To do this you will need to cast on 144 stitches.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
I have done the 4 purl rows – but I do not know how to do stripes – have not done them. I read the tutorial – and looked on u-tube , nothing is making any sense to me. Any other ideas?
Hi Tammy,
Thanks for reaching out! Knitting stripes is really much easier than it seems! At this point, you will bring the tail of your main color to the front of the work (but don’t cut it!) and simply start knitting with your new color. After you have knitted one row with the contrast color, you will again bring the tail of the contrast color to the front, move the main color to the back, and start knitting with the main color for two rounds. Continue in this manner, bringing your old color forward and moving your new color back every time you switch, and you should have nice tidy stripes!
I hope that helps!
Julianna
With the colour twists all on the outside, once you put the cowl on and twist it for a second loop around the neck, parts of both sides are showing – as in your photos. This means that some of the colour twists will be showing too, it’s inevitable.
Part 2 of comment: wondering if switching the colour twists to the INSIDE for the second half of the cowl, will help avoid most of them being seen, especially as the transition area will likely be where one twists the cowl?
Hi Natasha,
Thanks for reaching out! You are correct that it is possible the line of twisted yarn could be visible when the cowl is worn; however, since it is in just one spot, it’s very easy to arrange the cowl so that the “seam” is on the bottom layer facing in and is unlikely to be seen. Even if you do work half the cowl so your twists are on the right side, you will still see a color jog in the stripes from switching colors so the wrong side still won’t look totally perfect, and you would have to carefully arrange and wrap the cowl so that only the correct parts are showing. I think it will be easier to put on the cowl so that the beginning of the rounds is at the back of your neck, and then twist and put on the second loop so it covers up that spot.
I hope that clears things up!
Julianna
Can I use the lovely season alpaca yarn instead? If so how many skeins would I need?
Hello Lucy,
Thank you for reaching out! Season Alpaca is a thicker yarn than Line Weight so it has a larger gauge. If you want it to come out to be the same size you would just go up in needle size and down in gauge. You will need two skeins for each color.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
I’m struggling to understand how to carry the yarn up the front/wrong side. I’ve watched the video of stripes in the round that is linked on this page over and over again and read and reread the comments that have some deeper explanations of how to do it, but after mainly failed attempts I still can’t seem to figure it out! I can’t find any other videos or mentions of this method out there either. Are there more detailed instructions on how to do this that someone could refer me to? Or better yet, is there a video? I I would reeeeeally appreciate it!
Also, is the jogless jog method recommended for this cowl?
Hi McKinzie,
Unfortunately, jogless stripes do not work with single row stripes, so that technique can’t be used for this pattern.
Best,
Julianna
Hi McKinzie,
Thanks for reaching out! I don’t know of another video showing how to do this, but hopefully I can explain it a little better! To keep the twist on the wrong side of this cowl, when you get to the end of each row, you will bring the old working yarn to the front, or knit side, of the work, and leave it there. The new color should already be at the front, so you will take it to the back, crossing it over the old color as you do, to start knitting. If you do this at the end of every row, you should end up with a tidy column of twisted yarn on the wrong side.
I hope that clears things up!
Julianna
Julianna,
That definitely helps! My only other question is what do I do on the second round of MC? Do I only do the carry when I change colors, or is there something I need to do on the second MC row?
Thank you so much!
Hi McKinzie,
Since the MC stripes are only two rows, you don’t have to do anything special – just keep knitting! If you were knitting four or more rows per stripe, it would be a good idea to twist your yarns together every two rows, but it’s not necessary for this project.
Best,
Julianna
I just finished the newsprint cowl and used the trim in the directions along the top and bottom to prevent curling. But my cowl curls. Can you suggest a fix for this? I have tried blocking it again but it still curls. I love the cowl and the feel of the yarn about my neck is wonderful, but the curling is frustrating and disappointing.
Hi Loraine,
Thanks for reaching out, and I’m so sorry that your cowl is curling up! Stockinette stitch does, by its very nature, tend to curl up into a tube, though usually in a piece this wide, wet blocking can help it lay quite flat. If you have only tried spray or steam blocking, I would recommend wet blocking with an extra long soak, since it holds much better than other methods of blocking.
I hope that helps!
Julianna
I just finished knitting this beautiful cowl and have not blocked it yet. The edges curl a lot. Should I wet block this or just try dry blocking and spraying with water. I am afraid this will never flatten out. Thanks for your help.
Hi Carol,
Thanks for reaching out! I would definitely recommend wet blocking this cowl – it has a much stronger effect on flattening out stockinette than spray blocking does!
Best,
Julianna
Could you recommend a different yarn, one that doesn’t have wool?
Hi Kathy,
Great question! I think Cattail Silk would be a lovely alternative for this cowl!
Best,
Julianna
If I don’t join for the first 2 rounds to reduce risk of twisting, do I still purl both rounds?
Hi Maura,
Great question! For the edging to turn out in reverse stockinette, you will need to knit the first row, purl the second row, and then join in the round and continue purling for the next two rows.
Happy knitting!
Julianna
Hi, can you tell me why comments are no longer available following knitting patterns? They are very useful when there is a question on a specific part of a pattern. Thanks, vickie
Hi Vickie,
Thanks for bringing this to our attention! We recently did a massive upgrade on our website, and we are still working out some of the kinks. Missing comments on some of the posts is one of them! Don’t worry, we still have all the comments, and our tech team is working on getting them back on the website.
In the meantime, is there anything I can help you with?
Best,
Oscar
Thank you, thank you! So glad to see comments back. Whenever I contemplate a new pattern the comment section is my go to after reading the pattern. They are so helpful in understanding whatever issues your customers may have and your wonderful responses in clearing up any problem are so clearly written. Thanks for all the wonderful free patterns, advice and beautiful pictures. Your site is so inspiring! Safety to all, Vickie
I love this cowl and purchased enough to make two. I made the first one and it rolled up terribly even after blocking. Any ideas as to how to prevent this?
Hi Mary,
Thanks for reaching out! To help prevent rolling along the edges I would recommend working the first and last row of the pattern a k1, p1 stitch and then wet blocking the piece after!
I hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
When you update the pattern, would you post the total amount of yarn needed to finish this scarf? I (very mistakenly) only bought one skein of each color from my local yarn store, not realizing it took over 500 yards! Perhaps a rookie mistake, but I only had the printed version with me when I was shopping! Thanks.
Hi Jennifer,
Thanks for reaching out and for the suggestion! With some of our older patterns we don’t have the resources to share the yardage required as we do for our newer patterns, but for this pattern luckily we know that we used approx: 450 yards of the Main Color and approx: 220 yards of the Contrasting Color for the sample! I will be sure to pass this along to the rest of the team to get the pattern adjusted!
Warmly,
Gianna
Can this Newsprint cowl be knitted on straight needles, not in the round? I’m not comfotrable knitting in the round.
Hi Mary Beth,
Thanks for reaching out! It is possible to make this cowl on straight needles but would need several changes, first, because the cowl is worked horizontally you cast on 348 stitches. If you work this flat it wouldn’t be possible to fit that many stitches onto straight needles so you would definitely need to use circular needles or change the pattern to to be worked vertically instead! But keep in mind working the cowl vertically instead of horizontally will completely change the look of the stripes! You would also need to keep in mind that the pattern is written for in the round so there are only instructions for working over the right side of the fabric and not the reverse, which working flat you would be working over both sides of the fabric.
I know that circular needles and working in the round can be very intimidating but it is actually very easy and some people find that it is more comfortable working with circular needles than straight needles!
I hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
HI. I really love this fabric, but have no need for a cowl. Do you think I could knit this as a blanket using the “flip-slid” technique to carry the alternating yarn?
Hi Mary,
Thanks for reaching out! I think you could certainly apply this stitch pattern and flip and slide technique to a blanket carrying up the alternating yarn!
I hope this helps and please let us know how this turns out!
Warmly,
Gianna
I cannot wear wool as I am allergic to it. What yarn would you suggest I use in this pattern instead of the suggested yarn/
Hi Mary Kay,
Thanks for reaching out. We designed this pattern using fingering weight yarns, so most of our other fingering weight yarns would work great! If you’d like to use a plant-based fiber, then I’d recommend Santolina or Picnic Cotton.
I also wanted to recommend some of our merino wool yarns. Merino fibers are so fine that they bend to the touch, rather than sticking up and scratching. Most people who are sensitive to normal wool do not have the same reaction to merino wool! If you’re open to trying a merino yarn, then I’d recommend Line Weight or Posy.
I hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
Hi there! I went to purchase Line Weight in Wheat Flour for this project and I’m not seeing it online; has that particular color been discontinued? How different is it from Heirloom White? Thanks!
Hi Kate,
Thanks so much for your question. I’m sad to share that we’ve discontinued Line Weight in Wheat Flour, so this color is no longer available. I’m so sorry about that! Heirloom White would definitely work for this pattern, too, and compared to Wheat Flour, Heirloom White is more of a light cream color rather than a warmer neutral shade.
If you’re interested, another one of our fingering weight yarns, Linen Quill, is available in Wheat Flour! You could definitely combine Line Weight with Linen Quill for this pattern as they’re both fingering weight to still get the original color palette featured in the pattern.
With any yarn substitutions, we also recommend doing a gauge swatch to make sure your gauge in the new yarn is consistent with the pattern. You might find that you need to adjust your needle size! Here’s our guide on swatching if you’d like more information: All About Gauge!
Hope this helps!
All the best,
Cat
I love the look of this. I’ve got leftover skeins of Line Weight in Dove Gray (two) and Fieldstone Gray (one). Will it look very different without the Quartz?
Hi Jane,
This cowl will work perfectly with two colors of Line Weight! It will have a slightly different texture without the Quartz, but it will still be lovely and soft.
All the best,
Lili
Love the modern simplicity of this pattern. How does the finished product result in 58 inch circumference on 32 inch needles? When I gauged my yarn I tried to cast on to achieve the circumference. I am overloading my needles. I’m a newb to these types of adjustments and would appreciate the advice.
Hi Tracy,
Hmmmmm, we found that all 348 of the cast-on stitches should fit on the circular needles, they’ll just be a bit squished together! Once you start knitting in the round, it should get easier to keep them on the needles though. But if you’re still having trouble, you could try 40- or 47-inch needles instead!
All the best,
Lili
Help! I have just finished knitting this wonderful cowl–however both the cast on row and the bind off row have caused the entire cowl to roll into itself. Will blocking help? Is there anything I can do to rectify this curl? Have any other people had this problem? I love the pattern and the wool I used. I just cannot get it flat!
Hi Donna,
Thank you for writing in! We are sorry to hear that this project is giving you trouble but we can confirm that blocking and pinning your project while drying will work wonders for curling. Please let us know if you have any other questions and we would be happy to take a deeper look!
Warmly,
Gavriella
Hello,
I wish you are still there.
I would like to knit the Newsprint Cowl which the wool you suggest : Line weight, Colors : Wheat flour and soft black. But in the color choices there is no color Weight Flour. Does it exist?
If not, can you suggest me a wool of the same quality witch is close and that will go well with the color soft black?
Thank you for you attention
Marie from Québec
Hi Marie,
Thank you for writing in! I’d suggest Reed Gray to pair wonderfully with Soft Black. I hope this helps but please let me know if you have any other questions!
All the best,
Gavriella
I have a couple of questions as I’m starting the pattern. I’ve cast on and stitched the first four rows, which are all purl, for the trim. The majority of the knitting (the body of the cowl) is all knit stitch? The patterns says it is stockinette, so I am just curious why the pattern has one knitting continuously until the pieces measures 11 1/2 inches but how does that make a stockinette stitch? Also, when carrying up the yarn, why are we carrying up the front of the work rather than the backside? It seems harder to do so and I’m just not understanding why this makes a difference for a cowl that doesn’t lay flat? Thanks for your guidance on this.
Hi Katie,
Stockinette stitch is when only knit stitches are visible on one side of the fabric. So since this is made in the round, you are to knit all stitches. We have included some of this in the notes section but I have also shared that below.
‘The purl side of this Cowl is considered the right side, but you will make the Cowl with the wrong side facing you. This is so that most of your stitches will be easier knits rather than more difficult purls.
Because the wrong side is facing you, when you carry up the yarns for striping, be sure to twist them on the side facing you, aka the knit stitch side of the Main Body.’
I hope this helps!
Happy knitting,
Gavriella