Thorns and knitting may not traditionally be friends, but just look at the beautiful maze of brambles that thorn stitch makes… more field of feathers than briar patch!

Thorn Stitch Cowl | Purl Soho

And when you double wrap this Thorn Stitch Cowl around your neck, you’ll really understand that the only sharp thing about it is the way it looks!

Thorn Stitch Cowl | Purl Soho

Knit up in our brand new Understory, a blend of 50% baby alpaca, 25% baby yak, and 25% silk, the resulting fabric is decidedly lightweight, keeping you warm without weighing you down.

Thorn Stitch Cowl | Purl Soho

Every color in the Understory palette is cold-weather worthy. Here, Willow Bark conjures the raw beauty of wintertime woods: spare trees, silver-y pods, and the life-giving leaf layer on the forest floor.

Thorn Stitch Cowl | Purl Soho

A simple 8-round stitch pattern, the Thorn Stitch Cowl is designed to interest, but not frustrate, you. It’s wonderful for getting in the rhythm, and in the end, it’s a stunner!

Thorn Stitch Cowl | Purl Soho

This project designed for Purl Soho by Jamila Modeste.

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


Materials

Thorn Stitch Cowl | Purl Soho
  • 4 skeins of Purl Soho’s Understory, 50% baby alpaca, 25% baby yak, and 25% silk. Each skein is 250 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 800 yards required. We used the color Willow Bark. (NOTE: We no longer offer Understory, but choose from one of our other light worsted/dk weight yarns.)
  • US 6 (4mm), 40-inch circular needles


Gauge

22 stitches and 32 rows = 4 inches in thorn stitch


Size

Finished Height: 15 inches

Finished Circumference: 56 inches


Notes

Slip all stitches purlwise with yarn in back, unless otherwise indicated.

This stitch pattern is worked over a multiple of four stitches.


Pattern

Using a Long Tail Cast On, cast on 308 stitches.

Place a stitch marker and join for working in the round, being careful to not twist the stitches.

Foundation Round: Knit.

Round 1: *Into next stitch [k1, yarn over (yo), k1], k3, repeat from * to end of round. [462 stitches]

Round 2: *Slip 3 (see Note above), k3, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 3: Remove stitch marker, slip 1, place stitch marker on right needle, slip 1, ssk, k1, *k2tog, slip 1, ssk, k1, repeat from * to last 2 stitches, k2tog. [308 stitches]

Round 4: K2, slip 1, *k3, slip 1, repeat from * to last stitch, k1.

Round 5: K2, *into next stitch [k1, yo, k1], k3, repeat from * to last 2 stitches, into next stitch [k1, yo, k1], k1. [462 stitches]

Round 6: K2, *slip 3, k3, repeat from * to last 4 stitches, slip 3, k1.

Round 7: K1, *k2tog, slip 1, ssk, k1, repeat from * to last 5 stitches, k2tog, slip 1, ssk. [308 stitches]

Round 8: *Slip 1, k3, repeat from * to end of round.

Repeat Rounds 1-8 until piece measures 14¾ inches from cast-on edge, or until desired height.

Knit 1 round.

Bind off knitwise.

Weave in ends and gently block.

Thorn Stitch Cowl | Purl Soho