We aren’t shy about our love for mistake rib and have used this simple stitch to make a handful of scarves and cowls… but never in Gentle Giant. It turns out that this big, cozy single ply merino is just right for showing off the  beautiful texture of this stitch and that our Mistake Rib Cowl in Gentle Giant is a new mistake rib favorite!

Mistake Rib Cowl in Gentle Giant | Purl Soho

Peak and valley after peak and valley, when the mistake rib stitch and Gentle Giant get together, there’s no escaping a distinct texture and graphic look. This apparent complexity is created by simply working a 2 x 2 rib (knit 2, purl 2) that jogs over on alternating rows. Even a very beginner knitter can cast on for this one!

Mistake Rib Cowl in Gentle Giant | Purl Soho

Gentle Giant comes in 21 colors, including 6 new spunky ones, and it knits up at 1½ stitches to the inch. So, imagine how many of these beauties you can make before the holidays… A lot!

Mistake Rib Cowl in Gentle Giant | Purl Soho

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

Materials

Mistake Rib Cowl in Gentle Giant | Purl Soho
  • 5 skeins of Purl Soho’s Gentle Giant, 100% merino wool. Each skein is 48 yards/ 125 grams; approximately 240 yards required. We used White Peppercorn.
  • US 17 (12mm), 40- or 47-inch circular needles
  • A large stitch marker

Gauge

8 stitches and 11 rows = 4 inches in mistake rib, unstretched

Size

Finished Circumference: 56 inches, to wrap twice around neck
Finished Height: 11 inches

Note

Mistake rib in the round is worked over a multiple of 4 stitches.

Pattern

Using Long Tail Cast On, cast on 112 stitches.

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

Round 1: *K2, p2, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 2: P1, *k2, p2, repeat from * to last 3 stitches, k2, p1.

Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 until the piece measures 11 inches from the cast-on edge, or until the desired height.

Bind off loosely in stitch pattern.

Weave in the ends and lightly steam if desired.

Mistake Rib Cowl in Gentle Giant | Purl Soho