Our Wandering Cable Cowl unleashes cables from the confines of strict braided columns and allows them to roam free!

Wandering Cable Cowl | Purl Soho

Cables drift across this cowl in what-appear-to-be background, middle, and foreground layers. Highly dimensional and wonderfully quirky, on the wearer all these details meld into an overall impression of beautiful, classic cablework.

Wandering Cable Cowl | Purl Soho

Using our single-ply Super Soft Merino, these cables have a nice, chunky modernity and a very soft and cozy feel. And thanks to its bulky size, you’ll only need two skeins, so cast on and see where wandering cables might take you!

Wandering Cable Cowl | Purl Soho

Designed by Purl Soho designer, Jake Canton. Click here to see even more of Jake’s designs!

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

Materials

Wandering Cable Cowl | Purl Soho

Gauge

11 stitches and 14 rounds = 4 inches in stitch pattern

Size

  • Finished Circumference: 26 inches
  • Finished Height: 10 inches

Notes

Stitch Multiple

This pattern works over a multiple of 12 stitches.

Cables

NOTE: Slip slip stitches purlwise with yarn in back. And for more information about making cables, visit our Cable Tutorial. Although it shows a 4- or 6-stitch cable and this pattern uses 3- or 4-stitch ones, the technique is the same!

LC (Left Cross)

Slip 2 stitches onto cable stitch holder and hold in front of work, k1, then k2 from cable stitch holder.

RC (Right Cross)

Slip 1 stitch onto cable stitch holder and hold in back of work, k2, then k1 from stitch holder.

C4F (Cable 4 Front)

Slip 2 stitches onto stitch holder and hold in front of work, k2, then k2 from stitch holder.

C4B (Cable 4 Back)

Slip 2 stitches onto cable stitch holder and hold in back of work, k2, then k2 from cable stitch holder.\

Pattern

Ribbing

Using a basic Long Tail Cast-On, cast on 72 stitches.

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

Set-Up Rounds 1-3: *K2, p2, repeat from * to end of round.

Cabling

Round 1: *K2, p2, LC (see Notes), RC (see Notes), p2, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 2: *K2, p3, k4, p3, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 3: *LC, p2, C4B (see Notes), p3, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 4: *P1, k2, p2, k4, p3, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 5: *P1, LC, RC, LC, p2, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 6: *P2, k4, p2, k2, p2, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 7: *P2, C4F (see Notes), p2, LC, p1, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 8: *P2, k4, p3, k2, p1, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 9: *P1, RC, LC, p2, k2, p1, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 10: *P1, k2, p2, k2, p2, LC, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 11: *RC, p2, LC, p2, k2, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 12: *K2, p4, k2, p2, k2, repeat from * to last 12 stitches, k2, p4, k2, p2, slip 2 purlwise with yarn in back.

Round 13: Remove end of round marker, slip last 2 stitches from previous round back to left needle, C4B with last 2 stitches of Round 12 and first 2 stitches of this round, placing end of round marker in center of cable, *p4, k2, p2, C4B, repeat from * to last 10 stitches, p4, k2, p2, k2.

Round 14: *K2, p4, k2, p2, k2, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 15: *LC, p3, LC, RC, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 16: *P1, k2, p4, k4, p1, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 17: *P1, k2, p4, C4F, p1, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 18: *P1, LC, p3, k4, p1, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 19: *P2, k2, p2, RC, LC, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 20: *P2, k2, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 21: *P2, LC, RC, p2, k2, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 22: Remove end of round marker, p1, replace end of round marker, *p2, k4, p3, LC, repeat from * to end of round.
NOTE: The final LC uses the first purl stitch from this round.

Round 23: *P2, C4B, p4, k2, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 24: *P2, k4, p4, k2, repeat from * to last 12 stitches, p2, k4, p4, place new end of round marker.
NOTE: Do not knit last 2 knit stitches of this round. They will be knit in the first LC of the next round.

Round 25: LC, removing old end of round marker, *RC, LC, p3, LC, repeat from * to last 9 stitches, RC, LC, p3.

Round 26: *P1, k4, p2, k2, p3, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 27: *P1, C4F, p2, k2, p3, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 28: *P1, k4, p2, LC, p2, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 29: *RC, LC, p2, k2, p2, repeat from * to end of round.

Ribbing

Rounds 1-3: *K2, p2, repeat from * to end of round.

Loosely bind off in stitch pattern.

Weave in ends and lightly steam.

Wandering Cable Cowl | Purl Soho