In the pantheon of classics we think our Classic Cowl is right at home. Like the little black dress and the camel trench coat, cowls have worked their way onto the shortlist of wardrobe staples.

Classic Cowl | Purl Soho

I paired this pattern with another near-newbie, Purl Soho’s wonderfully soft, beautifully plied Worsted Twist. Knit in a never-boring neutral, Wheat Flour, and in a never-boring stitch pattern, Fluffy Brioche, our Classic Cowl is just that. -Laura

Classic Cowl | Purl Soho

Designed by Purl Soho designer, Laura Ferguson.

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

Materials

Classic Cowl | Purl Soho
  • 4 skeins of Purl Soho’s Worsted Twist, 100% merino. Each skein is 164 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 656 yards required. I used the color Wheat Flour. (NOTE: We no longer offer Worsted Twist, but choose from one of our other worsted/aran weight yarns.)
  • A US 7 (4.5 mm), 40-inch circular needles
  • A spare US 7 or smaller, 32- or 40-inch circular needles (optional; for tubular bind off)
  • A stitch marker

Gauge

15 stitches = 4 inches in fluffy brioche stitch

20 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette stitch

Size

Finished Height: 12 inches

Finished Circumference: 60 inches

Note

Slip all slipped stitches purlwise.

Pattern

Begin

Cast 226 stitches onto the circular needle. I used a Long Tail Tubular Cast On, because it’s nice and stretchy, but a basic Long Tail Cast On would also do! If you use the Long Tail Tubular Cast On, don’t forget to work the two Foundation Rows before joining in the round (they are described both in our tutorial and below).

If You Did a Long Tail Tubular Cast On…

Foundation Row 1: *Knit 1 through the back loop, slip one with yarn in front, repeat from * to end of row.

Foundation Row 2: *Knit 1, slip 1 with yarn in front, repeat from * to end of row.

If you Did a Long Tail Cast on or Similar…

Foundation Row: *K1, p1 through the back loop (tbl), repeat from * to end of row.

Continue in Twisted Rib

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

Round 1: *K1 through the back loop (tbl), p1, repeat from * to end of round.

Repeat Round 1 until piece measures 1 inch from cast-on edge.

Continue in Fluffy Brioche Stitch

Round 1: *P1, slip 1 wyif (with yarn in front), yo, repeat from * to end of round. [339 stitches]

Round 2: *K1, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. [226 stitches]

Round 3: *Slip 1 wyif, yo, p1, repeat from * to end of round. [339 stitches]

Round 4: *K2tog, k1, repeat from * to end of round. [226 stitches]

Repeat Rounds 1-4 until piece measures approximately 11 inches from cast-on edge or 1 inches shy of desired finished height, ending with Round 2.

Continue in Twisted Rib

Round 1: *K1tbl, p1, repeat from * to end of round.

IF YOU BEGAN WITH A TUBULAR CAST ON AND WILL DO A TUBULAR BIND OFF…

Repeat Round 1 for 3/4 inches.

IF YOU BEGAN WITH A LONG TAIL CAST ON AND WILL DO A BASIC BIND OFF…

Repeat Round 1 for 1 inch.

Bind Off

If You Did a Long Tail Tubular Cast On…
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Bind off with a Long Tail Tubular Bind Off, using the following set-up rounds. NOTE:  Round 1 is different here than in the tutorial in order to accomplish a twisted rib Tubular Bind Off)…

Set-Up Round 1: Work the round, knitting the knit stitches tbl and slipping the purled stitches purlwise with the yarn in front.

Set-Up Round 2: Work the round, purling the purl stitches and slipping the knit stitches purlwise with yarn in back.

If you Did a Long Tail Cast on or Similar…

Bind off loosely in pattern.

Finish

Weave in the ends and block as desired.