Alston Cowl Knitting Pattern

Alston Cowl in Rowan Tweed Haze

What Is Being Made

The Alston is a knitted cowl designed by Martin Storey using Rowan Tweed Haze yarn. This is a tubular neckwear accessory that measures 23.5 cm (9¼ inches) in depth and 132 cm (52 inches) in circumference when completed. The cowl is constructed as a continuous loop, making it a versatile layering piece suitable for winter wear.

Craft and Skill Level

This is an intermediate-level knitting project that requires familiarity with fundamental knitting techniques as well as more advanced colorwork methods. The pattern is suitable for knitters who have mastered basic stitches and are ready to tackle patterned work.

Techniques Used

The Alston cowl employs Fair Isle knitting, a stranded colorwork technique that creates intricate patterns by carrying yarn colors across the back of the work. The pattern instructions emphasize best practices for Fair Isle, including the recommendation not to carry stranded yarns over more than three stitches at a time. This technique requires catching floats under and over the working color to ensure the floating yarns sit neatly on the back of the fabric, preventing loose loops and maintaining an even, professional finish.

The cowl is worked in the round using the circular knitting method with double-pointed needles. This seamless construction eliminates the need for seaming except at the final step where the cast-on and cast-off edges are joined to form the complete loop.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette Stitch (St St): The foundation stitch worked throughout the entire cowl. In circular knitting, this is achieved by knitting every round, creating the smooth, flat fabric characteristic of stockinette.
• Patterned Stockinette: The 28-stitch pattern repeat is worked over stockinette stitch using the Fair Isle colorwork technique, with the pattern repeated 3 times around each round.

Yarn and Materials

The Alston is knitted using Rowan Tweed Haze yarn, a premium British yarn from the Rowan brand. The pattern calls for two colorways:

• Yarn A (Winter 554): 3 x 50-gram balls
• Yarn B (Tornado 554): 3 x 50-gram balls

The project requires a set of 4 double-pointed needles in 6mm size (US 10). Double-pointed needles are essential for working in the round without seams, allowing stitches to be distributed evenly across three needles while the fourth needle is used for working.

Tension and Finished Dimensions

Achieving the correct tension is critical for this project. The pattern specifies 18 stitches and 20 rounds to 10 centimeters measured over patterned stockinette stitch using 6mm needles. Tension swatches should be knitted in the Fair Isle pattern to ensure accuracy, as colorwork can affect gauge differently than plain stockinette. Even slight variations in tension will alter the finished circumference and depth of the cowl.

The completed cowl measures 23.5 cm (9¼ inches) deep and 132 cm (52 inches) all around, providing ample fabric for comfortable wearing and layering.

Construction Method

The cowl begins with casting on 84 stitches using yarn A and 6mm double-pointed needles. Stitches are distributed evenly across three needles, and the cast-on edge is carefully handled to prevent twisting before joining to work in rounds. The Fair Isle pattern from the chart is worked continuously in stockinette stitch, with the 28-stitch repeat repeated 3 times per round. The cowl is worked straight until it reaches approximately 132 cm in length, ending after chart row 24. Stitches are then cast off, and the cast-on and cast-off edges are joined together to form the finished loop.