AMANO Nina Cowl Knitting Pattern

AMANO Nina Cowl

What is Being Made

The AMANO Nina Cowl is a seamless, circular knit cowl designed by Laura Zukaite for the AMANO Fall Winter 16/17 collection. This is a neck accessory worked from the bottom up in the round, featuring a distinctive silhouette that begins with a flared base and gradually tapers toward the neck opening through strategic decreases.

Construction and Techniques

This cowl is constructed using bottom-up methodology, meaning knitting begins at the widest point and progresses upward. The entire garment is worked in the round on circular needles, creating a seamless construction with no seams to weave together. This technique ensures a smooth, continuous fabric and eliminates the need for seaming, which is ideal for a fitted neckwear piece.

The design incorporates strategic decreasing throughout the lower sections to shape the cowl from its initial 240 cast-on stitches down to 120 stitches by the time the lacy ribbed section begins. This shaping creates the characteristic flared bottom that gradually narrows, providing both visual interest and proper fit around the neck and shoulders.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Nina Cowl features two primary stitch pattern sections:

• Bottom Flare Section: The lower portion combines knit and purl stitches in alternating patterns with yarn overs and centered double decreases (sl2tog-k1-psso). The pattern also incorporates the specialized purl 1 down (p1d) technique, which involves purling one stitch by going under the stitch below and working through both stitches simultaneously. This creates textural depth and helps define the shaping.
• Lacy Rib Pattern: The upper 7-inch section features a Lacy Rib stitch pattern worked over a multiple of 6 stitches. Round 1 alternates knit and purl stitches (K1, P1). Round 2 introduces openwork with yarn overs and centered decreases: *K1, p1d, k1, yo, sl2tog-k1-psso, yo; rep from * around. This creates an elegant, semi-open texture that is both breathable and visually striking.

The cowl begins and ends with traditional ribbing (K1, P1 alternation) to provide elasticity and structure at the cast-on and bind-off edges.

Materials and Tools

The Nina Cowl is worked on circular needles appropriate to the yarn weight specified in the AMANO pattern. The project begins with 240 cast-on stitches and uses stitch markers to denote the beginning of round, which are carried up throughout the knitting process. The finished cowl is blocked to set the stitches and shape, then ends are woven in for a polished final appearance.

For yarn selection and specific needle size recommendations, consult the complete pattern details available through AMANO Yarns at amanoyarns.com.