Arundhati Cowl Knitting Pattern

Arundhati Cowl in Berroco Bento

What Is Being Made

The Arundhati Cowl is a knitted neck accessory designed as a circular cowl with finished measurements of approximately 12 inches wide by 32 inches around after blocking. This intermediate-level project creates a sophisticated, wearable piece suitable for everyday styling or as a thoughtful handmade gift.

Yarn and Materials

This cowl is crafted using Berroco Bento yarn, a premium fiber option from Berroco, Inc. The project requires 3 balls of Berroco Bento (50 grams each) in colorway #8710 Daikon. Construction uses straight needles in size 8 (5.00 mm) or the size needed to obtain proper gauge, along with a cable needle for executing cable techniques. The recommended gauge is 17 stitches and 22 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

The Arundhati Cowl employs several intermediate knitting techniques that create visual interest and texture throughout the design:

• Cable Stitches: The pattern features CB4 (cable back 4) cables, which are created by slipping 2 stitches to a cable needle and holding them in back, knitting 2 stitches, then knitting the 2 stitches from the cable needle. These cables create raised, twisted rope-like textures that are a hallmark of cable knitting.
• Yarn Overs and Decreases: The design incorporates yarn overs (yo) paired with decreases such as SSK (slip, slip, knit) and k2tog (knit 2 together). These techniques create eyelet details and lace-like openings that contrast with the solid cable sections, adding visual dimension and allowing the yarn's characteristics to show through.
• Stockinette Stitch: The base fabric uses stockinette stitch (knit on right-side rows, purl on wrong-side rows), which provides a smooth, classic canvas for the cable and lace elements.
• Garter Stitch Elements: Purl stitches are strategically placed to frame and separate the cable and lace motifs, creating definition between pattern sections.
• Slip Stitch Selvedges: The pattern uses slip stitches at the beginning of rows (slipped with yarn in back on right-side rows and yarn in front on wrong-side rows) to create neat, finished edges.

Pattern Structure and Construction

The cowl is constructed by casting on 55 stitches and working a 24-row repeat pattern that combines cable crossings, yarn-over increases, and centered double decreases. This repeat is worked six times, creating a cohesive design with alternating cable positions. The pattern demonstrates intermediate skill through its use of multiple stitch techniques within a single row and the coordination required to track cable placement across multiple repeats. After completing all rows, the cast-on and bound-off edges are sewn together carefully to form the circular cowl shape, then the piece is blocked to achieve the finished measurements and even out the stitch definition.

Design Details

Designed by Amy Christoffers and published in Berroco Booklet #390, the Arundhati Cowl balances structural cable work with delicate lace elements. The alternating pattern rows ensure that cable crossings and lace sections appear in different positions throughout the cowl, creating visual movement and preventing the design from becoming monotonous. The finished cowl is substantial enough to provide warmth while remaining elegant and refined, making it suitable for various occasions and style preferences.