Bayadere Stripe Cowl Knitting Pattern

Bayadere Stripe Cowl in Berroco Ultra Wool

What Is Being Made

The Bayadere Stripe Cowl is a circular cowl neck accessory designed by Norah Gaughan. This knitted cowl measures approximately 9 inches wide and 60 inches around after blocking, making it a versatile piece that can be worn as a traditional cowl or styled in multiple ways. The finished length of approximately 56 inches before blocking allows for generous draping around the neck and shoulders.

Yarn and Materials

This project uses Berroco Ultra Wool, a 100% wool yarn available in six coordinating colorways. The pattern calls for one 100-gram ball each of the following colors: Kohlrabi (C1), Sage (C2), Peony (C3), Verbena (C4), Driftwood (C5), and Magnolia (C6). The multi-color palette creates the signature striped effect that gives the cowl its visual interest and name.

Needles and Notions

• One 16-inch circular needle in size 7 (4.50 mm)
• One spare 16-inch circular needle in size 7 (4.50 mm) or smaller for grafting
• Waste yarn for provisional cast-on
• Tapestry needle for weaving in ends and finishing
• One stitch marker for tracking rounds

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

The Bayadere Stripe Cowl employs fundamental knitting techniques suitable for beginners. The primary stitch used throughout is stockinette stitch (St st), created by knitting every round on circular needles. This creates a smooth, classic fabric with a V-shaped texture on the right side.

The cowl is constructed using the provisional cast-on method, which allows stitches to be picked up later for seamless joining. This technique is essential for creating a tubular cowl without a visible seam. After completing all color stripes, the provisional cast-on edge is carefully unpicked, with stitches transferred to a spare needle. The two ends are then joined using the Kitchener stitch (also called grafting), a method that creates an invisible seam by weaving yarn through live stitches in a specific pattern.

The pattern incorporates stranded colorwork techniques, though in a simplified manner. Rather than traditional fair isle with multiple colors per round, this design features single-color rounds arranged in a repeating stripe sequence. When colors are not in use, they are carried loosely up the inside of the work, and colors are twisted together at the beginning of rounds to prevent long loops that could snag.

Stripe Sequence and Pattern Structure

All rounds in this cowl are knit rounds, making it an excellent beginner project. The stripe pattern repeats in a specific sequence: two rounds of Kohlrabi, three rounds of Sage, one round of Peony, two rounds of Kohlrabi, three rounds of Verbena, two rounds of Kohlrabi, one round of Peony, three rounds of Sage, and two rounds of Kohlrabi. This sequence creates a balanced, symmetrical color distribution throughout the finished cowl.

Gauge and Finishing

The pattern specifies a gauge of 19 stitches and 27 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch. Checking gauge before beginning is recommended to ensure the finished cowl meets the intended measurements. After all knitting is complete, the cowl is blocked to set the stitches and even out the stripes, which helps achieve the final 60-inch circumference measurement.

Skill Level

Rated as an easy, beginner-friendly project, the Bayadere Stripe Cowl teaches essential circular knitting techniques while producing a wearable, professional-looking finished object. The straightforward construction and simple stitch pattern make it accessible to knitters new to circular needles and color work.