Berroco Bayadere Stripe Cowl Knitting Pattern

Berroco Bayadere Stripe Cowl

What Is Being Made

The Berroco Bayadere Stripe Cowl is a versatile, easy-level knit cowl designed by Norah Gaughan. This circular cowl measures approximately 9 inches wide by 60 inches around after blocking, making it a generous neckwear piece suitable for layering or wearing as a comfortable neck accessory. The finished cowl is long enough to wrap around the neck multiple times or drape elegantly for added warmth and style.

Techniques Used

This cowl is constructed using bottom-up knitting methodology, meaning the piece is worked from the cast-on edge upward to the bind-off. The cowl is worked in the round using circular needles, creating a seamless tubular fabric. A provisional cast-on is used at the beginning, which is later carefully unpicked to allow the cast-on stitches to be joined to the working end using the Kitchener stitch, creating a seamless, joined finish. The design features prominent stripes created by changing yarn colors at regular intervals throughout the knitting process. Colors not in use may be carried loosely up the inside of the work, and colors are twisted together at the beginning of rounds to prevent long loops from forming.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch throughout this cowl is stockinette stitch (St st), which creates a smooth, classic knit fabric with a V-pattern appearance on the right side. All rounds are knit rounds, maintaining consistent stockinette texture. The cowl follows a specific stripe sequence that repeats color changes in a planned pattern: Kohlrabi (C1) appears in 2-round and 3-round segments, Sage (C2) in 3-round and 3-round segments, Peony (C3) in single rounds, Verbena (C4) in 3-round segments, and Driftwood (C5) is used for the Kitchener stitch joining. This stripe pattern creates visual interest while maintaining the simplicity of basic knit stitches.

Materials and Tools

The cowl is knitted using Berroco Ultra Wool, a 100-gram ball weight yarn. The color palette consists of six distinct shades: #33117 Kohlrabi, #3324 Sage, #33148 Peony, #33139 Verbena, #33104 Driftwood, and #3337 Magnolia, with one ball of each color required. Knitting needles include a primary 16-inch circular needle in size 7 (4.50 mm) and a spare 16-inch circular needle in size 7 or smaller for holding stitches during the Kitchener stitch joining. Additional notions include waste yarn for the provisional cast-on, a tapestry needle for weaving in ends, and one stitch marker for tracking round beginnings. The recommended gauge is 19 stitches and 27 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch, and checking gauge before beginning is essential for achieving the correct finished measurements.