Berroco Chicory Cowl Knitting Pattern

Berroco Chicory: Seamless Knit Cowl and Hat Set

What Is Being Made

The Chicory pattern is a coordinated set featuring two distinct projects: a spacious cowl and a fitted hat, both designed by Alison Green. These pieces are ideal for creating a cohesive winter accessory ensemble. The cowl measures approximately 30 inches around the bottom, tapering to 25 inches around the top, with a height of 10 inches. The hat is available in three sizes, ranging from 16¼ inches to 18½ inches in circumference, with heights between 9 and 9½ inches. Both projects are designed for experienced knitters and can be made as a coordinated set using the same yarn colors.

Techniques Used

This pattern employs advanced knitting techniques that create visually striking and reversible fabric. The primary technique is double knitting, which creates two layers of fabric simultaneously while working in the round. This method produces a reversible textile where opposite colors appear on the front and reverse sides, adding both aesthetic interest and functional warmth. The projects are worked seamlessly in the round using circular needles, eliminating the need for seaming and creating a polished, professional finish. The bottom-up construction method allows knitters to begin at the lower edge and work upward, making it easy to try on the pieces during the knitting process and adjust the final length if desired.

Stitches and Stitch Techniques

The pattern utilizes double knitting stitches as the foundation technique, which involves working with two colors simultaneously to create the reversible fabric effect. Knitters will work from charts that specify when to knit with the primary color in front while holding the secondary color in back, creating the characteristic double-knit texture. The pattern incorporates tubular cast-on as an optional technique for creating a particularly neat, finished edge at the cowl's base. Stitch markers are essential for tracking the beginning of round and maintaining pattern accuracy throughout the circular knitting process. A cable needle is listed as optional, suggesting that the pattern may include cable or twisted stitch elements for textural variation.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Chicory set is designed to be worked in Berroco Lanas Light, a yarn that comes in 100-gram balls. The pattern calls for one ball each of two colors: #78101 Fog (C1) and #78110 Grapefruit (C2) to complete both the cowl and hat together. This economical yardage requirement makes the project accessible for knitters seeking to create a complete accessory set without excessive yarn investment.

For needle requirements, knitters will need a 16-inch circular needle in size 5 (3.75 mm) for the main fabric of both projects. A 16-inch circular needle in size 3 (3.25 mm) is recommended for those using the tubular cast-on technique, which requires working on smaller needles initially. For the hat only, a set of double-pointed needles in size 5 (3.75 mm) is necessary for working the small circumference at the crown. The pattern specifies that needle size should be selected to obtain the correct gauge.

Gauge and Construction Details

The pattern is worked at a gauge of 22 pairs of stitches and 34 rounds measuring 4 inches (10 centimeters) in double knitting using the larger needle. This gauge is measured after blocking, making it essential for knitters to swatch and block their gauge swatch before beginning the projects to ensure accurate finished measurements. The experienced skill level reflects the complexity of maintaining double-knitting tension and reading the specialized charts required for this reversible fabric technique.

• Cowl dimensions: 30" circumference at bottom, 25" at top, 10" high
• Hat sizes: 16¼", 17½", or 18½" circumference with corresponding heights
• Yarn: Berroco Lanas Light in two coordinating colors
• Needles: Circular needles in two sizes plus double-pointed needles for hat crown
• Techniques: Double knitting, seamless in-the-round construction, bottom-up shaping