Berroco Dunya Cowl Knitting Pattern

Berroco Dunya Cowl: Knitted Striped Slip-Stitch Design

What Is Being Made

The Berroco Dunya is an easy-level knitted cowl designed by Amy Christoffers. This finished cowl measures approximately 9 inches wide by 58 inches around, making it a generous, wrap-style neck accessory suitable for layering and styling versatility. The cowl is worked in the round using a flat construction method that is later seamed, creating a seamless appearance when worn.

Techniques Used

This cowl employs several key knitting techniques to achieve its distinctive appearance:

• Slip-stitch colorwork: The pattern uses strategic slip stitches to create visual texture and color blocking without the complexity of traditional stranded colorwork. Stitches are slipped with yarn in back (wyib) on right-side rows and with yarn in front (wyif) on wrong-side rows to maintain proper tension and appearance.
• Striping: Two contrasting Berroco yarns are alternated throughout the pattern to create horizontal color bands that enhance the visual interest of the slip-stitch motif.
• Worked flat construction: Despite being a cowl, the piece is knitted flat on straight needles rather than in the round, then seamed together at the end. This approach simplifies the pattern and makes it accessible for knitters of all skill levels.
• Seaming: The finished edges are joined using a tapestry needle to create the final cowl form.

Stitches Used

The Dunya pattern utilizes fundamental knitting stitches combined in a repeating eight-row sequence:

• Knit stitch (k): Forms the base fabric and creates smooth stockinette sections.
• Purl stitch (p): Used on wrong-side rows to build the stockinette texture and in specific pattern rows for dimensional effect.
• Slip stitch (sl): The signature stitch of this pattern, slipped stitches create the visual pattern repeat and allow color changes without cutting yarn. The pattern specifies slipping 2 stitches at a time in various positions throughout each row.

The eight-row pattern repeat alternates between slip-stitch rows worked in Berroco Topaz and solid knit/purl rows worked in Berroco Aerial, creating a balanced, rhythmic texture.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

Yarn: The Dunya cowl requires two Berroco yarn weights. One 100-gram ball of Berroco Topaz in colorway #1221 Mural (designated as C1) serves as the primary yarn for slip-stitch pattern rows. Two 25-gram balls of Berroco Aerial in colorway #3438 Emerald (designated as C2) provide the contrasting striped sections. The combination of these two distinct yarn weights creates textural variety while the color pairing of mural and emerald tones offers sophisticated visual contrast.

Needles and Notions: Knitting needles in size 8 (5 mm) or the size required to obtain proper gauge are used for the main construction. A tapestry needle is essential for seaming the finished cowl edges together and weaving in yarn ends.

Gauge and Construction Notes

The pattern specifies a gauge of 24 stitches and 36 rows over 4 inches in the pattern stitch, measured after blocking. Achieving accurate gauge is emphasized as important for obtaining the correct finished measurements. The cowl begins with a cast-on of 51 stitches and is worked in repeating eight-row pattern sequences until the piece reaches approximately 58 inches in length. During construction, yarn not in active use is carried loosely up the side of the work, and yarn is twisted at the beginning of every right-side row to prevent long loops that could create an unfinished appearance.