Berroco Tyanna Cowl Knitting Pattern

Berroco Tyanna Cowl: Knitted Seamless Design

What Is Being Made

The Tyanna is a sophisticated knitted cowl designed by Alison Green. This intermediate-level project creates a finished cowl measuring approximately 18 inches (46 cm) high from point to top edge, with a circumference of 24½ inches (62 cm). The cowl is designed to drape elegantly around the neck and shoulders, making it a versatile accessory for layering.

Construction Method and Techniques

The Tyanna cowl employs a hybrid construction approach that combines flat knitting with circular knitting. The cowl begins with a bottom-up construction, starting from a single point at the base. Initially, the piece is worked flat from the bottom point upward, with increases worked at regular intervals to create the expanding triangular shape. Once stitches are cast on at the back neck, the cowl transitions to being worked in the round using circular needles, creating a seamless construction that eliminates the need for seaming.

This construction method allows for a smooth, continuous fabric with minimal finishing work. The transition from flat to circular knitting is a hallmark technique for creating cowls with a structured point at the base and a flowing top edge.

Stitches and Stitch Pattern

The Tyanna features a Pattern Stitch that incorporates several fundamental knitting techniques. The stitch pattern includes:

• Make One Left (M1L) and Make One Right (M1R) increases, worked consistently to shape the expanding cowl
• Slip stitches (both slip 1 with yarn in front and slip 1 with yarn in back), which create textural interest and help define the pattern
• Knit and purl stitches in combination to establish the overall pattern texture

The pattern stitch is provided both in written row-by-row instructions and in chart form (Chart 1), allowing knitters to choose their preferred method for following the pattern. The stitch pattern creates visual definition through the strategic placement of slipped stitches and color changes within the yarn itself.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

This project uses Berroco Carousel yarn in colorway #4438 Bingo. Only 1 ball (100 grams) of yarn is required to complete the cowl, making it an efficient project for stash-busting or quick gift-making.

The pattern calls for 16-inch circular needles in two sizes: size 4 (3.5 mm) for the main fabric and size 2 (2.75 mm) for ribbing or finishing. Circular needles are essential for this project, as they accommodate the transition from flat to in-the-round knitting and provide the necessary needle length for working the cowl's circumference. One stitch marker is required to track the beginning of rounds once the cowl transitions to circular construction.

Gauge and Finishing

The pattern specifies a gauge of 26 stitches and 48 rows or rounds over 4 inches (10 cm) in the Pattern Stitch using the larger needle size. This gauge is measured after blocking, emphasizing the importance of blocking to achieve accurate finished measurements. Knitters are advised to swatch and check gauge before beginning to ensure the cowl reaches the intended dimensions.