Carina Cowl Knitting Pattern

Carina Cowl in Berroco Lanas Light

What is Being Made

The Carina Cowl is a knitted cowl designed by Alison Green that features a flattering draped silhouette. This intermediate-level project creates a versatile neck accessory with generous dimensions: the cowl measures approximately 18¼ inches in circumference at the top and expands to 36½ inches at the bottom, with a height of approximately 9½ inches. The expanding shape allows the cowl to be worn in multiple ways—pulled up as a traditional cowl, draped loosely around the neck, or styled as a shawlette.

Construction Method

The Carina Cowl is worked in the round from the top down using circular needles. This top-down construction allows knitters to try on the piece as they work and adjust the final length to their preference. The pattern begins with a cast-on at the narrower top edge and progressively increases stitches throughout the piece to create the dramatic flared shape.

Stitches and Colorwork Techniques

This pattern employs stranded colorwork as its primary decorative technique, creating intricate patterned designs across the fabric. The cowl is constructed primarily in stockinette stitch (knit stitch in the round), which provides a smooth, classic base for the colorwork to stand out. The pattern begins with a garter stitch edge at the top (created by alternating purl and knit rounds), which provides a refined finished edge and helps prevent curling.

The colorwork is organized into five separate charts that are worked sequentially. Chart 1 features a 4-stitch repeat worked 32 times per round over 6 rounds. Chart 2 introduces a 5-stitch repeat worked 32 times per round over 7 rounds, with an increase to 160 stitches on the first round of this section. Chart 3 returns to a 4-stitch repeat worked 40 times per round over 6 rounds. Chart 4 uses a 5-stitch repeat worked 32 times per round over 5 rounds. Chart 5, the longest section, spans 28 rounds using a 5-stitch repeat, with an increase to 192 stitches on the first round of this final chart section.

Yarn and Materials

The Carina Cowl is knitted using Berroco Lanas Light yarn in the Mini Color Pack #4 Warm Sunset. This colorway includes six coordinating colors, each provided in 25-gram skeins:

• #78140 Black Cherry (C1)
• #78102 Steel Cut Oats (C2)
• #78126 Cayenne (C3)
• #78106 Tea Rose (C4)
• #78116 Sandalwood (C5)
• #78109 Golden (C6)

Needles and Gauge

The pattern requires circular needles in two sizes: a 16-inch needle in size 3 (3.25 mm) for the initial cast-on and garter stitch edge, and a 24-inch needle in size 4 (3.5 mm) for the main body of the cowl. Knitters should select needle sizes to achieve the specified gauge of 28 stitches and 32 rows per 4 inches in stockinette stitch when working the stranded colorwork patterns. A stitch marker is required to mark the beginning of rounds.

Skill Level

This pattern is rated as intermediate difficulty. Knitters should be comfortable with circular needle techniques, reading colorwork charts, managing multiple yarn colors in stranded colorwork, and executing increases. The top-down construction and expanding stitch counts add moderate complexity, making this an excellent project for knitters looking to develop or refine their colorwork skills.