Cascade Yarns Easy Peasy Stranded Cowl Knitting Pattern

Cascade Yarns Easy Peasy Stranded Cowl

What Is Being Made

The Easy Peasy Stranded Cowl is a knitted neck accessory designed by Shannon Dunbabin for Cascade Yarns. This cowl features a finished circumference of 25 inches and a height of 10.5 inches, making it a versatile one-size-fits-most accessory suitable for adult wearers. The cowl is constructed as a seamless in-the-round project, eliminating the need for seaming and creating a continuous, polished finished piece.

Techniques Used

This intermediate-level project employs several key knitting techniques to create visual interest and structural integrity. The primary technique featured throughout the cowl is Fair Isle stranded colorwork, a traditional method where two colors of yarn are carried simultaneously across the back of the work to create intricate patterned designs. The cowl begins and ends with ribbed edging, specifically a 2x2 rib (knit 2, purl 2) worked over six rounds at both the top and bottom. This ribbing provides stretch and helps the cowl maintain its shape and fit around the neck. The cowl is worked in the round using circular needles, which allows for seamless construction and the ability to try on the piece as it develops.

Stitches Used

The stitch repertoire for this cowl is straightforward and beginner-friendly despite the intermediate skill designation. The pattern utilizes two fundamental stitches:

• Knit stitch (K) – The primary stitch used throughout most of the cowl body and in the Fair Isle colorwork sections
• Purl stitch (P) – Used exclusively in the 2x2 ribbing at the cuffs to create the characteristic vertical ridges that provide elasticity

The Fair Isle pattern sections are created by working knit stitches in alternating colors according to the provided charts, with the non-working yarn color carried loosely across the back of the fabric.

Materials and Tools

The Easy Peasy Stranded Cowl is worked in Cascade Yarns Pacific Chunky, a worsted-weight yarn composed of 60% acrylic and 40% superwash merino wool. This fiber blend offers durability from the acrylic component while providing the softness and temperature-regulating properties of merino wool, with the added benefit of superwash treatment for easy care. The pattern requires 100 grams (3.5 ounces) total yarn, divided between two colors: one skein of color #105 (Dutch Blue) for the main color and one skein of color #158 (Copper Brown) for the contrast color. Each skein provides 120 yards (110 meters) of yardage.

The project is worked on US 10 (6.0 mm) circular knitting needles in a 16-inch length, which is sized appropriately for the 100-stitch cast-on and allows for comfortable in-the-round knitting. Additional supplies include one stitch marker to denote the beginning of each round and a yarn needle for weaving in yarn ends upon completion. The pattern specifies a gauge of 16 stitches by 18 rows over 4 inches (10 centimeters) in the Fair Isle pattern, which is essential to achieving the correct finished dimensions.