Cerros Cowl Knitting Pattern

Cerros Cowl in Juniper Moon Farm Cumulus

What is Being Made

The Cerros Cowl is a knitted circular cowl designed by Tabetha Hedrick. This accessory measures approximately 40 inches in length and 9.5 inches in width, making it a substantial neck wrap suitable for layering and cold-weather wear. The cowl is constructed by knitting a flat rectangular panel that is subsequently seamed along its cast-on and bind-off edges to form a continuous loop.

Knitting Techniques Used

This project employs several intermediate to advanced knitting techniques that create visual interest and texture:

• Cable work: The pattern features 2/2 right cross (2/2 RC) cable stitches, which require slipping stitches to a cable needle and holding them to the back before knitting, creating twisted rope-like columns in the fabric.
• Yarn overs and decreases: Decorative yarn overs (yo) are paired with decreases including ssk (slip, slip, knit) and k2tog (knit two together) to create lacy, openwork sections that contrast with the solid cable elements.
• Central decrease: The s2kp (slip two stitches together knitwise, knit one, pass slipped stitches over) creates a centered double decrease that forms the focal points of the stitch pattern.
• Selvedge edge finishing: The first stitch of every row is slipped with yarn in back (wyib) on right-side rows and with yarn in front (wyif) on wrong-side rows to create a smooth, finished edge suitable for seaming.
• Flat knitting and seaming: Rather than working in the round, the cowl is knitted flat and then seamed, allowing for easier stitch pattern management and a professional finished appearance.

Stitches Used

The Cerros Cowl features a signature stitch pattern called Cerros Stitch, which is worked over a multiple of 9 stitches plus 7 additional stitches. This four-row repeat combines several stitch techniques:

• Row 1 (right side): Slipped stitch, yarn over, ssk decrease, knit stitch, k2tog decrease, yarn over, and 2/2 right cross cable, repeated across with a final yarn over, ssk, knit, k2tog, yarn over, and knit stitch.
• Row 2 (wrong side): Slipped stitch followed by purling to the end of the row.
• Row 3 (right side): Slipped stitch, knit stitch, yarn over, centered s2kp decrease, yarn over, and five knit stitches, repeated across with a final knit, yarn over, s2kp, yarn over, and two knit stitches.
• Row 4 (wrong side): Identical to Row 2, with slipped stitch and purling to the end.

This four-row repeat is worked continuously until the piece reaches the desired finished length of 40 inches.

Materials and Gauge

The Cerros Cowl is worked using Juniper Moon Farm Cumulus yarn, a luxurious fiber that provides excellent drape and softness. The pattern calls for one 100-gram skein in color #12 Amethyst, which is a purple-toned shade. The project is worked on US 9 (5.5 mm) circular needles measuring 24 inches in length, along with a cable needle for managing the cable stitches and a tapestry needle for weaving in ends and seaming.

The recommended gauge is 18 stitches and 22 rows over 4 inches in Cerros Stitch. Checking gauge before beginning is essential to ensure the finished cowl meets the specified measurements and drapes properly. The pattern begins with a cast-on of 43 stitches, which accommodates the stitch pattern repeat and selvedge stitches.