Chevron and Feather Cowl in Cascade Yarns Superwash MultisFree

Chevron and Feather Cowl in Cascade Yarns Superwash Multis

What Is Being Made

The Chevron and Feather Cowl is a circular knit cowl designed by Shannon Dunbabin. This is a versatile neckwear piece worked in the round using simple lace techniques that create an elegant visual pattern. The cowl is constructed from a single skein of yarn, making it an accessible project for crafters seeking a quick, wearable finished object.

Craft and Technique Overview

This is a knitting project classified as intermediate difficulty. The cowl is worked in the round on a circular needle, which eliminates the need for seaming and creates a seamless, continuous fabric. The design relies on lace knitting techniques to achieve its distinctive visual texture. Lace knitting combines yarn overs with decreases to create openwork patterns that are both structurally sound and aesthetically pleasing. The repeating pattern is straightforward, requiring knitters to work only two rows repeatedly until the desired length is reached, then bind off and finish.

Stitches Used

The Chevron and Feather Cowl employs fundamental knitting stitches combined in a rhythmic pattern:

• Knit (K) – The basic stitch that forms the foundation of the fabric
• Yarn Over (YO) – Creates deliberate holes in the fabric that contribute to the lace pattern and add openness to the design
• Knit 2 Together (K2tog) – A right-leaning decrease that reduces stitch count and shapes the fabric
• Slip 1, Knit 1, Pass Slipped Stitch Over (Sl1-k1-psso) – A left-leaning decrease that works in tandem with K2tog to create balanced shaping within the chevron motif

The core pattern repeats as follows: Knit 1, Yarn Over, Knit 4, Knit 2 Together, Slip 1-Knit 1-Pass Slipped Stitch Over, Knit 4, Yarn Over. This sequence is repeated across each round, then followed by a plain knit round. The interplay between the yarn overs and decreases creates the chevron and feather visual effect that gives the cowl its name.

Materials and Specifications

The Chevron and Feather Cowl is designed to be worked in Cascade Yarns Superwash Multis, a yarn composed of 100% Superwash Merino Wool. One skein is required, which contains 128 yards and weighs 100 grams. The yarn shown in the pattern sample is colorway 112 - Teals, a multi-colored option that adds visual interest to the lace pattern. Superwash merino provides softness, elasticity, and easy-care properties, as the superwash treatment allows the finished cowl to be machine washed without felting.

The project calls for US Size 10 circular needles measuring 16 inches in length. Additional notions include a yarn needle for weaving in ends and a stitch marker to denote the beginning of each round. Notably, the pattern states that gauge is unimportant for this project, meaning precise stitch and row gauge is not critical to the success of the finished cowl, allowing for greater flexibility and personal interpretation.

Construction and Finishing

The cowl begins with casting on 91 stitches and joining them in the round while taking care not to twist the stitches. A stitch marker is placed to mark the beginning of the round. The two-row pattern repeat is worked until the piece reaches almost the desired finished length, at which point stitches are bound off. The final step involves weaving in any loose ends to complete the project.