Classic Elite Yarns Clifden Cowl Knitting Pattern

Clifden Cowl by Classic Elite Yarns

What is Being Made

The Clifden is a sophisticated knitted cowl originally published in the Emerald Isle 1508 collection. This design creates a double-layered cable cowl that wraps warmly around the neck with visual interest from prominent cable work. The finished cowl measures 13½" wide and 28" long before final assembly, and features a distinctive half-twisted construction that adds dimension and texture to the finished piece.

Knitting Techniques Used

This cowl is worked using a bottom-up construction, beginning with a cast-on edge and building upward to the bind-off. The piece is worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, creating two separate panels that are later seamed together to form the finished cowl. The assembly process involves a strategic half-twist fold and button closure, transforming the flat knitted rectangle into a three-dimensional cowl with a unique sculptural quality.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Clifden features two primary stitch patterns that work in combination:

• Cable Pattern: Worked over a multiple of 15 stitches, this 16-row repeat creates the signature double-layer cable effect. The pattern alternates between right-leaning cables (5/5 RC) and left-leaning cables (5/5 LC), each worked over 10 stitches with 5 knit stitches between repeats. The cable crosses are spaced strategically throughout the 16-row repeat, with knit and purl rows creating texture and definition in the cable columns.
• Ridge Pattern: A simple 4-row repeat worked over any number of stitches, this pattern alternates between knit and purl rows to create subtle horizontal ridges. The Ridge Pattern frames the central Cable Pattern, appearing over 5 stitches on each side of the cowl.
• Stockinette Stitch: Implied in the base construction between patterned sections, created through alternating knit (right side) and purl (wrong side) rows.

The cowl is constructed by casting on 70 stitches and working the combined patterns for a total of 161 rows (including the initial purl row), which allows the Cable Pattern to repeat 10 complete times across the piece's length.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Clifden is designed to be worked in Big Liberty Wool by Classic Elite Yarns, a 100% washable wool yarn. Each 50-gram skein provides 82 yards of yardage, making this a worsted-weight or similar substantial yarn suitable for creating the textured cables and structured cowl shape. The washable wool fiber ensures the finished cowl is easy to care for while maintaining the elasticity and definition of the cable stitches. Specific needle size recommendations are not visible in the provided pattern excerpt, though the stitch gauge and finished measurements suggest needles appropriate for the yarn weight used.

Finishing and Assembly

The finishing process transforms the flat knitted piece into the final cowl through careful blocking and seaming. After blocking the piece to measurements, the cowl is folded in half lengthwise with wrong sides together and seamed across the short cast-on and bind-off edges, leaving the long selvedges unsewn. The piece is then positioned flat with a half-twist fold, and buttons are sewn through both layers to secure the structure. This innovative construction method creates the distinctive three-dimensional form that makes the Clifden a standout design.

Skill Level

Rated as Intermediate, the Clifden requires competency with cable stitches, seaming techniques, and understanding pattern repeats. Knitters should be comfortable reading multi-stitch cable instructions and executing cable crosses accurately across multiple repeats.