Cohansey Cowl Knitting Pattern

Cohansey Cowl in Berroco Remix

What is Being Made

The Cohansey Cowl is a circular cowl neck accessory designed by Mary Lou Egan from Portfolio Vol. 5. This version 2 of the pattern creates a finished cowl measuring approximately 7½ inches wide and 36 inches around, making it a versatile one-size accessory suitable for various neck sizes and styling preferences.

Knitting Techniques

This beginner-level cowl employs several fundamental knitting techniques that build foundational skills. The pattern uses a provisional cast-on method to begin construction, which allows for seamless joining of the two ends after the main body is complete. The cowl is worked in the round using circular needles, creating a tubular fabric without seams. The pattern incorporates a corded bind-off finishing technique, which creates a decorative, cord-like edge that adds visual interest to the final piece.

Stitches Used

The Cohansey Cowl features a striking Horizontal Chevron Pattern that repeats over a 10-stitch multiple. This pattern combines knit stitches with slip stitches worked with yarn in front (wyif), creating the distinctive chevron texture. The pattern sequence repeats across 13 rounds before cycling, and the entire motif is worked 5 times total throughout the cowl's length. The pattern also includes basic stitches such as knit stitches for the initial and transitional rounds, knit two together (k2tog) decreases for shaping, and knit two together through the back loop (k2tog tbl) for the corded bind-off edge.

Materials and Tools

This pattern calls for Berroco Remix yarn in colorway #3917 Periwinkle, requiring 2 balls of 100 grams each. The yarn is worked on a 24-inch circular needle in size 8 (5.00 mm) to achieve the proper gauge of 17 stitches and 23 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch. A double-pointed needle in size 6 (4.00 mm) is used for the corded bind-off finishing. Additional notions include a stitch marker for tracking rounds. The pattern emphasizes checking gauge before beginning to ensure accurate finished measurements, as individual tension variations can affect the final cowl dimensions.