Cowl & Hat Knitting Pattern

Cowl & Hat Knitting Pattern by Plymouth Yarn

Project Overview

This downloadable PDF knitting pattern from Plymouth Yarn offers instructions for creating two coordinated accessories: a comfortable cowl and a matching hat. Both projects feature striking striped colorwork using team colors or any two contrasting hues, making them ideal for sports fans or anyone seeking bold, eye-catching knitwear. The pattern is designed for the Encore Worsted yarn line and is accessible to knitters with intermediate skills.

Cowl Design

The cowl is worked in the round using a 16-inch circular needle, creating a seamless, tubular garment. The pattern begins with a loose cast-on of 90 or 100 stitches in Color A, followed by 10 rounds of stockinette stitch to establish the base. The signature striped effect is achieved through color work that does not require cutting the yarn between color changes; instead, the unused color is carried up the side of the work at the changing point, a technique that maintains structural integrity and minimizes weaving-in work.

The striping sequence alternates between Color B and Color A in a repeating pattern: one round of knit stitches in Color B, followed by three rounds of purl stitches in Color B, then four rounds of knit stitches in Color A. This sequence repeats until 12 stripes of Color B appear in the larger size or 10 stripes in the smaller size. The cowl concludes with six additional rounds of Color A in stockinette stitch before binding off loosely to maintain elasticity at the edge.

Hat Design

The hat follows a similar construction method to the cowl, beginning with a 90-stitch cast-on on a 16-inch circular needle in Color A. Like the cowl, the hat features 10 initial rounds of stockinette stitch and uses the same yarn-carrying technique to avoid cutting between color changes. The striped pattern is identical to the cowl sequence until the hat reaches six stripes of Color B, at which point the shaping begins.

Crown decreases are worked over 12 rounds using the knit-two-together decrease stitch, progressively reducing the stitch count. The decreases follow a specific pattern: the first decrease round spaces decreases every 9 stitches, the second every 8 stitches, continuing to decrease the spacing until the final rounds eliminate stitches more aggressively. When the stitch count becomes too small for the circular needle, the knitter transitions to double-pointed needles to continue working in the round. Once all stitches are decreased, the remaining stitches are threaded onto yarn and pulled tight to close the crown.

Materials and Gauge

The pattern calls for 2 balls of Encore Worsted yarn in two contrasting colors. A 16-inch circular needle in size 8 is used for the main body of both projects, with double-pointed needles in size 8 reserved for the hat crown shaping. A single stitch marker aids in tracking the beginning of rounds. The gauge is 4.5 stitches per 1 inch on size 8 needles in stockinette stitch, which is essential for achieving the correct finished dimensions.

Stitches and Techniques

The pattern employs fundamental knitting stitches and techniques suitable for intermediate knitters:

• Knit stitch: The primary stitch used throughout both projects, creating smooth stockinette fabric on the right side
• Purl stitch: Used in the color B sections of the striped pattern to create textural variation
• Knit-two-together (k2tog): A right-leaning decrease stitch used exclusively in the hat crown shaping to reduce stitches in a controlled manner
• Cast-on: A loose cast-on is recommended to ensure the edges remain flexible and comfortable against the skin
• Bind-off: A loose bind-off is specified for the cowl to maintain elasticity
• Working in the round: Both projects are constructed circularly, eliminating the need for seaming
• Stranded colorwork: The pattern uses a simple two-color stranding technique where the unused color is carried along the inside of the work rather than cut and rejoined

Finished Characteristics

The striped colorwork creates a bold visual impact, with the purl rounds in Color B adding subtle texture that complements the knit rounds. The cowl provides warmth and style as a neck accessory, while the hat offers full head coverage with a fitted crown achieved through strategic decreasing. Both pieces celebrate team spirit or personal color preferences through their contrasting hue arrangement, making them versatile projects for gift-giving or personal collection