Grange Cowl Knitting Pattern

Grange Cowl in Rowan Brushed Fleece

What is Being Made

The Grange is a knitted cowl designed by Martin Storey using Rowan Brushed Fleece yarn. This is a substantial neck accessory measuring 24 centimeters wide and 149 centimeters long, making it a generous, wrap-style cowl suitable for layering and styling versatility. The finished piece is long enough to drape comfortably around the neck multiple times or wear as a loose, flowing cowl.

Craft and Techniques

This is a knitting project classified as intermediate difficulty. The cowl is constructed using the in-the-round method, which creates a seamless tubular fabric. The pattern employs color work throughout, using a repeating stripe pattern with three distinct colors from the Rowan Brushed Fleece range. Knitters will join and break off colors as needed while working in rounds, requiring attention to color changes and yarn management. The final step involves joining the cast-on and cast-off edges together using mattress stitch or back stitch, creating a continuous loop.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch throughout the Grange cowl is stockinette stitch (st st), worked in the round. This fundamental knitting stitch creates a smooth, V-textured fabric that showcases the yarn's brushed fleece texture beautifully. The pattern is straightforward in stitch construction, allowing the color work and yarn characteristics to be the focal points of the design.

Yarn and Materials

The Grange cowl is knitted using Rowan Brushed Fleece, a specialized yarn that creates a soft, fuzzy fabric. The pattern requires three colors:

• Yarn A (Cove 251): 1 x 50-gram ball
• Yarn B (Peat 262): 3 x 50-gram balls
• Yarn C (Crag 253): 1 x 50-gram ball

Knitting needles required are 6mm (US 10) double-pointed needles (dpns) or a 6mm circular needle no longer than 40 centimeters. The use of either dpns or a short circular needle accommodates the in-the-round construction while managing the stitches effectively. Additional notions include a stitch marker to indicate the beginning and end of rounds. The recommended tension is 13 stitches and 19 rounds to 10 centimeters, measured over stockinette stitch using 6mm needles.

Pattern Structure

The cowl begins with casting on 62 stitches distributed evenly over needles, with careful attention paid to avoid twisting the cast-on edge. The pattern follows a complex color-work sequence spanning 140 rounds total, with the entire 140-round repeat worked twice to achieve the finished length. The color sequence creates a structured design with specific sections: initial alternating stripes of Cove and Peat, followed by longer color blocks featuring Peat and Crag, then returning to Peat for the final section. Cast-off is completed loosely using Yarn B knitwise, and the work is pressed according to general finishing guidelines before seaming.