Juniper Moon Farm Cowl Knitting Pattern

Caryn Infinity Cowl by Melissa Leapman

What Is Being Made

The Caryn is an infinity cowl designed as part of the Aspen Collection by Juniper Moon Farm. This cowl is a versatile neckwear piece with finished measurements of 56 inches (142 centimeters) in circumference and 9 inches (23 centimeters) in height. The infinity cowl design creates a continuous loop that can be worn doubled around the neck for added warmth and style.

Construction Method and Techniques

The Caryn cowl is worked flat in rows using straight needles, then the cast-on and bound-off edges are seamed together to create the finished ring shape. This construction approach allows knitters to work the piece in a back-and-forth motion rather than in continuous rounds, making it accessible for those who prefer flat knitting. The seaming technique joins the two short ends of the rectangular piece to transform it into the characteristic infinity cowl form.

The design incorporates lace patterning throughout, featuring multiple interchangeable openwork patterns that create an elegant, airy aesthetic. The sample cowl showcases approximately 14 inches (35.5 centimeters) each of Patterns 1 through 4, demonstrating how the various lace patterns can be combined and repeated to achieve the desired length.

Stitches and Stitch Techniques

The Caryn cowl employs several specialized knitting stitches and techniques to create its lace patterns:

• Cable crosses: The pattern includes 2/2 Left Cross (2/2 LC) and 2/2 Right Cross (2/2 RC) stitches, which create twisted cable elements. The left cross involves slipping 2 stitches to a cable needle and holding in front, then knitting 2 stitches before knitting the 2 stitches from the cable needle. The right cross uses the same technique but holds the cable needle in back.
• Decreases: Multiple decrease techniques are used to shape the lace patterns. The centered double decrease (CDD) is worked differently on the right side and wrong side. On the right side, 2 stitches are slipped as if to knit 2 together, 1 stitch is knitted, and the slipped stitches are passed over. On the wrong side, the technique is adapted for purling. The pattern also uses slip, slip, knit (ssk) and slip, slip, slip, knit (sssk) decreases, which are worked by slipping stitches knitwise, transferring them back to the left needle in their new orientation, then knitting them together through their back loops.
• Yarn overs: Yarn over (yo) stitches are incorporated throughout the lace patterns to create the openwork design and decorative eyelets characteristic of lace knitting.
• Slip stitches: Slip stitches are used as indicated in the pattern instructions, typically slipped purlwise with yarn held to the wrong side.

Pattern Flexibility

The Caryn design offers knitters flexibility in their approach. Patterns 1 through 3 use a multiple of 8 stitches plus 1, making them directly interchangeable. Pattern 4 requires a multiple of 8 stitches plus 2, and when using this pattern, knitters should increase 1 stitch on the first row and decrease 1 stitch on the last row as necessary to maintain proper stitch counts. This interchangeability allows crafters to customize their cowl by selecting which lace patterns to use and in what order.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Caryn cowl is designed to be worked with Juniper Moon Farm Herriot yarn in color 1031 Laguna Grande. The pattern calls for 2 balls of 100 grams each, providing sufficient yardage for the complete cowl.

Knitting needles required include both straight needles and a circular needle, both in US size 8 (5 millimeters). The straight needles are used for the flat knitting of the main cowl piece, while the 40-inch (100-centimeter) circular needle is specified for working the piece. Knitters should select the needle size that allows them to achieve the required gauge of 17 stitches and 22 rows per 4 inches (10 centimeters) when worked in any of the openwork patterns and blocked. The pattern notes that achieving exact gauge is not critical to the success of this project, making it forgiving for knitters of varying experience levels.

Skill Level and Pattern Notes