Knitting Fever Harvest Cowl Pattern

Knitting Fever Harvest Cowl

What Is Being Made

The Harvest Cowl is a beginner-friendly knitted cowl designed by Rosemary Drysdale. This project creates a circular neckwear piece with finished measurements of approximately 23 inches (58.5 cm) in circumference and 8½ inches (21.5 cm) in depth. The cowl is worked using a modular construction technique that builds the garment through a series of geometric shapes rather than traditional circular knitting.

Techniques Used

The Harvest Cowl employs a modular knitting technique, which involves constructing the piece from multiple geometric units—specifically rectangles and triangles—that are worked individually and then connected together. This approach is particularly beginner-friendly because it breaks down the project into manageable sections with clear turning points and directional changes.

The construction method uses pick-up stitches to connect modules, allowing each new section to be worked from the edge of the previously completed unit. The pattern alternates between right-side (RS) rectangles, wrong-side (WS) rectangles, and corner triangles (both left-hand and right-hand). This systematic progression continues until the cowl reaches its full circumference, with 17 rows of RS rectangles forming the complete circle.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette Stitch—the primary stitch pattern used throughout the cowl, created by alternating knit rows on the right side with purl rows on the wrong side
• Knit (k)—fundamental stitch used in most rows
• Purl (p)—used to create the stockinette texture and in decrease sequences
• Purl two together (p2tog)—a left-leaning decrease used to shape the triangular modules and connect rectangles
• Slip, slip, knit (ssk)—a right-leaning decrease used to join stitches from adjacent modules, created by slipping two stitches knitwise individually, then knitting them together through their front loops
• Knit into front and back (kfb)—an increase stitch available for pattern modifications

Materials

The Harvest Cowl requires 2 × 100g balls of KFI Collection Painted Sky yarn in shade 242 Butterfly Bush. This yarn quantity provides sufficient yardage for the complete cowl project.

Needles required are one pair of US size 7 (4.5mm) needles or the size needed to achieve the specified gauge. The pattern emphasizes the importance of checking gauge before beginning, as proper gauge ensures the finished cowl will meet the intended measurements.

Gauge Information

The pattern specifies a gauge of 17 stitches and 24 rows equaling 4 inches (10 cm) over stockinette stitch using US size 7 (4.5mm) needles. Achieving this gauge is essential for the cowl to reach its finished circumference of 23 inches and depth of 8½ inches.