Madelinetosh Bubble Wrap Cowl Knitting Pattern

Madelinetosh Bubble Wrap Cowl

What Is Being Made

The Bubble Wrap Cowl is a comfortable and stylish neck accessory designed by Antonia Shankland. This cowl is worked in the round and features a distinctive bubble stitch pattern created through strategic yarn manipulation. The pattern is written to accommodate two different yarn weights, allowing knitters to customize their finished garment based on their preferred yarn choice and desired drape.

Techniques Used

This cowl is worked in the round using circular needles, which creates a seamless, tubular construction. The primary technique featured in this pattern is the bubble stitch, which creates three-dimensional texture through a drop stitch method. The bubble stitch involves deliberately dropping stitches off the needle, unraveling them down multiple rows, and then picking up the stitch from several rows below while catching the loose strands behind the working stitch. This creates the signature bubble effect that gives the cowl its name and visual interest. The pattern also incorporates color work using two coordinating colors (Color A and Color B) that are carried throughout the rounds, creating a striped foundation with bubble texture overlays. The slip stitch pattern is described as simple to memorize, making this an excellent portable knitting project suitable for various skill levels.

Stitches Used

• Knit stitch ― The foundational stitch used throughout most rounds
• Drop stitch ― Stitches are intentionally dropped and unraveled down 4 rows to create the bubble texture
• Slip stitch pattern ― A simple, repeatable pattern that forms the structure of the design

Pattern Structure

The Bubble Wrap Cowl follows a 12-row repeat pattern. The first four rows are worked in Color A using stockinette stitch. Row 5 introduces Color B and the bubble stitch technique, where stitches are dropped and picked up from Row 1 below, catching four loose strands behind the working stitch. Row 6 continues in Color B with stockinette stitch. Rows 7 through 10 return to Color A stockinette. Row 11 repeats the drop stitch bubble technique, this time picking up from the 5th row below. Row 12 completes the repeat in Color B stockinette. This 12-row sequence is repeated until the cowl reaches the desired height of approximately 12 inches, with finishing rows worked in Color B before binding off.

Materials

The pattern offers flexibility through two yarn weight options:

DK Weight Version

• Yarn: Madelinetosh Tosh DK (225 yards per skein) ― 2 skeins in Geranium (Color A) and 1 skein in Smokestack (Color B)
• Needles: US size 5 circular needle
• Gauge: 5 stitches = 1 inch in stockinette stitch
• Cast-on: 268 stitches

Fingerling Weight Version

• Yarn: Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light (420 yards per skein) ― 2 skeins in Geranium (Color A) and 1 skein in Smokestack (Color B)
• Gauge: 6 stitches = 1 inch in stockinette stitch

Both versions use the same circular needle size and cast-on stitch count, with the gauge difference accounting for the yarn weight variation. The color combination of Geranium and Smokestack creates a striking contrast, though the pattern notes that color combinations are endless, with each variation yielding a completely different aesthetic.

Finished Dimensions

The cowl is designed to measure approximately 12 inches in height, though knitters can customize this measurement by continuing the 12-row pattern repeat until reaching their desired length. The pattern should be finished on either row 6 or row 12 of the bubble stitch pattern to maintain consistency in the design.