Malabrigo Broome Cowl Knitting Pattern

Malabrigo Broome Braided Cable Cowl

What is Being Made

The Malabrigo Broome is a braided cable cowl designed by Vanessa Putt, featured in Malabrigo Book 5 in Soho. This is a seamless, tubular cowl worked in the round that measures 25½ inches in circumference and 9 inches in length, making it a versatile neckwear piece suitable for layering and everyday wear.

Techniques Used

This cowl employs several key knitting techniques to create its distinctive appearance:

• Seamless construction: The entire cowl is worked in the round using double-pointed needles, eliminating the need for seaming
• Worked in the round: Using circular needles (double-pointed needles in this case), the fabric is created continuously in a spiral
• Cable work: The pattern features braided cables that form the visual centerpiece of the design
• Increases and decreases: Strategic shaping is achieved through make-one increases at the beginning and knit-two-together decreases to transition between sections
• Garter stitch: Used for the ribbed edging sections, created by alternating knit and purl rounds in circular knitting

Stitches Used

The Broome cowl incorporates the following stitches:

• Knit stitch: The foundation stitch used throughout most of the pattern
• Purl stitch: Used in alternating rounds to create garter stitch texture at the top and bottom edges
• 8-stitch left cable (8-st LC): Slip 4 stitches to cable needle and hold to front, knit 4 stitches, then knit 4 stitches from cable needle, creating a left-leaning braided effect
• 8-stitch right cable (8-st RC): Slip 4 stitches to cable needle and hold to back, knit 4 stitches, then knit 4 stitches from cable needle, creating a right-leaning braided effect
• Make-one increase (M1): Used to increase stitch count from 48 to 96 stitches before the cable pattern begins
• Knit-two-together decrease (K2tog): Used to decrease stitches back to 48 for the finishing edge

Cable Pattern Repeat

The cable pattern is worked over 8 rounds and repeats twice during the main body of the cowl. The pattern alternates between plain knit rounds and cable rounds, with the left and right cables positioned to create a braided, interlocking visual effect. This creates a dynamic texture that is both visually interesting and structurally sound.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

Yarn: The Broome cowl is designed to be worked with Rasta by Malabrigo, a wool yarn. The pattern requires 2 hanks of 5.3 ounces (150 grams) each, with each hank providing approximately 90 yards (82 meters) of yardage. This yarn is available in multiple colorways, including #96 Sunset, #37 Lettuce, and #412 Teal Feather, allowing for personalization based on color preference.

Needles: The pattern calls for two sets of double-pointed needles (dpn) in sizes 15 and 10 millimeters (US sizes 15 and 17). The smaller needles are used for the initial cast-on and garter stitch edging, while the larger needles are used for the main cable pattern section. Double-pointed needles allow for seamless circular knitting in the round.

Additional notions: A cable needle (cn) is required for executing the cable stitches, and stitch markers are needed to indicate the beginning of each round.

Skill Level

This pattern is rated as Easy skill level, making it accessible to knitters with basic experience who are ready to explore cable techniques. The straightforward cable pattern and simple stitch combinations make it an excellent introduction to cable knitting within a seamless, in-the-round project.

Gauge

The pattern specifies a gauge of 15 stitches and 14 rounds over 4 inches (10 centimeters) when measured over