Malabrigo Greenway Cowl Knitting Pattern

Malabrigo Greenway Brioche-Rib Cowl

What Is Being Made

The Greenway is a seamless, reversible cowl designed by Emily Whitted for Malabrigo Yarn. This cowl is worked in the round using the brioche-rib stitch pattern, creating a luxurious, textured accessory with a finished width of approximately 48 inches around and a depth of 6½ inches. The reversible nature of the brioche pattern means the cowl looks polished and intentional on either side, making it a versatile piece suitable for various styling preferences.

Techniques Used

This project employs seamless, in-the-round knitting, a technique that eliminates the need for seaming by working continuously in circular rows. The cowl is constructed using the brioche-rib stitch pattern, which is an advanced technique requiring experienced knitting skills. The brioche stitch creates a distinctive textured appearance through a combination of knit and purl stitches worked with yarn overs and brioche decreases. The pattern incorporates two-color brioche work, where alternating light and dark colors are used to enhance the dimensional quality of the ribbed texture. Finishing techniques include picking up stitches along the cast-on edge to create a coordinated lower edging, followed by binding off loosely to maintain elasticity.

Stitches Used

• Brioche Knit (brk): A foundational brioche stitch that creates the characteristic raised texture
• Brioche Purl (brp): The purl counterpart to brioche knit, used to build the reversible pattern
• Slip 1 Yarn Over (sl1yo): Slipping a stitch while creating a yarn over, essential to brioche construction
• Brioche Right Decrease (brLsldec): A decrease stitch specific to brioche patterns
• Knit (k) and Purl (p): Basic stitches used in setup rows and edging
• Yarn Over (yo): Creates new stitches and contributes to the openness of the brioche pattern

Pattern Structure

The brioche-rib pattern is worked over 4 rows, which are then repeated 8 times to build the main body of the cowl. The pattern alternates between light-side (LS) and dark-side (DS) rows, utilizing both the light color (LC) and dark color (DC) throughout. A setup row establishes the brioche foundation, followed by the repeating 4-row pattern unit. After completing the brioche section, finishing rows of knit and purl are worked before binding off. The lower edging is created by picking up stitches along the cast-on edge and working additional rows before a final bind-off.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

This cowl is designed to be worked with Malabrigo Rios yarn, a superwash merino wool available in 3½ ounce (100 gram) hanks, with each hank containing approximately 210 yards (192 meters). The pattern requires 1 hank each in two colors: #128 Fresco y Seco (the light color) and #52 Paris Night (the dark color). The yarn is worked on a size 8 (5 mm) circular needle measuring 40 inches (100 centimeters) in length, or a size that achieves the specified gauge. The circular needle format is essential for seamless, in-the-round construction. A tapestry needle is also needed for finishing and weaving in yarn ends.

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern specifies a gauge of 19 stitches and 21 rounds over 4 inches (10 centimeters) when working the brioche-rib pattern using size 8 (5 mm) needles. Achieving proper gauge is critical for this project, as brioche stitches are dense and textured, and gauge variations will significantly affect the final dimensions. The cowl is cast on with 225 stitches to achieve the finished width of approximately 48 inches around.

Skill Level

This pattern is rated for experienced knitters. The brioche-rib stitch is an advanced technique requiring familiarity with yarn overs, specialized decreases, and the ability to work with two colors simultaneously. Knitters should be comfortable reading complex stitch patterns and managing multiple stitches on circular needles before attempting this project.