Malabrigo Hester Cowl Knitting Pattern

Malabrigo Hester Two-Color Thorn Stitch Cowl

What Is Being Made

The Malabrigo Hester is a two-color thorn stitch cowl designed by Annabelle Speer. This cowl is a versatile neckwear accessory with a finished circumference of 54 inches (137 cm) and a width of 8½ inches (21.5 cm), making it a substantial, comfortable piece suitable for layering and everyday wear.

Craft and Skill Level

This is a knitting project classified as Easy skill level, making it accessible to knitters with basic experience. The design uses straightforward techniques and a repeating stitch pattern that becomes intuitive once established.

Techniques Used

The Hester cowl employs several key knitting techniques:

• Worked Flat: The cowl is knitted flat on straight needles rather than in the round, creating two separate pieces or a single long rectangular piece
• Seamed Construction: The cast-on and bound-off edges are sewn together to form the circular cowl shape, creating a seamless wearing experience
• Two-Color Striping: The pattern alternates between two yarn colors (Ivory or Marte as color A, and Black as color B) throughout the design, creating visual interest and depth
• Edging: After seaming, stitches are picked up along the side edges and bound off to create a finished, polished appearance

Stitches and Pattern Details

The Hester features a distinctive thorn stitch pattern that repeats over 8 rows. The pattern stitch uses a multiple of 4 stitches plus 5 additional stitches. Key stitches incorporated include:

• Yarn overs (yo): Create decorative eyelet holes that contribute to the thorn stitch texture
• Knit two together (k2tog) and slip, slip, knit (ssk): Decreases that shape the characteristic thorn formations
• Slip stitches with yarn in front (wyif) and yarn in back (wyib): Create the visual pattern and texture variations between color changes
• Purl stitches: Used on wrong-side rows to establish the base structure

The 8-row repeat pattern creates a rhythmic, textured fabric that showcases the interplay between the two yarn colors. Rows alternate between knit and purl foundations, with strategic yarn overs and decreases forming the thorn motif throughout.

Materials and Specifications

This pattern calls for Rios by Malabrigo yarn, a wool fiber available in 3½ oz (100g) hanks, each containing approximately 210 yards (192 meters). The yarn requirements are:

• 2 hanks in color A: either #138 Ivory or #121 Marte
• 1 hank in color B: #195 Black

The pattern is worked on size 8 (5mm) needles. Construction requires one pair of straight needles for the main cowl body, and one size 8 (5mm) circular needle measuring 40 inches (100 cm) long for picking up and finishing the side edges.

Gauge and Sizing

The recommended gauge is 21 stitches and 24 rows to 4 inches (10 cm) over the pattern stitch using size 8 (5mm) needles. Checking gauge before beginning is essential to ensure the finished cowl meets the intended measurements of 54 inches in circumference and 8½ inches in width.

Construction Overview

The cowl begins with casting on 45 stitches using color A. The thorn stitch pattern is then worked continuously until the piece reaches 54 inches (137 cm) from the cast-on edge, ending with a wrong-side row. A final knit row in color A is worked before binding off purlwise. The cast-on and bound-off edges are then seamed together to create the circular cowl form. Finally, stitches are picked up along both long side edges using the circular needle and color B yarn, then bound off purlwise to create a finished edge.