Malabrigo West Broadway Cowl Knitting Pattern

Malabrigo West Broadway Reversible Two-Color Cowl

What Is Being Made

The West Broadway is a reversible two-color cowl designed by Yoko Hatta, featured in Malabrigo Book 5 In Soho. This cowl showcases a striking reversible design that allows you to wear it with either color facing outward, making it a versatile accessory. The finished cowl measures 50¾ inches in circumference and 13 inches in length, making it a generous neck wrap suitable for layering or wearing as a statement piece.

Techniques Used

This cowl is constructed using seamless knitting worked in the round, which eliminates the need for seaming and creates a smooth, continuous fabric. The primary decorative technique featured is cable knitting, which creates raised textured patterns across the surface of the cowl. The reversible nature of the design means both sides display the cable pattern beautifully, allowing crafters to choose their preferred color orientation depending on their outfit or mood.

Stitches Used

The West Broadway employs a repeating cable pattern worked over a multiple of 6 stitches. The pattern alternates between two rounds:

• Round 1: Purl 4 stitches, then work a 2-stitch right cable (slip 1 stitch to cable needle and hold to back, knit 1, knit 1 from cable needle). This sequence repeats to the end of the round.
• Round 2: Purl 4 stitches, knit 2 stitches. This sequence repeats to the end of the round.

These two rounds form the complete cable pattern, which is repeated throughout the cowl. The combination of purl and knit stitches creates the textured, reversible appearance that defines this design. The pattern is classified as Easy skill level, making it accessible to knitters with basic cable experience.

Materials

The West Broadway is designed to be worked in Worsted by Malabrigo, a wool yarn produced by Malabrigo Yarn of Montevideo, Uruguay. You will need 2 hanks each in two contrasting colors: #27 Bobby Blue (Color A) and #242 Intenso (Color B). Each hank weighs 3½ ounces (100 grams) and contains approximately 210 yards (192 meters) of yarn, providing ample yardage for the 216 cast-on stitches and 80 rounds of cable pattern work.

The cowl is worked on a Size 9 (5.5mm) circular needle measuring 40 inches (100 centimeters) in length, which accommodates the 216 stitches comfortably for working in the round. Additional notions include a cable needle for manipulating stitches during cable crossings and a stitch marker to denote the beginning of each round. The recommended gauge is 17 stitches and 24 rows to 4 inches (10 centimeters) measured over the cable pattern using Size 9 needles.