Nina Cowl Knitting Pattern

Nina Cowl by Lisa Richardson

What is Being Made

The Nina Cowl is a circular knitted cowl designed by Lisa Richardson and published by Rowan. This finished accessory measures 94 cm (37 inches) in circumference and approximately 22 cm (8¾ inches) in depth, making it a versatile neckwear piece suitable for layering and everyday wear.

Craft and Skill Level

This is an intermediate-level knitting project. The pattern requires understanding of basic knitting techniques combined with the ability to work in the round and follow stitch pattern repeats across multiple rounds.

Techniques Used

• Knitting in the round using either double-pointed needles or circular needles
• Stitch marker placement to denote the beginning and end of rounds
• Even distribution of stitches across needles when using double-pointed needles
• Tension management to maintain consistent stitch width and elasticity
• Pressing and finishing techniques as detailed in pattern instructions

Stitches Used

• Knit stitch (K) – worked in flat rounds to create stockinette texture
• Purl stitch (P) – used for the initial cast-on round and final cast-off edge
• Purl two together (P2tog) – a decrease stitch that reduces stitch count by half
• Knit into front and back (K into front and back of every st) – an increase technique that doubles the stitch count

The pattern repeats across four rounds: knit, knit, purl two together (reducing to 122 stitches), and knit into front and back of every stitch (increasing back to 244 stitches). This creates a textured, elastic fabric with built-in shaping.

Materials

The Nina Cowl is worked in Rowan Alpaca Soft DK, a lightweight double-knit weight yarn. The pattern is photographed in the colorway Brick 218. The yarn is supplied in 50-gram balls, and the pattern requires 244 cast-on stitches to achieve the finished circumference.

Needles required are 4½mm (US 7) needles, available in two options: a set of 4 double-pointed needles, or a 4½mm circular needle no longer than 80 cm. The pattern specifies using a circular needle no more than 80 cm long to ensure proper fabric control when working with the large stitch count.

Tension and Finished Measurements

The recommended tension is 26 stitches and 32 rounds to 10 cm (measured over pattern using 4½mm needles). Achieving correct tension is essential for obtaining the proper finished size and shape of the cowl. The completed project measures 94 cm in circumference and 22 cm in depth.