Old Salty Cowl & Hand Warmers Knitting Pattern

Old Salty Cowl & Hand Warmers in Juniper Moon Farm Stratus

What Is Being Made

This downloadable knitting pattern set includes two coordinating accessories: a cozy cowl neck warmer and a pair of hand warmers (mittens). Both pieces are designed to be knitted using the same yarn and complementary construction techniques, making them ideal companion projects for a complete winter accessory set.

Cowl Overview

The cowl is a one-size accessory that measures 22 inches in circumference and 11½ inches in height, creating a generous neck wrap suitable for most adults. This piece is worked in the round using a circular needle, resulting in a seamless, tubular construction that provides excellent drape and comfort.

Hand Warmers Overview

The hand warmers are offered in three sizes—Small, Medium, and Large—to accommodate various hand circumferences of 7, 8, and 9 inches respectively. Each mitt measures 8½ inches in length and is constructed as a pair. The mittens feature a practical thumb slit design that allows for easy hand access while maintaining warmth around the fingers and palm.

Techniques Used

Circular knitting: Both the cowl and hand warmers are primarily worked in the round using either a circular needle or double-pointed needles. This technique eliminates the need for seaming and creates a smooth, continuous fabric.

Fisherman's Rib: The primary stitch pattern for both projects is Fisherman's Rib, worked in the round for the main body sections. This textured stitch creates a dense, elastic fabric with excellent insulating properties. The pattern includes specialized instructions for working Fisherman's Rib flat over the thumb slit section of the mittens, demonstrating pattern adaptation for construction purposes.

Thumb slit construction: The hand warmers feature a deliberate opening for the thumb, created by binding off stitches and then working flat over this section before rejoining for circular knitting. This technique allows the mittens to fit snugly while accommodating the thumb separately.

Steam blocking: Both finished pieces are lightly steam blocked to set the gauge and enhance the appearance of the Fisherman's Rib texture.

Stitches and Stitch Details

• Fisherman's Rib: The primary pattern stitch for both projects, creating a thick, textured, and highly elastic fabric
• Garter stitch: Used for the edge sections (4 rounds of knit stitches at the beginning and end of both the cowl and mittens) to create a finished, non-rolling edge
• K1b (knit one below): A specialized stitch used in the Fisherman's Rib pattern, worked by inserting the needle into the stitch below the next stitch to be worked
• P1b (purl one below): The purl equivalent of K1b, used in the Fisherman's Rib pattern by inserting the needle from back to front into the stitch below
• Backward loop cast-on: Used to add stitches when reopening the thumb slit section

Materials and Tools

Yarn: The entire pattern set uses Juniper Moon Farm Stratus yarn in colorway #101 Falling Star. The cowl requires 2 skeins of 50 grams each, while the hand warmers require 1 skein of 50 grams. Juniper Moon Farm Stratus is a smooth, versatile yarn well-suited to stitch definition in textured patterns like Fisherman's Rib.

Needles: The cowl is worked on a US size 10 (6mm) circular needle measuring 16 inches in length. The hand warmers are worked on a US size 10 (6mm) set of 5 double-pointed needles. Both needle sizes are selected to achieve the required gauge of 16 stitches and 22 rows over 4 inches in Fisherman's Rib after lightly steam blocking.

Notions: The pattern requires a stitch marker for tracking round beginnings and a tapestry needle for weaving in ends.

Skill Level

This pattern is rated as beginner-friendly, making it accessible to knitters new to circular needle techniques and textured stitch patterns. The straightforward construction, minimal shaping, and clear instructions support skill development in foundational knitting methods.