Rowan 04 Snood Cowl Knitting Pattern

Rowan 04 Snood: Knitted Cowl Pattern

What Is Being Made

The Rowan 04 Snood is a classic knitted cowl designed by Quail Studio. This finished accessory measures 78 cm (30¾ inches) in circumference and 16 cm (6¼ inches) in depth, making it a versatile neckwear piece suitable for layering and everyday wear.

Craft and Construction Method

This is a knitting project worked using the bottom-up, flat construction method. The snood is knitted flat on straight needles and then seamed together at the side edges to create the circular cowl shape. This approach allows for straightforward pattern work and easy finishing without the need for circular needles or complex joining techniques.

Techniques Used

• Flat knitting: The entire snood is worked flat on 10mm needles rather than in the round
• Double yarn holding: Yarn is held double throughout the project to achieve the correct tension and fabric density
• Mattress stitch seaming: Side edges are joined using mattress stitch, a nearly invisible seaming technique that creates a professional finish
• Pressing: The finished piece is pressed according to standard finishing instructions to even out the fabric and set the stitches

Stitches and Stitch Pattern

The snood features a simple two-row repeat pattern that alternates between knit and purl stitches. Row 1 is worked entirely in knit stitches on the right side. Row 2 establishes the repeating pattern with P2, K2 repeated across, ending with P2. This creates a subtle ribbed texture that provides elasticity and visual interest while remaining accessible for skill level 1 knitters.

Materials and Specifications

Yarn: Rowan Merino Aria, a premium merino wool blend. The pattern requires 2 x 50gm balls (100 grams total). The photographed sample is shown in Biscuit 048, a warm neutral colorway.

Needles: 10mm (US 15) straight needles are required for this project.

Tension: The pattern is designed to achieve 10 stitches and 15 rows over 10 cm (4 inches) when measured over the stitch pattern using 10mm needles with yarn held double.

Pattern Overview

Cast on 78 stitches using the double yarn and 10mm needles. The first row is a knit row on the right side, followed by the establishment of the P2, K2 ribbed pattern. Continue working in this pattern repeat until the piece measures 16 cm in length, ending on a right-side row. Cast off knitwise to complete the flat rectangle. The two short side edges are then joined using mattress stitch to form the finished cowl.