Rowan 08 Scallop Cowl Knitting Pattern

Rowan 08 Scallop Cowl by Lisa Richardson

What is Being Made

The Rowan 08 Scallop Cowl is a knitted cowl designed by Lisa Richardson. This is a circular neckwear piece that measures 76.5 cm (30 inches) all around and is 19 cm (7½ inches) deep, making it a substantial cowl suitable for layering or wearing as a statement accessory.

Difficulty Level and Suitability

This is an intermediate-level knitting project, appropriate for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to work with circular needles and understand pattern repeats and shaping techniques.

Knitting Techniques Used

The Scallop Cowl employs several key knitting techniques:

• Circular knitting: The entire cowl is worked in the round using circular needles, eliminating the need for seaming
• Ribbed edging: Both the cast-on and cast-off edges feature knit and purl ribbing for a finished, elastic appearance
• Decreasing and yarn forward increases: The pattern uses K2tog (knit two together) decreases and yfwd (yarn forward) increases to create the scalloped shaping detail
• Stitch markers: A center marker is placed to track pattern symmetry and shaping on both sides of the cowl
• Pattern repeats: The design uses a 6-round repeat that is worked multiple times to build the full depth of the cowl

Stitches Used

The Scallop Cowl incorporates the following stitches:

• Knit (K): The primary stitch forming stockinette stitch sections
• Purl (P): Used in ribbed sections and as part of the pattern detail
• K2tog (knit two together): A right-leaning decrease used in the scallop shaping
• Sl 1, K1, psso (slip one, knit one, pass slipped stitch over): A left-leaning decrease used in the scallop shaping
• Yfwd (yarn forward): Creates eyelet holes as part of the decorative scallop pattern
• Stockinette stitch (st st): Smooth knit fabric formed by knitting on right-side rounds and purling on wrong-side rounds
• Ribbing: Alternating knit and purl stitches (K1, P2 pattern) for elastic edges

Materials: Yarn and Needles

Yarn: The cowl is worked in Rowan Felted Tweed, a wool-based yarn supplied in 50-gram balls. The pattern was photographed in the colorway Chestnut 024. The yarn weight and fiber content of Felted Tweed make it suitable for creating a fabric with good stitch definition and drape.

Needles: The project requires two sizes of circular needles:

• 3¼mm (US 3) circular needle – no more than 70 cm long – used for the ribbed cast-on edge and final ribbed edging
• 3¾mm (US 5) circular needle – no more than 70 cm long – used for the main body and pattern sections

Tension and Gauge

The pattern specifies a tension of 24 stitches and 32 rows to 10 cm (4 inches) measured over stockinette stitch using the 3¾mm (US 5) needles. Achieving the correct tension is essential for the finished cowl to measure the specified dimensions and for the scallop shaping to appear as designed.

Pattern Construction

The cowl begins with a cast-on of 184 stitches on the smaller needles, worked in ribbing. The work then transitions to the larger needles and stockinette stitch with the scallop pattern. The pattern is organized as a 6-round repeat featuring symmetrical decreases and yarn forward increases positioned around a center marker. This repeat is worked 7 times, followed by a partial repeat of rounds 1 through