Rowan Bassett Cowl Knitting Pattern

Rowan Bassett Cowl by Martin Storey

What is Being Made

The Rowan Bassett Cowl is a substantial knitted cowl designed to measure 129 cm (50¾ inches) in circumference and 23.5 cm (9¼ inches) in depth. This is a generous, loop-style cowl that can be worn draped around the neck or shoulders, providing excellent coverage and warmth. The finished piece forms a continuous loop through the joining of cast-on and cast-off edges.

Techniques Used

This cowl employs several key knitting techniques to create its finished design:

• Worked in the Round: The cowl is constructed using circular knitting methods with double-pointed needles, allowing for seamless construction in rounds rather than flat rows.
• Fairisle Technique: Stranded colorwork is used throughout, with the fairisle method creating the patterned design. Yarn not in use is stranded across the wrong side of the work, maintaining even tension and creating a reversible fabric.
• Seamed Construction: Although worked in the round, the cast-on and cast-off edges are joined together to form the completed loop, creating a seamed closure.

Stitches Used

The Bassett Cowl is worked almost entirely in stockinette stitch (st st), with every round consisting of knit stitches. This fundamental stitch creates a smooth, classic fabric that serves as the ideal canvas for the stranded colorwork pattern. The pattern itself is based on a 14-stitch repeat that is repeated 8 times around each round, with a 14-round pattern repeat that continues throughout the entire length of the cowl. This regular, repeating structure makes the pattern accessible while creating visual interest through color changes.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Rowan Bassett Cowl uses Rowan Moordale yarn in a three-color palette. The primary colorway consists of Pepper (color 002) in 1 x 100gm, Turmeric (color 003) in 2 x 100gm, and Ash (color 010) in 1 x 100gm. An alternative colorway option is also provided, featuring Pepper (002), Orange Peel (018), and French Navy (016).

The cowl is constructed using a set of 4 double-pointed needles in 4mm size (US 6). The pattern specifies working with these needles to achieve the correct gauge and fabric density required for the finished design.

Gauge and Finished Dimensions

The pattern requires a tension of 24 stitches and 25 rounds to 10 cm (measured over patterned stockinette stitch using 4mm needles). Achieving the correct gauge is essential for obtaining the finished measurements of 129 cm all round and 23.5 cm in depth. Proper blocking and pressing, as described in the pattern information, will help achieve and maintain the correct finished size.

Pattern Structure and Skill Level

The Rowan Bassett Cowl is designed as a downloadable PDF pattern (reference ZB297-00013-UK) by renowned designer Martin Storey. The pattern includes a chart for the fairisle colorwork, with clear indications of beginning and ending points for each round. The repeating nature of both the stitch pattern and the color pattern makes this project suitable for knitters with intermediate experience in circular knitting and stranded colorwork techniques.