Rowan Brushed Fleece and Fur Cowl Knitting Pattern

Rowan Brushed Fleece & Fur Cowl by Sarah Hatton

What Is Being Made

The Rowan Brushed Fleece & Fur Cowl is a luxurious neck accessory designed to provide warmth and style. This cowl is worked as a flat rectangular piece that is seamed at the edges to create a continuous loop. The finished cowl measures 16 cm (6½ inches) in width by 72 cm (28½ inches) in length, making it an ideal length for wrapping around the neck multiple times or draping comfortably as a single-layer cowl.

Techniques Used

This pattern employs seamed construction and is worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round. The cowl begins with a cast-on edge and is worked in rows until reaching the desired length, after which the cast-on and cast-off edges are joined together to form the circular cowl shape. This flat-working method allows for straightforward row-by-row progression and makes it accessible for knitters of various skill levels.

Stitches Used

The cowl features a simple yet elegant stitch pattern that combines basic knitting techniques. The pattern uses:

• Knit stitches (K) for the main fabric structure
• Purl stitches (P) worked on the wrong-side rows to create texture
• Yarn forward (YF) and knit into front and back (K into front and back) increases on the right-side rows
• Knit two together (K2tog) decreases to maintain stitch count
• Garter stitch edges (knit stitches on both sides) worked at the beginning and end of each row to create neat, finished selvage edges

These two rows—the increase row and the purl row—form the repeating pattern throughout the cowl. The stitch pattern creates a subtle texture while remaining simple enough for intermediate knitters to execute confidently.

Stripe Sequence

The cowl features a two-color striped design that adds visual interest to the finished piece. The stripe sequence repeats every 10 rows:

• Rows 1 to 6: Worked using yarn A (Brushed Fleece)
• Rows 7 to 10: Worked using yarn B (Fur)

This 10-row stripe pattern is repeated continuously throughout the length of the cowl, creating horizontal stripes that alternate between the two yarn types.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Rowan Brushed Fleece & Fur Cowl requires two complementary yarns from the Rowan collection:

• Yarn A: Rowan Brushed Fleece in the colorway Crag 253 (1 × 50gm ball)
• Yarn B: Rowan Fur in the colorway Bear 091 (1 × 50gm ball)

The pattern notes that one ball of each yarn is sufficient to make two cowls, or alternatively, to create a single cowl that is twice as long. This makes the pattern economical and flexible for different preferences.

The cowl is worked on 1 pair of 6mm (US 10) needles, which are straight needles suitable for flat knitting. The recommended tension is 21 stitches and 15 rows to 10 cm (4 inches) measured over the pattern using 6mm needles. Achieving proper tension is important for obtaining the correct finished dimensions.

Construction Summary

The pattern begins by casting on 34 stitches using yarn A and 6mm needles. Knitters then work the two-row pattern repeat while simultaneously following the 10-row stripe sequence, continuing until the cowl reaches 72 cm in length. The final row is a cast-off row, and the two short ends are then seamed together to complete the cowl. This straightforward construction method makes it an excellent project for knitters looking to create a professional-looking accessory with minimal complexity.