Rowan Curlew Cowl Knitting Pattern

Rowan Curlew Cowl by Martin Storey

What is Being Made

The Rowan Curlew is a seamless knitted cowl designed by Martin Storey. This finished garment measures 47 cm (18½ inches) in length, with a lower edge circumference of 91 cm (35¾ inches) and an upper edge circumference of 74 cm (29¾ inches). The cowl features a sophisticated cable pattern that gradually tapers from the wider lower edge to a narrower upper edge, creating an elegant draped neckwear piece.

Techniques Used

This cowl is constructed using several advanced knitting techniques that create its distinctive appearance and structure:

• Seamless, worked in the round: The entire cowl is knitted in continuous rounds using circular needles, eliminating the need for seaming and creating a smooth, professional finish.
• Bottom-up construction: The cowl is worked from the cast-on edge at the lower, wider section upward toward the narrower upper edge.
• Cable work: Multiple cable stitches are incorporated throughout the pattern, including C4B (cable 4 back), C4F (cable 4 front), and C6B (cable 6 back) abbreviations, which create the textured, twisted rope-like motifs characteristic of cable knitting.
• Decreasing shaping: Strategic decreases using purl two together (P2tog) are worked at specific intervals to gradually reduce the stitch count and create the tapered silhouette from 264 stitches down to 216 stitches across multiple decrease rounds.
• Charted pattern repeats: The design uses multiple stitch charts (Chart A, Chart B, and Chart C) that are repeated across rounds, with Chart B being the primary pattern repeat worked for 37 rounds.

Stitches Used

The Rowan Curlew employs a variety of fundamental and decorative knitting stitches to achieve its textured cable pattern:

• Knit stitch (K): The primary stitch forming the base of the fabric.
• Purl stitch (P): Used to create reverse stockinette stitch sections that provide contrast and definition between cable motifs.
• Cable stitches: C4B and C4F stitches (slipping 2 stitches onto a cable needle, knitting the next 2 stitches, then knitting the held stitches) create 4-stitch cables, while C6B creates a 6-stitch cable. These stitches are worked using a cable needle to temporarily hold stitches while crossing them over active stitches.
• Purl two together (P2tog): A left-leaning decrease used strategically in decrease rounds to shape the cowl's taper.
• Reverse stockinette stitch: Sections of purl stitches worked on the right side create the recessed background between raised cable columns.

Materials

The Rowan Curlew pattern calls for specific materials to achieve the correct gauge and finished dimensions:

• Yarn: Rowan Moordale, 3 balls of 100 grams each (300 grams total). The sample shown in the pattern is photographed in colorway Pewter 012.
• Needles: Two circular needles are required—a 3¼mm (US 3) circular needle no more than 80 cm long for the initial cast-on and final rounds, and a 4mm (US 6) circular needle no more than 80 cm long for the main pattern sections. A cable needle is also needed for executing the cable stitches.
• Gauge: The pattern is designed to achieve a gauge of 29 stitches and 30 rows to 10 cm (4 inches) when measured over pattern using the 4mm (US 6) needles. Achieving correct gauge is essential for the cowl to reach the specified finished dimensions.

Pattern Structure and Progression

The cowl is worked in distinct sections with specific stitch counts and pattern charts. The construction begins with a cast-on of 264 stitches worked on the smaller 3¼mm needles, establishing the wider lower edge. The pattern progresses through Chart A (rounds 1–12), then transitions to the main pattern repeat from Chart B, which is worked for 37 rounds. Strategic decrease rounds reduce the stitch count to 240 stitches, then