Rowan Lingmoor Cowl Knitting Pattern

Rowan Lingmoor Cowl by Lisa Richardson

What is Being Made

The Rowan Lingmoor Cowl is a seamless infinity scarf designed to be worn as a continuous loop. When completed, the cowl measures 170 centimeters (67 inches) all around and 18 centimeters (7 inches) in depth, creating a generous cowl suitable for layering or wearing as a statement accessory.

Techniques Used

This cowl is constructed using several key knitting techniques that create both visual interest and structural integrity:

• Worked in the Round: The entire cowl is knitted circularly using long circular needles, eliminating the need for seaming and creating a seamless finished garment.
• Bottom-Up Construction: The cowl is worked from the cast-on edge upward, allowing knitters to try on the piece as it grows and adjust the final length if desired.
• Stranded Colorwork (Fair Isle): The pattern features a 24-stitch repeat that is worked using the fair isle technique, a traditional method of carrying two colors across a round and stranding the unused yarn inside the fabric to create a dense, warm textile.
• Twisted Cast-On Edge: The cowl begins with a twisted cast-on edge that is rotated 360 degrees to form a completed twisted loop, creating a distinctive and secure foundation.

Stitches Used

The Rowan Lingmoor Cowl employs a limited but effective stitch palette:

• Ribbing (K2, P2): Used for the cast-on and cast-off edges, this elastic rib provides structure and helps the cowl maintain its shape. The ribbed sections are worked for 6 rounds at both the beginning and end of the piece.
• Stockinette Stitch (St St): The main body of the cowl is worked entirely in stockinette stitch (knitting every round), which creates a smooth, flat canvas for the stranded colorwork pattern to stand out clearly.
• Fair Isle Patterning: A 24-stitch pattern repeat is repeated 17 times around each round for a total of 38 rounds, creating an intricate two-color design that is integrated into the stockinette base.

Materials and Gauge

The Rowan Lingmoor Cowl is worked in Rowan Moordale yarn, a premium wool blend that provides warmth and drape. The pattern calls for two colors: Feather 001 (2 x 100 grams) for the primary color and Bronzed 006 (1 x 100 grams) for the contrast colorwork.

Two sizes of circular needles are required: 3¼mm (US 3) circular needles at least 120 centimeters long for the ribbed sections, and 4mm (US 6) circular needles at least 120 centimeters long for the main patterned body. The longer needle length accommodates the large stitch count (408 stitches cast on) without crowding.

The tension is measured at 20 to 24 stitches and 27 rounds to 10 centimeters over patterned stockinette stitch using the 4mm needles. Achieving proper tension is essential for obtaining the finished dimensions and ensuring the stranded colorwork sits correctly within the fabric.

Pattern Structure

The construction follows a logical progression: After casting on 408 stitches and working the twisted cast-on edge, knitters work 6 rounds of K2, P2 ribbing. The needle is then changed to the larger size, and the 38-row fair isle chart is worked, with the 24-stitch pattern repeat repeated 17 times per round. Once the charted pattern is complete, the yarn is cut and the work continues in the original color only. The needle is switched back to the smaller size, and 6 rounds of ribbing are worked before casting off in rib to match the beginning edge.