Salle + Highoak Cowl Knitting Pattern

Salle + Highoak in Mode at Rowan Chunky Wool

Overview

This downloadable knitting pattern from Quail Studio features two seamless in-the-round designs: the Salle Snood and the Highoak Hat. Both projects are worked using Mode at Rowan Chunky Wool and are suitable for advanced beginner knitters seeking to develop their circular knitting skills.

Salle Snood

What is Being Made: The Salle Snood is a large, versatile cowl designed to be worn folded at the neck for extra warmth and texture. The finished snood measures approximately 102 cm (40¼ inches) in circumference and 43 cm (17 inches) in depth, making it a substantial accessory suitable for layering.

Construction Technique: The snood is worked seamlessly in the round from the cast-on edge. The pattern employs a distinctive folding technique where the work is folded inward so that wrong sides face each other, then knitted across the row while simultaneously knitting into corresponding cast-on stitches. This creates a finished, reversible edge without requiring a traditional bind-off at that point. The piece is then continued in rounds until the desired length is achieved.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns: The Salle Snood uses fundamental knitting stitches including knit stitch, purl stitch, and make-one increases (M1) for shaping. The pattern begins with 6 rounds of knit stitch, followed by 1 round of purl stitch to create textural variation, then returns to knit stitch. After the folding technique is applied, the snood continues in stockinette stitch (rounds of knit) for the remainder of its length.

Materials and Tools: The snood is worked in Mode at Rowan Chunky Wool, a bulky-weight yarn. The pattern calls for 7mm (US 10½) circular needles for the initial cast-on and early rows, then transitions to 9mm (US 13) circular needles for the main body. A longer 9mm circular needle is recommended as the stitch count increases to accommodate the full circumference. A stitch marker is used to denote the beginning of each round. The pattern was photographed in Palm 018 and Mist 012 colorways.

Highoak Hat

What is Being Made: The Highoak Hat is a classic knit hat designed with a ribbed cuff and a shaped crown. The hat is worked seamlessly in the round and features decreases at the crown to create a fitted, tapered finish.

Construction Technique: The hat begins with a ribbed cuff worked flat in rows on 7mm (US 10½) needles, establishing a 1x1 rib pattern that provides stretch and recovery. After the cuff is complete, the work transitions to circular needles and continues in the round. The main body is worked in garter stitch (alternating knit and purl rounds), which creates a textured, reversible fabric. The crown shaping is accomplished through strategic decreases worked every other row, progressively reducing the stitch count to create the tapered top.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns: The Highoak Hat employs knit and purl stitches to create the 1x1 ribbed cuff, which is worked flat before joining to circular knitting. The main body uses garter stitch, created by alternating knit rounds with purl rounds when working in the round. Shaping is achieved through knit two together (K2tog) decreases positioned at regular intervals. Make-one increases (M1) are also used strategically during the transition from ribbed cuff to the main body to adjust stitch counts.

Materials and Tools: The Highoak Hat is knitted using Mode at Rowan Chunky Wool. The pattern requires 7mm (US 10½) circular needles for casting on and working the ribbed cuff section, with the cuff initially worked flat in rows. Once the cuff is complete, the work transitions to circular needles for seamless in-the-round knitting.

General Pattern Information

Difficulty Level: Both designs are classified as advanced beginner projects, making them suitable for knitters who have mastered basic stitches and are ready to develop skills in circular knitting, seamless construction, and shaping techniques.

Tension: The pattern specifies a tension of 10 stitches and 14 rounds to 10 cm (4 inches) measured over stockinette stitch using 9mm (US 11) needles. Achieving proper tension is essential for obtaining the correct finished measurements.

Format: This is a downloadable