Stacy Charles Fine Yarns Edith Cowl Knitting Pattern

Stacy Charles Fine Yarns Edith Cowl

What is Being Made

The Edith Cowl is a sophisticated neck accessory designed by Teresa Chorzepa. This cowl features a buttoned closure and measures 40 inches in circumference with a width of 19 inches, making it a versatile piece suitable for draping around the neck multiple times or wearing as a single-layer wrap. The design combines classic cable work with a refined silhouette, offering both warmth and style for everyday wear.

Techniques Used

This knitting pattern employs several key techniques to create its distinctive appearance and structure:

• 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.
• Seamless Knitting: The cowl is worked in one continuous piece without seaming, creating a smooth, professional finish.
• Worked Flat: Despite being seamless, the piece is knitted flat on straight needles rather than in the round, then buttoned together at the edges to form the cowl shape.
• Cable Techniques: The pattern features cable crosses using a cable needle, specifically C6B (cable 6 back) and C6F (cable 6 front) stitches that create the dimensional, twisted rope effects characteristic of cable knitting.

Stitches Used

The Edith Cowl incorporates two primary stitch patterns that work together to create visual interest and structure:

• K1, P1 Rib: A foundational ribbed stitch used for the edging sections at the beginning and end of the cowl. This elastic stitch creates vertical lines and helps the fabric maintain its shape and drape. The rib is worked over a multiple of 2 stitches plus 1, creating a balanced, reversible texture.
• Open Cable Pattern: The main stitch pattern featuring dramatic cable crosses worked over a 12-stitch repeat plus 9 stitches. This pattern alternates between plain knit and purl rows and cable cross rows, creating an open, airy quality to the cables. The pattern repeats over 12 rows, with cable crosses occurring on rows 3 and 9, allowing the cables to stand out prominently against the stockinette background.

The pattern also uses standard decreases including K2tog (knit 2 together) and P2tog (purl 2 together) for shaping, as well as yarn overs for creating buttonholes.

Materials

The Edith Cowl pattern calls for specific materials to achieve its intended drape and appearance:

• Yarn: Three balls of S. Charles Collezione RITRATTO, a luxurious blend composed of 53% viscose, 28% kid mohair, 10% nylon, and 9% polyester. Each ball contains 1.75 ounces (50 grams) and provides 198 yards (180 meters) of yardage. The recommended colorway is #128 starry night, a sophisticated shade that complements the cable pattern.
• Needles: One pair of size 7 (4.5mm) straight needles, or the size needed to obtain the correct gauge of 22 stitches and 20 rows over 4 inches (10 centimeters) in the Open Cable Pattern.
• Notions: A cable needle for executing the cable crosses, five buttons measuring ⅞ inch (22 millimeters) in diameter for the buttoned closure, and a yarn needle for weaving in ends.

The yarn blend of viscose and kid mohair creates a soft, drapey fabric with a subtle sheen, making the cable pattern particularly striking. The nylon and polyester content adds durability and helps the piece maintain its shape through wear and washing.