String Clara Cowl Hat Knitting Pattern

String Clara Cowl: Luxurious Cashmere Cable Cowl

What Is Being Made

The Clara Cowl is a sophisticated neck accessory designed by Mary Beth Kelso, featuring an elegant cable pattern worked in a premium cashmere-blend yarn. This one-size cowl measures 22 inches in circumference and 10 inches in height, making it a versatile piece suitable for layering over various necklines. The finished cowl provides warmth and style with its distinctive textured cable design.

Techniques Used

This knitting project employs several intermediate-level techniques that create both visual interest and structural integrity. The cowl is worked seamlessly in the round, eliminating the need for seaming and creating a smooth, continuous fabric. The construction follows a bottom-up approach, beginning with a cast-on at the top edge and progressing downward to the bottom ribbed edge. Cable crossing is the primary decorative technique, with cables worked at regular intervals throughout the body of the cowl to create the signature textured pattern.

Stitches Used

The Clara Cowl incorporates two primary stitch patterns that work together to create the finished design:

• K3/P3 Rib: A classic alternating knit and purl rib pattern that appears at both the top and bottom edges of the cowl. This ribbing provides stretch and recovery, ensuring the cowl maintains its shape and sits securely around the neck. The ribbing is worked for 1¼ inches at each end.
• Cable Pattern: The main body features a 12-round repeating cable pattern worked over 12 stitches. The pattern alternates between five rounds of stockinette knit and cable crossing rounds. Cable crosses include 3/3 LC (3 over 3 left cross) and 3/3 RC (3 over 3 right cross) maneuvers, where three stitches are slipped to a cable needle, held to either the front or back, and then crossed over three additional stitches. The cable pattern is repeated four complete times, followed by five additional rounds of stockinette, creating a balanced, symmetrical design.

Materials and Gauge

The Clara Cowl is crafted using String Geneva yarn, a premium blend of 90% cashmere and 10% lambswool. Two balls of yarn are required, with each ball containing 1.75 ounces and 156 yards of yardage. The yarn is worked in color #517089 military, a sophisticated neutral tone.

Two circular needles are required: a US 5 (3.75mm) 16-inch circular needle for the ribbed sections and a US 8 (5mm) 16-inch circular needle for the main cable pattern body. A cable needle is necessary for executing the cable crosses. The pattern specifies a gauge of 24 stitches and 28 rows over 4 inches on the size 8 needle in the cable pattern, and knitters are strongly encouraged to check gauge before beginning to ensure proper fit and drape.

Construction Notes

The cowl begins with 132 stitches cast on using the smaller needle, then joined to work in the round with careful attention to avoid twisting. After completing the initial ribbing, the needle is changed to the larger size to accommodate the cable pattern. The pattern notes that for a snugger fit at the bottom edge, knitters may optionally switch back to the smaller needle for the final ribbing section before binding off. This flexibility allows for customization based on personal preference and fit requirements.