String Sarah Cowl Knitting Pattern

String Sarah Cowl: Luxurious Cable Knit Cowl Pattern

What is Being Made

The Sarah Cowl is a one-size-fits-most neck cowl designed by Rosemary Drysdale and published by String Yarns. This finished cowl measures 21 inches in circumference and 7 inches in height, making it a versatile layering piece suitable for most adult wearers. The cowl is worked as a seamless tube using the in-the-round knitting method, creating a continuous, finished garment without seams.

Knitting Techniques Used

This pattern employs two primary knitting techniques to create visual interest and structure. The cowl features cable knitting, which involves crossing groups of stitches over one another to create raised, twisted textures characteristic of traditional cable designs. The cables are worked using a cable needle, a specialized tool that temporarily holds stitches while others are knitted, allowing the stitches to be crossed in the desired direction.

The entire project is worked in the round using a circular needle, a technique that eliminates the need for seaming and creates a seamless, professional finish. Working in the round means stitches are cast onto a circular needle and joined to form a continuous loop, with knitting progressing in spiral rounds rather than back-and-forth rows. This method is particularly advantageous for cowls and other tubular garments.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Sarah Cowl utilizes two distinct stitch patterns that work together to create the finished design:

• Knit 1, Purl 1 Ribbing (K1, P1 Rib): This foundational stitch pattern alternates single knit stitches with single purl stitches around each round. Ribbing is worked at the beginning and end of the cowl (4 rounds each) to create elasticity and a finished edge. The ribbed sections frame the central cable pattern and help the cowl maintain its shape and fit.
• Cable Pattern: The central design features a repeating cable pattern worked over a 10-stitch multiple. The pattern repeats every 8 rounds and includes two primary cable crosses: C4F (cable 4 front, where 2 stitches are slipped to a cable needle and held in front while 2 stitches are knitted, then the held stitches are knitted) and C4B (cable 4 back, the reverse maneuver with the cable needle held in back). Between the cable crosses, stockinette stitches (knit stitches) and reverse stockinette stitches (purl stitches) create contrast and definition. The pattern is repeated 5 times vertically to build the 7-inch height.

Materials and Gauge

The Sarah Cowl requires minimal yardage, calling for just 1 ball of String TUSCANY yarn in color #517490 caramel tweed. This luxurious blend contains 58% cashmere, 28% lambswool, 8% silk, and 6% other fibers, providing exceptional softness and warmth. One ball provides 154 yards (141 meters) of yarn at a weight of 1.75 ounces (50 grams).

The pattern specifies US 8 (5.0mm) circular needles measuring 16 inches (40 centimeters) long, or whatever size is necessary to obtain the correct gauge. Additional tools include a cable needle for executing cable crosses, stitch markers to track pattern repeats and the beginning of rounds, and a yarn needle for weaving in ends during finishing.

Achieving the correct gauge is essential for proper fit. The pattern specifies a gauge of 20 stitches and 28 rows over 4 inches (10 centimeters) in the cable pattern. Knitters are advised to knit a gauge swatch and measure carefully before beginning the project, as gauge variations will affect the final circumference and height of the cowl.

Pattern Construction and Finishing

Construction begins with casting on 110 stitches and joining to work in the round, taking care not to twist the stitches. The cowl is structured in three sections: an initial 4-round ribbed cuff, the main 5-repeat cable pattern section (40 rounds total), and a final 4-round ribbed cuff. The pattern concludes with binding off loosely in ribbing to maintain elasticity at the edge. After binding off, ends are woven in using the yarn needle, and the finished cowl may be blocked if necessary to even out the fabric