Tahki Yarns Eugene Hat & Cowl Knitting Pattern

Tahki Yarns Eugene Hat & Cowl

Overview

The Eugene Hat & Cowl is a coordinating set of two seamless knitted accessories designed by Rosemary Drysdale. This easy-level pattern provides instructions for creating both a fitted hat and a generous cowl using the same yarn and needle size, making it an efficient project for knitters seeking matching pieces. The designs showcase classic construction methods suitable for beginners and experienced knitters alike.

Hat Construction

The hat is knitted seamlessly in the round using a bottom-up approach. It begins with a ribbed cuff worked on a 16-inch circular needle, then transitions into the main body fabric before shaping the crown with strategic decreases.

Techniques: The hat employs worked-in-the-round construction, which eliminates the need for seaming and creates a continuous, seamless garment. The pattern uses both circular needles for the body and double-pointed needles for the crown shaping, a standard transition when stitch counts become too small for circular needles.

Stitches: The hat features two primary stitch patterns. The lower 4 rounds use K1, P1 Ribbing, a fundamental knit-purl combination that creates vertical columns of texture and provides stretch and recovery. The main body is worked in Moss Stitch, an alternating knit-purl pattern that produces a dense, textured fabric with a subtle checkerboard appearance. Moss Stitch requires knitting the purl stitches and purling the knit stitches on alternating rows, creating visual interest while remaining accessible to intermediate knitters.

Finished Measurements: The hat has a circumference of 20½ inches (52 cm) and measures approximately 9½ inches (24 cm) from cast-on edge to the beginning of crown shaping.

Crown Shaping: The top is shaped using paired decreases—knit 2 together and purl 2 together worked in sequence—which reduce the stitch count from 36 to 18 stitches, then from 18 to 9 stitches. The remaining stitches are threaded closed with a yarn needle to create the crown opening.

Finishing Detail: The pattern includes a fur pompom attached to the crown, adding a decorative and dimensional element to the completed hat.

Cowl Construction

The cowl is knitted flat on straight needles using a straightforward bottom-up method, then seamed into a tube to create a continuous loop.

Techniques: Unlike the hat, the cowl is worked flat on two needles rather than in the round. This approach produces a rectangular piece that is later sewn along its short edges to form the cowl shape. The flat construction method is particularly suitable for larger projects and allows knitters to easily check their progress and make adjustments as needed.

Stitches: The cowl is worked entirely in Moss Stitch, the same textured stitch used for the hat body. This consistent stitch pattern creates visual harmony between the two pieces when worn together.

Finished Measurements: The cowl measures 38 inches (96.5 cm) in circumference and 10 inches (25.5 cm) in height, creating a generous, drapable neck accessory suitable for wrapping or layering.

Assembly: After completing the flat knitted rectangle, the cast-on edge is sewn to the bind-off edge using a yarn needle, forming a seamless tube. Yarn ends are woven in to complete the cowl.

Materials & Yarn

Both pieces are knitted using Tahki Yarns BIG MONTANA, a 100% pure wool yarn in color #202 taupe. The hat requires 1 skein (3.5 ounces / 100 grams; 71 yards / 65 meters), while the cowl requires 2 skeins of the same yarn. BIG MONTANA is a bulky-weight yarn that knits quickly and creates substantial, warm fabric ideal for winter accessories.

Needles & Tools

The hat is worked on size 17 (12.75mm) circular needles measuring 16 inches long, with a set of matching size 17 (12.75mm) double-pointed needles for crown shaping. The cowl uses a pair of size 17 (12.75mm) straight needles. Both projects require a stitch marker to track the beginning of rounds in the hat, a yarn needle for weaving in ends and seaming the cowl, and a fur pompom for