Traveling Cowl Knitting Pattern

Traveling Cowl Knitting Pattern by Plymouth Yarn

Project Overview

The Traveling Cowl is a downloadable knitting pattern designed by Veronica Perrone and offered free with yarn purchase by Plymouth Yarn. This cowl project creates a versatile neck accessory that combines decorative stitch work with practical construction, resulting in a finished piece approximately 25 inches in diameter and 18.5 inches in length.

Materials and Gauge

This pattern requires one 250-gram hank of Plymouth Yarn Mushishi (shown in color 3). The recommended gauge is 5 stitches per 1 inch when worked over the traveling pattern. Knitters will need US size 7 circular needles measuring 24 inches in length, along with a stitch marker to track the beginning of rounds.

Construction Techniques

The Traveling Cowl employs in-the-round knitting construction, which creates a seamless tubular garment. The pattern begins with a loosely cast-on foundation of 121 stitches that are joined into the round with careful attention to avoid twisting. The finished piece is lightly steam pressed to shape the curled edges and body of the cowl, adding a professional finishing touch.

Stitch Patterns and Techniques

The cowl features two primary stitch patterns that work together to create both visual interest and structural integrity:

• Traveling Pattern: This decorative pattern repeats over a multiple of 11 stitches and creates the main body of the cowl. Round 1 consists of slip 1 stitch, knit 1, pass slip stitch over, knit 6 stitches, yarn over, and knit 3 stitches, repeated around. Round 2 is worked as knit all stitches. These two rounds repeat to build the traveling pattern texture.
• Seed Stitch Pattern: Used as a border element, the seed stitch creates a textured edge that frames the traveling pattern. This pattern alternates between knit 1, purl 1 in Round 1, then purl 1, knit 1 in Round 2, creating a bumpy, reversible fabric. The seed stitch appears at both the cast-on edge and bind-off edge of the cowl.

Pattern Sequence

The cowl construction follows a specific sequence: begin with a loose cast-on of 121 stitches, then work 3 rounds of seed stitch pattern to establish the lower border. Continue with the traveling pattern until the piece measures approximately 18 inches in length, or to the desired finished length. Complete the cowl by working another 3 rounds of seed stitch pattern to mirror the lower border, then bind off loosely to maintain elasticity at the top edge.

Key Knitting Abbreviations

The pattern uses standard knitting abbreviations including sl (slip), k (knit), psso (pass slip stitch over), yo (yarn over), p (purl), and BO (bind off). These techniques combine to create the characteristic traveling stitch effect that gives this cowl its distinctive name and visual appeal.