Valley Yarns Anthemis Cowl Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Anthemis Cowl

What Is Being Made

The Anthemis Cowl is a light and airy neck accessory designed by Tian Connaughton. This cowl features a beautiful color gradient that transitions from a light Winter Sky shade through Regatta Blue to a deeper Denim tone, creating visual interest and depth. The finished cowl measures 30 inches in circumference and 15 inches in height, making it a versatile layering piece suitable for various necklines and styling preferences.

Techniques Used

This knitting pattern employs several key techniques that make it ideal for advanced beginners looking to expand their skills. The cowl is worked in the round using circular needles, which eliminates the need for seaming and creates a seamless, professional finish. The bottom-up construction method allows knitters to begin at the lower edge and work upward, making it easy to try on and adjust length as needed. The pattern incorporates lace work, which adds an elegant, openwork quality to the fabric while keeping the piece lightweight and breathable.

The color transitions are achieved through strategic yarn changes at specific points in the pattern, allowing the lace motifs to remain consistent while the background color shifts. This technique creates a sophisticated ombré effect without requiring complex color work or multiple yarn strands in use simultaneously.

Stitches Used

The Anthemis Cowl utilizes a focused set of fundamental stitches combined in a repeating lace pattern:

• Knit stitch (k) – the basic foundation stitch used throughout
• Purl stitch (p) – used in the ribbed cuff sections at the beginning and end
• Knit two together (k2tog) – a right-leaning decrease that removes one stitch and creates the lace pattern's directional lines
• Slip, slip, knit (ssk) – a left-leaning decrease that pairs with k2tog to create balanced, symmetrical lace motifs
• Yarn over (yo) – creates the characteristic eyelets and openwork that define lace knitting

The pattern begins and ends with a 2x2 ribbed cuff (knit 2, purl 2 in alternation), which provides structure and helps the cowl maintain its shape. The main body features eight rows of repeating lace pattern that alternate between pattern rows and stockinette stitch rows, creating a balanced, visually interesting fabric.

Materials

The Anthemis Cowl is knitted using Valley Yarns Hatfield, a luxurious yarn composed of 100% Baby Alpaca. This fiber choice contributes to the light, airy quality of the finished cowl while providing softness and breathability. The pattern requires one skein each of three coordinating colorways: C838 Winter Sky (Color A), 4967 Regatta Blue (Color B), and C866 Denim (Color C). Each skein contains 50 grams and yields 437 yards, providing ample yardage for the entire project.

Knitting is worked on US size 5 (3.75mm) 24-inch circular needles, which are appropriately sized to accommodate the 176 cast-on stitches while maintaining the correct gauge. The pattern specifies that knitters should use needles that produce a gauge of 22 stitches and 34 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch, ensuring that the finished cowl achieves the intended dimensions and drape.

Pattern Structure and Finishing

The cowl construction follows a logical progression: eight rounds of ribbing establish the lower edge, followed by eight rounds of lace pattern repeated four times in Color A. The knitter then transitions to Color B and works the lace pattern five times, then switches to Color C for four repeats of the lace pattern, concluding with eight rounds of ribbing in Color C. The pattern is bound off loosely to maintain elasticity at the upper edge. Final finishing involves weaving in all ends and blocking the piece to even out the stitches and enhance the lace definition.