Valley Yarns Vidonia Cowl Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Vidonia Cowl

What Is Being Made

The Vidonia Cowl is a reversible neck accessory designed by Kirsten Hipsky that measures approximately 40 inches around and 10 inches wide when collapsed. This cowl is worked in the round using circular needles and creates a fabric with substantial body and warmth through an innovative stitch pattern technique.

Techniques Used

This beginner-friendly cowl is worked in the round on circular needles, eliminating the need for seaming. The primary technique involves collapsing rounds of alternating knit and purl stitches to create a textured, reversible fabric. The pattern includes a helpful note for knitters who prefer to avoid purling: you can flip your work inside out each time you switch from knits to purls. To minimize small holes at transition points, the pattern suggests using a wrap and turn technique by slipping the first stitch with yarn in back, moving yarn to front, slipping the stitch back to the needle, and turning your work around.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette stitch (knit rounds alternating with purl rounds) forms the foundation of the fabric
• Cast-on using approximately 200 stitches joined in the round
• Bind-off worked purlwise or matching the final band stitch
• Slip stitch (optional, used in the wrap and turn technique to minimize holes)

Materials

The Vidonia Cowl is knitted using Valley Yarns Colrain Lace yarn in the Elderberry colorway. This yarn is a blend of 50% Merino and 50% Tencel, offering a combination of warmth and drape. One cone of yarn is required, with approximately 700 yards used from the 1,540 yards available on the cone (8.8 ounces total). US size 6 (4.00mm) circular needles measuring 32 inches are needed, or the size required to achieve proper gauge. The pattern notes that exact gauge is not critical for this project, with the target gauge being approximately 5 stitches per 1 inch in Stockinette stitch.

Pattern Overview

The construction is straightforward and ideal for beginners. After casting on approximately 200 stitches and joining in the round with a marker to denote the beginning, you work in a repeating pattern: knit every round for 1 inch, then purl every round for 1 inch. This sequence is repeated 10 times total or until the cowl reaches your desired width. The cowl is finished by binding off all stitches purlwise (or matching the final band), sewing in loose ends, and optionally blocking lightly.