Valley Yarns Odell Cowl Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Odell Cowl

What Is Being Made

The Odell Cowl is a soft and cool circular cowl designed by Kirsten Hipsky. This accessory is constructed by knitting a rectangular panel lengthwise like a short scarf, measuring approximately 6 inches wide and 40 inches long, then seaming the ends together to form a continuous circle. The finished cowl is designed to be easy to knit and easy to wear, making it a versatile layering piece suitable for various occasions.

Techniques Used

This pattern employs lace knitting techniques worked flat on straight needles. The cowl is created using a repeating stitch pattern that incorporates yarn overs and decreases to create an open, decorative fabric. Rather than being worked in the round, the piece is worked lengthwise in rows, which is a distinctive construction method that allows the lace pattern to flow along the length of the cowl. The pattern is then seamed using the Kitchener stitch (also known as grafting), which creates an invisible seam by joining live stitches to the cast-on edge, or alternatively, the bound-off stitches can be sewn to the cast-on edge for a more visible seam.

Stitches Used

The Odell Cowl uses fundamental knitting stitches combined to create its distinctive lace pattern:

• Knit (K) and Purl (P) stitches form the base fabric and create textural contrast
• Yarn Over (YO) creates the openwork characteristic of lace knitting
• Knit 2 Together (K2tog) decreases stitches
• Purl 3 Together (P3tog) creates a more dramatic decrease within the lace pattern
• Slip, Slip, Knit (SSK) provides an alternative decrease method

The four-row repeat pattern alternates between wrong-side rows featuring knit and purl combinations and right-side rows showcasing the lace decreases and yarn overs, creating a balanced and visually interesting fabric.

Materials

The Odell Cowl pattern calls for 3 skeins of Valley Yarns Goshen yarn in the color Bermuda Blue. This yarn is composed of 48% Peruvian Cotton, 46% Modal, and 6% Silk, with each skein containing 50 grams and 92 yards of yardage. The fiber blend creates a soft, cool fabric ideal for a cowl that can be worn comfortably in various seasons. The pattern is worked on US size 7 (4.50mm) needles, with the gauge set at approximately 4.5 stitches and 6 rows per inch in the stitch pattern. The pattern notes that exact gauge is not critical for this project, making it forgiving for knitters of varying experience levels.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as intermediate difficulty. While the basic stitches are fundamental, the combination of lace techniques, the four-row repeat pattern, and the Kitchener stitch finishing method require intermediate knitting skills and familiarity with reading patterns and executing decreases and yarn overs accurately.