Free Knitting Pattern: New Bittersweet Cowl

New Bittersweet is a great easy knit. Long enough to loop around your neck twice. Basic lace zigzags through the center, forming an intriguing flame pattern. Firm garter stitch welts at each edge help the cowl to lie flat. Worked on biggish needles in worsted or aran weight yarn, this is luxurious but quick; a fantastic last minute gift. Also a great starter lace pattern for learning how increases and decreases change the angle of stitches.

Skill Level easy (working in the round, basic lace)

Yarn Approx 300 yards worsted or aran yarn. Shown using 2 balls Knit Picks Simply Cotton 100% cotton, 100 g/164 yds each.

Finished Measurements Circumference 42 inches, height 10 inches

Tension/gauge 16 sts and 23 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch

A note about the gauge: this is a relatively relaxed gauge for this weight of yarn and gives the cowl a nice drape. You may need to go up .5mm in needle size from what you would usually use for the yarn.

Needles US 8/5.0 mm 24-inch long circular

Other Supplies Stitch marker, blunt yarn needle

 

Stitches used

Garter Stitch (in the round, any number of stitches)

Rnd 1: Knit all sts.

Rnd 2: Purl all sts.

Rep Rnds 1 and 2 for pattern.

Zigzag Lace (in the round, multiple of 8 stitches)

Rnd 1: *Yo, k6, k2tog; rep from *.

Rnd 2 and all even Rnds: Knit all sts.

Rnd 3: *K1, yo, k5, k2tog; rep from *.

Rnd 5: *K2, yo, k4, k2tog; rep from *.

Rnd 7: *K3, yo, k3, k2tog; rep from *.

Rnd 9: *K4, yo, k2, k2tog; rep from *.

Rnd 11: *K5, yo, k1, k2tog; rep from *.

Rnd 13: *K6, yo, k2tog; rep from *.

Rnd 15: *Ssk, k6, yo; rep from *.

Rnd 17: *Ssk, k5, yo, k1; rep from *.

Rnd 19: *Ssk, k4, yo, k2; rep from *.

Rnd 21: *Ssk, k3, yo, k3; rep from *.

Rnd 23: *Ssk, k2, yo, k4; rep from *.

Rnd 25: *Ssk, k1, yo, k5; rep from *.

Rnd 27: *Ssk, yo, k6; rep from *.

Rnd 28: Knit all sts.

Rep Rnds 1-28 for pattern.

Cowl

Cast on 168 sts. Being careful not to twist stitches, join in the round. Place marker for beginning of round.

Note: if you want to modify the size of the cowl, change the cast on in multiples of 8. You can also change the number of pattern reps to make the cowl deeper.

Work 6 rnds Garter Stitch.

Knit 4 rnds.

Work 6 rnds Garter Stitch.

Work 1 rep Zigzag lace.

Work 6 rnds Garter Stitch, starting on a purl row and ending with a knit row.

Knit 4 rnds.

Work 6 rnds Garter Stitch, starting on a purl row and ending with a knit row.

Bind off, being careful to not to bind off tightly.

Finishing

Weave in ends. Block. For best results and a nice drape, I like to wet block cowls.

 

Download

Looking for the pdf version? Download it here: New Bittersweet Cowl