I absolutely adore this chunky knitted cowl. My favorite finished objects are the ones that look casual, but can be dressed-up. Extra points if they're easy to make. This particular cowl holds a special place in my heart.
I discovered the Outlander series at the beginning of this year. It's November now and I'm already reading the fifth book. There are eight books in total and it pains me to be more than half way done. Thankfully, Diana Gabaldon is writing another one right now! To say that I'm enjoying delving into this universe would be a grave understatement. I never thought that I would be the kind of person to be committed to a series of books. I was all about "give me only classics, blah, blah, blah". My ignorance once made me say, "I'm not reading romance books".
Tangent time. First of all, they're not romance books. They're full of adventure, history, magic, time travel, political drama, herbalism, and yes, a lot of sex too. There are parts that are horrific and there are parts that are beautiful - both will make you weep! They follow the life of a woman named Claire.
The show is a good adaptation of the books. And this cowl was inspired by a cowl that Claire wears in season one.
About this cowl
I wanted my chunky knitted cowl to be slightly larger than Claire's. I feel like really big knit accessories look great on almost every body type. And Claire's is cute and chunky but it looks like it needs to be spread out to fit over the shoulders. I wanted something just a bit more modern. Something larger for Colorado winters. If you're making this for cosplay, or just want a smaller cowl, knit 12 stitches instead of 15.
Something that I want to get across to beginners of both crochet and knitting is that sometimes a pattern is really just a tutorial. A tutorial on how different techniques produce unique finished objects. It's variations on a theme. This cowl is absolutely just a tutorial on how to complete the most famous knit stitch - the garter stitch. If you don't believe me, scroll down to the pattern and take a peek. It's very simple.
This cowl looks a little different than a traditional garter stitch. You can see that this is a very stretchy fabric. This is achieved by knitting loosely with very large needles. We're also going to use two strands of yarn, held together. Do not let this intimidate you! After the first few stitches, it flows beautifully and is as easy as using one strand.
We'll begin by doing a long tail cast-on of 15 stitches.
Supplies:
- Straight needles — US 50 (25 mm)
- Yarn needle
- Scissors
Chunky Knitted Cowl
Yarn: Lion Brand Yarn, Wool Ease Thick & Quick
Gauge:
4”x4”: 6 stitches x 3 rows
Size:
Laying flat - 27" (54" circumference)
Materials
- Lion Brand Yarn, Wool-Ease Thick & Quick, (106 yds/97 m ; 170 g/6 oz)
- Barley, 2 skeins
Tools
- Knitting Needles — US 50 (25 mm)
- Yarn needle
- Scissors
Instructions
Step 1, Knit:
- Long tail cast-on 15 sts
Row 1: Knit across (15 sts), turn
Rows 2-45: Repeat row 1
Step 2, Seam ends together:
- Once the piece of fabric measures 54" in length, bind off your work.
- Fold the piece in half and sew the seams together using your preferred method. I simply whip stitched the two pieces across the edge.
Notes
If you're making this for cosplay, or just want a smaller cowl, knit 12 stitches instead of 15.
The time listed is an estimate. Actual results vary depending on your skill level.
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