I love Aran sweaters and their mesmerizing cables.
This cowl is inspired by them, but it is much quicker to knit! Its tapered shape allows it to lie gracefully around your neck while providing a neckline that is neither confining nor too loose. The decreases gradually change the shape of the cables themselves, making the finished product look more complicated than it really is.
The result is an accessory that you can grab whenever you need just a little more warmth.
Tutorials
Never run out of yarn with a long tail CO
Size
44″ [111.75cm] at the base, 23″ [58.5cm] at the top, 8.5″ [21.5cm] tall.
Yarn
Holiday Yarns Super Sheep DK (100% Superwash Merino; 260 yards [238 meters]): Fuschia Fusion, 2 balls.
Needles
US 5 (3.75 mm): 24″ and 32″ circular
Notions
cable needle
stitch marker
tapestry needle
Gauge
23 sts and 30 rnds = 4″ [10 cm] in St st after wet blocking.
35 sts and 32 rnds = 4″ [10 cm] in Cable pattern after blocking.
Abbreviations
Please see our standard abbreviations.
2/2 LC (4 st left leaning cable): Sl 2 sts to cn, and hold to front; k2, then k sts from cn.
2/2 RC (4 st right leaning cable): Sl 2 sts to cn, and hold to back; k2, then knit sts from cn.
3/2 LPC (5 st left leaning cable): Sl 3 sts to cn, and hold to front; p2, then k sts from cn.
3/3 LC (6 st left leaning cable): Sl 3 sts to cn, and hold to front; k3, then k sts from cn.
3/3 LPC (6 st left leaning cable): Sl 3 sts to cn, and hold to front; p3, then k sts from cn.
3/2 RPC (5 st right leaning cable): Sl 2 sts to cn, and hold to back; k3, then p sts from cn.
3/3 RC (6 st right leaning cable): Sl 3 sts to cn, and hold to back; k3, then k sts from cn.
3/3 RPC (6 st right leaning cable): Sl 3 sts to cn, and hold to back; k3, then p sts from cn.
Dec LC (6 sts become a 2/2 LC): Sl 3 sts to cn, and hold to front; k1, k2tog from the left needle, then ssk, k1 from the cn.
Dec RC (6 sts become a 2/2 RC): Sl 3 sts to cn, and hold to back; k1, k2tog from left needle, then ssk, k1 from the cn.
Pattern Notes
The cowl is worked in the round, beginning at the bottom. The shaping happens through decreases, noted in the pattern and in the charts. Due to the large number of stitches in the cast on, a 32″ circular is recommended to begin with. As the number of stitches decrease, shift to a 24″ needle to complete the cowl.
A Long Tail Cast On using both ends of your ball of yarn, or the Chinese Waitress Cast on is recommended. Either of these will eliminate guesswork, wasted yarn, and frustration while providing a nice flexible edge.
On Rnds 8, 16, 24, 32, 40 and 48 the first stitches are crossed in a cable with the last stitches in the rnd. This is noted in the instructions and is shown on the charts as well.
This cowl may be worked in two colors (1 ball of each color). If you wish to use a second color, break the first color yarn at the end of Rnd 31, leaving enough of a tail to weave in at the end. Begin your second color on Rnd 32. For that rnd only, substitute 3LCs for 3LPCs and 3RCs for 3RPCs. This will make a smoother transition between the colors.
The cowl can be altered width-wise by removing or adding multiple of 24, and height-wise by beginning on Rnd 9 or ending on Rnd 64.
Charts
Chart 1
Chart 2
Chart 3
Cowl Instructions
Section 1 Base of the Cowl (Chart 1)
Using 32″ circular needle, CO 384 sts, pm to mark the beginning of the rnd. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist your join.
Rnds 1-7: *K6, p6. Rep from * to end of rnd.
Rnd 8: K3, *3/3 LPC, 3/3 RPC. Repeat from * to 3 sts before end of rnd. Sl 3 sts on to a cn, and hold to the back. Remove marker, k3 sts from the left needle, replace m. Slide 3 sts from the cn to the left needle and begin your next rnd.
Rnds 9-11, 13-15: *P6, k6. Rep from * to end of rnd.
Rnd 12: *P6, 3/3 RC, p6, 3/3 LC. Rep from * to end of rnd
Rnd 16: P3,*3/3 RPC, 3/3 LPC. Repeat from * to 3 sts before end of rnd. Sl 3 sts on to a cn, and hold to the front. Remove marker, p3 sts from the left needle, replace marker. Slide 3 sts from the cn to the left needle and begin your next rnd.
Rnds 17-19, 21-23: *K6, p6. Rep from * to end of rnd.
Rnd 20: *3/3 LC, p6, 3/3 RC, p6. Rep from * to end of rnd.
Rnds 24-39: Rep Rnds 8-23.
Rnd 40: Rep Rnd 8.
Section 2 Main Shaping (Chart 2)
Rnd 41: *P6, k6. Rep from * to end of rnd.
Rnd 42: *P3, p2tog, p1, k6. Rep from * to end of rnd (32 sts decreased; 352 sts rem).
Rnd 43 & 45: *P5, k6. Rep from * to end of rnd.
Rnd 44: *P5, 3/3 LC, p5, 3/3 RC. Rep from * to end of rnd.
Rnd 46: *P1, ssp, p2, k6. Rep from * to the end of the rnd (32 sts decreased; 320 sts rem).
Rnd 47: *P4, k6. Rep from * to end of rnd.
Rnd 48: P2, *3/2 RPC, 3/2 LPC. Rep from * to 3 sts before end of rnd. Sl 3 sts on to a cn, remove marker, p2. Replace marker, and slide the sts from the cn to the left needle and begin your next rnd.
Rnd 49: *K6, p4. Rep from * to end of rnd.
Rnd 50: *K6, p2, p2tog. Rep from * to end of rnd (32 sts decreased; 288 sts rem).
Rnd 51 & 53: *K6, p3. Rep from * to end of rnd.
Rnd 52: *3/3 LC, p3, 3/3 RC, p3. Rep from * to end of rnd.
Rnd 54: *K6, ssp, p1. Rep from * to end of rnd (32 sts decreased, 256 sts rem).
Rnd 55: *K6, p2. Rep from * to end of rnd.
Rnd 56: *3/3 LC, p2, 3/3 RC, p2. Rep from * to end of rnd.
Rnd 57-59: *K6, p2. Rep from * to end of rnd.
Rnd 60: *Dec LC, p2, dec RC, p2. Rep from * to end of rnd (64 sts decreased, 192 sts rem).
Section 3 Final Section (Chart 3)
Rnd 61-63, 65-67: *K4, p2. Rep from * to end of rnd.
Rnd 64 & 68: *2/2 LC, p2, 2/2 RC, p2. Rep from * to end of rnd.
BO in pattern.
Finishing
Using your tapestry needle, weave in all ends. Block as you desire based on the fiber you used. Keep in mind not to flatten the cables too much during blocking.
I chose to pin and spray mine.
About the Designer: Jill Bickers
Jill Bickers lives in northern Kentucky. She loves collecting beautiful yarn and has the stash to prove it. She always has several projects on the needles.
When she’s not knitting (and even when she is), she can often be found travelling, reading, or watching “nerd” TV shows and movies.
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