Isoler is a super-bulky cowl with interlocked cabled hearts running along the length. The design is intended to cross the chest, go around the neck and then fasten along the shoulder. Available in a single size, the cowl can be customized by increasing or decreasing the number of cable repeats. This design is a quick knit suitable for gifts, whether for New Year’s or Valentine’s Day, for children or adults.

Size

28” [71 cm] long and 10” [25.5 cm] wide.

Narrow ribbed section is 10” [25.5 cm] long and 4.5” [11.5 cm] wide. Cabled section is 18” [45.75 cm] long and 9” [23 cm] wide.

Yarn

Malabrigo Rasta (100% merino wool; 90 yards [82 meters]/150 grams): Ravelry Red, 2 balls.

The sample used about 120 yards [110 meters]/200 grams.

Thanks to Malabrigo for providing the yarn for this cowl!

Needles

Size US 15 (10 mm): 16” straight

Notions

Two 3/4” buttons or shawl pin; tapestry needle or crochet hook for weaving in ends, cable needle (optional)

Gauge

10 sts and 12 rows = 4” [10 cm] in St st after wet blocking.

Abbreviations

Please see our standard abbreviations.

3/3 RC (3/3 right cross cable): Sl 3 sts to cn and hold in back, k3, then k3 from cn.

3/1 LPC (3/1 left purl cross cable): Sl 3 sts to cn and hold in front, p1, then k3 from cn.

3/1 RPC (3/1 right purl cross cable): Sl 1 st to cn and hold in back, k3, then p1 from cn.

3/3 LPC (3/3 left purl cross cable): Sl 3 sts to cn and hold in front, p3, then k3 from cn.

3/3 RPC (3/3 right purl cross cable): Sl 3 sts to cn and hold in back, k3, then p3 from cn

Pattern Notes

The cowl is knit flat from one end to the other with I-cord borders and edges. After a few repeats of the cable pattern, the cowl narrows down to a thin ribbed strip and is then bound off using the I-cord method.

Some useful videos:

I-cord CO

I-cord BO

Cabling without a cable needle

Cable Chart

Work Rows [1-6] once and then Rows [7-18] 4 or more times. Then proceed to the written Decrease and Ribbed sections.

Cowl Instructions

CO 30 sts using an I-cord CO.

Set up row (WS): Sl1 wyb, k1, sl1 wyf, pm, k2, p3, k4, p6, k4, p3, k2, pm, sl1 wyf, k1, p1.

Cable Pattern – Section 1 (charted)

Work Rows [1-6] from chart or written directions below one time.

Cable Pattern – Section 2 (charted)

Work Rows [7-18] from chart or written directions below four times or until the cowl measures 18” in length from the CO edge.

Decrease Section (not charted)

Work Rows [19-22] once.

Row 19 (RS): Sl1 wyb, sl1 wyf, k1, sm, p2tog twice, cdd twice, p2tog twice, cdd twice, p2tog twice, sm, k1, sl1 wyf, p1.

Row 20 (WS): Sl1 wyb, k1, sl1 wyf, sm, k2, p2, k2, p2, k2, sm, sl1 wyf, k1, p1.

Row 21: Sl1 wyb, sl1 wyf, k1, sm, p2tog, k2tog, p2tog, k2tog, p2tog, sm, k1, sl1 wyf, p1.

Row 22: Sl1 wyb, k1, sl1 wyf, sm, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, sm, sl1 wyf, k1, p1.

Ribbed Section (not charted)

Work Rows [23-24] 16 times or until the cowl measures 28” in length from the CO edge. 

Row 23: Sl1 wyb, sl1 wyf, k1, sm, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, sm, k1, sl1 wyf, p1.

Row 24: Sl1 wyb, k1, sl1 wyf, sm, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, sm, sl1 wyf, k1, p1.

BO using I-cord BO method.

Finishing

Block the cowl by pinning out the edges evenly. Weave in ends when dry and sew on buttons or simply use a shawl pin.

Cable Written

Row 1 (RS): Sl1 wyb, sl1 wyf, k1, sm, p9, 3/3 RC, p9, sm, k1, sl1 wyf, p1.

Row 2 (WS): Sl1 wyb, k1, sl1 wyf, sm, k9, p6, k9, sm, sl1 wyf, k1, p1.

Row 3: Sl1 wyb, sl1 wyf, k1, sm, p8, 3/1 RPC, 3/1 LPC, p8, sm, k1, sl1 wyf, p1.

Row 4: Sl1 wyb, k1, sl1 wyf, sm, k8, p3, k2, p3, k8, sm, sl1 wyf, k1, p1

Row 5: Sl1 wyb, sl1 wyf, k1, p7, 3/1 RPC, p2, 3/1 LPC, p7, k1, sl1 wyf, p1.

Row 6: Sl1 wyb, k1, sl1 wyf, k7, p3, k4, p3, k7, sl1 wyf, k1, p1.

Row 7: Sl1 wyb, sl1 wyf, k1, sm, p4, 3/3 RPC, p4, 3/3 LPC, p4, sm, k1, sl1 wyf, p1.

Row 8: Sl1 wyb, k1, sl1 wyf, sm, k4, p3, k10, p3, k4, sm, sl1 wyf, k1, p1.

Row 9: Sl1 wyb, sl1 wyf, k1, sm, p3, 3/1 RPC, p10, 3/1 LPC, p3, sm, k1, sl1 wyf, p1.

Row 10: Sl1 wyb, k1, sl1 wyf, sm, k3, p3, k12, p3, k3, sm, sl1 wyf, k1, p1.

Row 11: Sl1 wyb, sl1 wyf, k1, p2, 3/1 RPC, p3, k6, p3, 3/1 LPC, p2, k1, sl1 wyf, p1.

Row 12: Sl1 wyb, k1, sl1 wyf, k2, p3, k4, p6, k4, p3, k2, sl1 wyf, k1, p1.

Row 13: Sl1 wyb, sl1 wyf, k1, sm, p2, k3, p4, 3/3 RC, p4, k3, p2, sm, k1, sl1 wyf, p1.

Row 14: Sl1 wyb, k1, sl1 wyf, sm, k2, p3, k4, p6, k4, p3, k2, sm, sl1 wyf, k1, p1.

Row 15: Sl1 wyb, sl1 wyf, k1, sm, p2, 3/1 LPC, p2, 3/1 RPC, 3/1 LPC, p2, 3/1 RPC, p2, sm, k1, sl1 wyf, p1.

Row 16: Sl1 wyb, k1, sl1 wyf, sm, k3, p3, (k2, p3) 3 times, k3, sm, sl1 wyf, k1, p1.

Row 17: Sl1 wyb, sl1 wyf, k1, p3, 3/1 LPC, 3/1 RPC, p2, 3/1 LPC, 3/1 RPC, p3, k1, sl1 wyf, p1.

Row 18: Sl1 wyb, k1, sl1 wyf, k4, p6, k4, p6, k4, sl1 wyf, k1, p1.

Rep Rows [7-18] 4 or more times.