City Creek Cowl
I’ve had two jobs since moving to Salt Lake City after law school. Both have been located downtown. Until recently, there were two malls within spitting distance of my work. This proved quite convenient when my children were small and: (1) actually outgrew their clothes and (2) attended an endless stream of birthday parties. I frequently spent my lunch hour shopping for necessities and gifts. A few years ago, the malls were demolished and I was forced to venture out to the suburban malls on the weekends.
Now, a new shopping complex has risen from the rubble of the old. Alas, my children no longer live at home so, although shopping is close again, I rarely go to the stores.
But on a recent trip to H&M for black leggings [Can you ever have too many pairs of black leggings?], I saw a very cute cabled cowl. Not one I would wear, mind you, since it was made from very squeaky acrylic yarn. But a cute design nonetheless. Part of the appeal was that it was knit very loosely and, thus, looked like it would drape nicely even though it was cabled.
One thing led to another, and the City Creek Cowl was born. I’ve posted the pattern for free below to celebrate our recent exciting news.
I made the sample above from an older skein of Malabrigo Worsted which had more yardage than the current put-up of Malabrigo Worsted. I literally had an inch of yarn left. I made a second from a skein of the newer Patons Classic Wool (which, sadly, can’t shine a candle to the old Patons Classic Wool Merino). The Patons supposedly has the same yardage as my Malabrigo, but I ran out of yarn. In fact, I was many yards short. I just finished a third from Rowan Lima which is blocking right now. I’m not sure about the yardage of the Lima since the ball band is not consistent with the Rowan website. In any event, next week I’ll post some tips on alterations you can make to the pattern if you have less than 250 yards of yarn.
Materials
Yarn: Approximately 250 yards of worsted or aran weight yarn. A single-ply yarn or one with some alpaca or silk content will drape best. The cowl is meant to stretch out when blocked.
Needle: 6mm circular needle with a 16″ or 20″ cable
Hook: 6mm crochet hook for the cast on and bind off
Finished Size: approx. 13.5 inches high and 21.5 inches in circumference
Instructions
•CO 96 sts using this crochet cast-on method to create a stretchy bottom edge. The point of the stretchy edge is to permit the cowl to flare out when it sits on top of your shoulders, eliminating any gap between the cowl, your neck, and your coat. The crochet cast-on method creates a clean edge that matches perfectly with the bind off.
•Join into the round without twisting.
•Work in k2, p2 rib for 8 rounds.
•Work Rnds 1-45 of chart once then work Rnds 16-45 once more. The chart key can be found here.
•Work in k2, p2 rib for 4 rnds.
•Bind off using this crochet method to create a firm top edge. The firm edge is necessary to prevent the top of the cowl from flaring unattractively.
•Wet block, stretching the cowl as much as possible to prevent the ribbing from drawing in after the cowl dries.
•Wear on a cold winter day.
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27 comments Susan | designing, knitting, patterns, scarves
Beautiful! I have a few skeins of Malagrigo worsted in my stash from a few years ago. Thanks for the pattern!
That’s a beautiful pattern – I especially like that I’ve been to City Creek!
Love this pattern! I’m thinking Shepherd’s Wool!
Cute! Thanks!
It’s nice to have a mall open again, but sadly there are few stores there I care about.
At least there’s Harmons.
As you already well know. . . I am All In when it comes to your new cowl design! (And, what makes it even better . . . is that I’ve visited its namesake mall!)
Oh, beautiful!! Thank you!!
Very nice, thank you. And congratulations.
I never would have thought to use that bind off on a cowl, would have figured it would be too tight to get over my head. But this looks like a fast project, so I may have to try it just to try the bind-off! (Plus, who can have too many cowls?)
Very, very nice cowl. Does all the right things. Unisex. I’m stash diving and have several options.
Thank you so much! And congratulations to The Judge.
I missed the news – congratulations to your husband. I just love the idea of making a pattern to convert something nasty and plasticky to a lovely luxurious cowl!
Beautiful! and a belated congratulations on your good news!
Thank you so much for generously sharing this beautiful cowl. And congratulations to you and your husband! He even looks like a Judge!
love, love, love it and I am looking through my yarn right know as I needed something absolutely fabulous for the upcoming holidays to gift for my VERY BEST FRIEND!!!!!!
Thanks for the free pattern, if I didn’t have so many other WIPs I would be casting on for this right away
Absolutely beautiful pattern. Congrats on the exciting news!
The minute I saw your pattern, I fell in love with it. I also have the most beautiful alpaca that I’ve been saving for the perfect project and this is it! The problem is that my alpaca is between a sport and DK weight and I’m unsure of how many stitches to CO/pattern repeats to do and also needle size. Do you have any advice??
That is super cute! Love it!
Sweet cast-on and bind-off.
Thanks for sharing such a lovely pattern and congratulations too. Really nice photo.
I’m well on my way–have already ripped the cable part back once
Not the pattern’s fault, I was inattentive. It’s lovely.
Congratulations and thank you for the cool pattern. You make it seem so easy, but I know better;-P
The class you taught on this one was fun, and the pattern is fun! I’ve almost finished my cowl, and I love it!!
Awesome pattern! Thanks for sharing- I’m going to start one this weekend as a holiday present.
Congratulations to you & DH (Dear Honor?)
A white cowl would do well with his robes, eh?
Just found this on Pinterest and thought what the heck I have a stash and this looks quick.
Have just started and am using ZARA merino extra fine. I am a scarf girl and this looks luxurious.
Thanks in advance for a carry around project !
Thank you for such a wonderful pattern–I’m halfway done with my first City Creek Cowl and it’s so easy and enjoyable to work up. The pattern might read a little easier to just show rows 1-30 of the chart and instruct users to work rows 1-30 twice. (Unless I read something wrong?)
I meant rows 1-30 twice, plus rows 1-15.
Thanks for sharing this beautiful pattern, it’s just the thing to use up the last ball left over from His cardigan :O)