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Cowl Knitting Patterns


Klara Nilsson | Updated on May 8, 2023

Cowls can be somewhat tricky garments to define, and truthfully there’s no single definition.

Much like a snood or infinity scarf, contemporary knitted cowls are tubular-shaped garments that cover the neck and the tops of the shoulders, and are typically worn underneath outfits as a winter accessory or for an added layer of warmth.

Despite their similarities, a modern knitted cowl is typically chunkier, tighter around the neck, and shorter than its scarf or snood counterparts. Often, there’s much less loose fabric to work with.

Put simply, a cowl is typically smaller, tighter, and shorter than a snood or infinity scarf, which can sometimes be long enough to double around the neck once or twice.

However you define them, cowls provide warmth, protection, and style in the colder months. They’re also much-loved in the knitting community and make excellent projects for beginner knitters.

Here’s why cowls are great for beginners:

  • Most cowl knitting patterns demand very little attention. They’re knitted seamlessly in the round and require no shaping, sewing, or sizing, which makes them very easy to knit.
  • Basic construction is very easy, which means you can spend more time experimenting with different knitting stitches, techniques, and colors.
  • You can knit a cowl with just one or two skeins of yarn, which makes the project affordable or a great way to use up your leftovers.

The list really does go on! However, if you’re already convinced that knitting a cowl is for you, then stay put.

In this article, we’ve compiled a list of beautiful and easy cowl knitting patterns for any level of knitter. You’ll find free and paid patterns using a variety of different stitching techniques, so you can work up the cowl you’ve been dreaming of.

14 Cowl Knitting Patterns (Just 1 or 2 Skeins of Yarn)

Let the knitting patterns begin. In this list, you’ll find a hand-picked selection of stunning knitted cowl patterns that you can complete in a day or two with just one or two skeins of yarn.

1. Easy Cowl Knitting Pattern

Easy Cowl Knitting Pattern
Price$4.73/£3.93
Techniques RequiredRound Knitting
Fair Isle Knitting
Suggested YarnN/A – See Pattern
Designer’s WebsiteEasy Cowl Knitting Pattern – DarlingJadore on Etsy

This pattern might look complicated, but even beginners will be able to work it up in no time. It uses 5mm circular needles and approximately 400m of medium weight yarn to create a highly-textured knitted cowl with a beautifully rustic, geometric design.

Recommended Materials

To knit this pattern, you will need the following materials:

Needle SizeUS Size 8/5mm Circular Needles
Yarn WeightWorsted/Medium Weight
Yarn Quantity402m

2. Quick & Simple Knitted Cowl Pattern

Simple Knitted Cowl Pattern
Price$5.00/£4.16
Techniques RequiredN/A – See Pattern
Suggested YarnMandala Watercolors – Lion Brand
Designer’s WebsiteQuick & Simple Knitted Cowl – CozyCraftingShop on Etsy

Get ready to knit a cowl that’s as cute as it is cozy. Pictured here in a vibrant pink, this pattern creates a wonderfully chunky knitted cowl using 100g of bulky yarn. It’s squishy, soft, and super easy for beginners to knit in a single weekend.

Recommended Materials

To knit this pattern, you will need the following materials:

Needle SizeUS Size 9/5.5mm Circular Needles
Yarn Weight100g = 150m
Yarn Quantity100g

3. “Kentmere” Cowl Knitting Pattern

Kentmere Cowl Knitting Pattern
Price$4.39/£3.65
Techniques RequiredGarter Stitch
Suggested YarnN/A – See Pattern
Designer’s Website“Kentmere” Cowl – LilyKateMakes on Etsy

The “Kentmere” cowl is a sophisticated design created using garter stitch and two interlocking möbius loops for some serious volume. The pattern includes instructions for modifying your knitting gauge to any yarn weight, so you can customize it to your preference.

Knitted flat throughout, this is an excellent pattern if you want to knit a cowl on straight needles instead of circular.

Recommended Materials

To knit this pattern, you will need the following materials:

Needle SizeUS Size 10/6mm Circular Needles
Yarn WeightN/A – See Pattern
Yarn QuantityN/A – See Pattern

4. “Patent Loop” Neck-warmer Cowl

Patent Loop Knitted Neckwarmer Pattern
Price$3.82/£3.18
Techniques RequiredTubular Cast-On
Round Knitting
Brioche Stitch
Tubular Bind-Off
Suggested YarnEco Cashmere Vintage – Gepard
Designer’s Website“Patent Loop” Cowl – Other Loops

Knitted primarily in brioche stitch, this snug cowl knitting pattern begins with the tubular cast-on method and ends with the tubular bind-off. Worked entirely in luxurious 100% cashmere yarn, this cowl is roomy, plush, and absolutely fashionable. It’ll hold its own as a key part of any outfit.

Recommended Materials

To knit this pattern, you will need the following materials:

Needle Size US Size 6/4mm Circular Needles
Yarn Weight 50g = 150m
Yarn Quantity 150g

5. The “Bandana” Free Cowl Knitting Pattern

Free Bandana Cowl Knitting Pattern
Price$0.00 (Free)
Techniques RequiredStockinette Stitch
Suggested YarnPlenty — Purl Soho
Designer’s WebsiteThe “Bandana” Cowl — Purl Soho

Available to download completely for free, the “Bandana” cowl pattern by Purl Soho comes with instructions for three different designs: one color, two color, and striped. All of these options include instructions for one size and are knitted using stockinette stitch, 6mm circular needles, and 1 to 2 skeins of yarn.

Recommended Materials

To knit this pattern, you will need the following materials:

Needle SizeUS Size 10/6mm Circular Needles
Yarn Weight100g = 127m
Yarn Quantity100g

6. The “Milton” Modern Chunky Cowl

Milton Modern Chunky Knitted Cowl Pattern
Price$4.00/£3.33
Techniques RequiredN/A – See Pattern
Suggested YarnN/A – See Pattern
Designer’s WebsiteThe “Milton” Cowl – MMadisonMarie on Etsy

The Milton cowl is a modern, minimalist pattern that’s delightfully easy to knit but still looks absolutely fabulous. It sports a beautifully chunky texture that’s created using bulky yarn and 10mm circular needles — perfect for adding some warmth and comfort to your winter wardrobe!

Recommended Materials

To knit this pattern, you will need the following materials:

Needle SizeUS Size 15/10mm Circular Needles
Yarn WeightSuper Bulky
Yarn Quantity137m

7. The “Nellie” Neck-Warmer Cowl Pattern

Nellie Neckwarmer Pattern
Price$6.01/£5.00
Techniques RequiredRib Stitch
Suggested YarnMechera Handknit Yarn – Aiayu
Designer’s WebsiteThe “Nellie” Neckwarmer – My Favourite Things Knitwear

Another quick knit, this cowl pattern by My Favourite Things Knitwear is simple but sophisticated. Knitted from the top down in a basic ribbing pattern, it produces a warm, elastic fabric that will stretch to 13.5 inches in length. Worked on circular needles, it’s separated into two different sections that require both round knitting and flat knitting.

Recommended Materials

To knit this pattern, you will need the following materials:

Needle SizeUS Size 8/5mm Circular Needles
Yarn Weight50g = 50m
Yarn Quantity200g

8. The “Nokhu” Chunky Ribbed Cowl

The Nokhu Ribbed Cowl Pattern
Price$6.00/£4.99
Techniques RequiredRound knitting
Rib Stitch
Suggested YarnN/A – See Pattern
Designer’s WebsiteThe “Nokhu” Cowl – SmeenyBeanieKnits on Etsy

This chunky knitted cowl pattern will hoover up your scraps of yarn and turn them into a thing of beauty! It’s a fun, easy design that works perfectly for using lots of different colors. It’s knitted in the round using circular needles to create a super comfy, close-to-the-neck cowl that’ll keep you warm no matter how freezing it gets.

Recommended Materials

To knit this pattern, you will need the following materials:

Needle SizeN/A – See Pattern
Yarn WeightSuper Bulky
Yarn QuantityN/A – See Pattern

9. Easy Cable Cowl Knitting Pattern

Easy Cable Knitted Cowl Pattern
Price$4.00/£3.33
Techniques RequiredRound Knitting
Cable Stitch
Suggested YarnFull – BBB Filati
Soft Dream – BBB Filati
Designer’s WebsiteEasy Cable Cowl – MyCharmingWool on Etsy

In this design, a beautiful knitted cable pattern is combined with fluffy yarn for an elegant and wonderfully textured cowl. Don’t let the style fool you though — it’s designed with comfort and everyday wear in mind. The cowl is knitted seamlessly on big needles with a simple, repetitive pattern, which makes it an excellent choice for beginners.

Recommended Materials

To knit this pattern, you will need the following materials:

Needle SizeUS Size 10/6mm Circular Needles
Yarn Weight50g = 90m (Yarn A)
25g = 220m (Yarn B)
Yarn Quantity2 Skeins (Yarn A)
1 Skein (Yarn B)

10. Free Chunky Knitted Cowl Pattern

Free Chunky Knitted Cowl Pattern
Price$0.00 (Free)
Techniques RequiredRound Knitting
Rib Stitch
Cable Stitch
Suggested YarnMandala Watercolors – Lion Brand
Designer’s WebsiteChunky Cowl — Alex Widstrand on Ravelry

This stunning free cowl knitting pattern uses almost exactly one skein of yarn. It combines both ribbing and cables to produce a beautifully stretchy, slouchy, and highly-textured fabric that you won’t want to take off.

Recommended Materials

To knit this pattern, you will need the following materials:

Needle SizeUS Size 11/8mm Circular Needles
Yarn Weight100g = 150m
Yarn Quantity1 Skein

11. The “Catstye” Cowl by Rowan

The Catstye Cowl
Price$4.81/£4.00
Techniques RequiredFair Isle Knitting
Suggested YarnMoordale – Rowan
Designer’s WebsiteThe “Catstye” Cowl – Rowan

Designed by Lisa Richardson from Rowan, this vibrant Fair Isle cowl might look intimidating, but its intricate details are absolutely worthwhile. It uses four skeins of yarn in four different shades, along with 4mm circular needles for a tightly-knit fabric.

The “Catstye” cowl isn’t just stylish, it’s also functional: it’s one of the only patterns in this list that’s long enough to be wrapped around the neck twice.

Recommended Materials

To knit this pattern, you will need the following materials:

Needle SizeUS Size 6/4mm Circular Needles
Yarn Weight100g = 230m
Yarn Quantity4 Balls

12. Lace Knit Cowl Pattern

Lace Knit Cowl Knitting Pattern
Price$4.73/£3.93
Techniques RequiredGarter Stitch
Lace Knitting
Suggested YarnN/A – See Pattern
Designer’s WebsiteLace Knit Cowl Pattern – DarlingJadore on Etsy

Best suited to advanced beginners, the “Fauna” cowl by DarlingJadore blends waves of basic garter stitch with peaks of delicate lacework. The Shetland lace knitting involved may take longer and use more yarn than some of the other patterns in this list (320m to be exact), but the results are definitely worth it.

If you like the style of this cowl, check out our full list of lace knitting patterns for similar designs.

Recommended Materials

To knit this pattern, you will need the following materials:

Needle SizeUS Size 9/5.5mm Circular Needles
Yarn WeightWorsted/Medium Weight
Yarn Quantity320m

13. “Spor I” Cowl

The Spor I Knitted Cowl
Price$6.60/£5.49
Techniques RequiredRib Stitch
Suggested YarnSoft Fuzz – Pickles
Soft Merino – Pickles
Designer’s Website“Spor I Cowl” – Pickles

The “Spor I” cowl by Norwegian knitting brand Pickles is a cool, understated Scandinavian-chic at its finest. It’s worked from the top down in a classic rib pattern using 3mm circular needles and two types of yarn held together — easy as pie.

Recommended Materials

To knit this pattern, you will need the following materials:

Needle SizeUS Size 2.5/3mm Circular Needles
Yarn Weight50g = 195m (Yarn A)
50g = 125m (Yarn B)
Yarn Quantity50g (Yarn A)
50g-100g (Yarn B)

14. The “Stranded” Cowl

Stranded Cowl
Price$6.00/£4.99
Techniques RequiredN/A – See Pattern
Suggested YarnFar – Woolfolk
Gruesa – Malabrigo
Designer’s WebsiteThe “Stranded” Cowl – Cocoknits

This knitted cowl pattern is actually reversible: you can choose to show the right side or the wrong side, depending on your preference. Though it may look complicated thanks to its woven texture, it’s actually super easy for beginners to knit using two types of yarn and some foundational knitting techniques.

Recommended Materials

To knit this pattern, you will need the following materials:

Needle SizeUS Size 11/8mm Circular Needles
Yarn Weight50g = 130m (Yarn A)
100g = 60m (Yarn B)
Yarn Quantity1 Skein (Yarn A)
1 Skein (Yarn B)

Knitting a Simple Cowl: Everything You Need to Know

Cowls are such a joy to knit because they’re usually very easy. There’s no increasing or decreasing, positive ease, or sizing to worry about — just basic knit and purl stitches.

Most cowl patterns are knit in the round on circular needles. To start, you simply cast on enough stitches to match your desired circumference, then keep adding rows until the cowl reaches your desired width.

On average, they’re usually around 60 inches long and 20 inches wide — although this can vary a lot depending on the design.

You can add colorwork, different stitch patterns, and other techniques along the way, but at its most basic, it’s really as simple as that!

How Many Stitches Should I Cast On For a Cowl?

You can work out how many stitches to cast on using two figures: your knitting gauge, and the desired width of your cowl.

First, calculate the stitches per inch of your knitting gauge. You can do this by eye using a normal ruler, or you can use a dedicated knitting gauge ruler.

Then, multiply this figure by your desired width for the cowl in inches. For example, if you want your cowl to be 20 inches wide and you have a gauge of 3 stitches per inch, multiply 20 by 3. This will give you a total of 60 stitches to cast on.

Can You Knit a Cowl on Straight Needles?

Cowls have a tubular shape, which means most cowl knitting patterns are knit in the round using circular or double pointed needles.

However, you can knit some cowl patterns back and forth using straight knitting needles, too. To do this, you’ll need to knit a long, rectangular shape and then seam the ends together to form a tube at the end.

How Much Yarn do I Need for a Cowl?

One of the best parts about knitting a cowl is how little yarn you need. The exact amount will depend on your knitting pattern, but you’ll almost always need much less yarn than a bigger project like a sweater or a full scarf.

In most cases, you’ll need between 100g and 200g of yarn, or between 150m and 300m depending on the yarn weight category. This usually amounts to just one or two skeins for each cowl you knit.

Cowl Knitting Patterns

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