enJOY it

an archived personal and craft blog from Elise Blaha Cripe.

Cowl

I am incredibly picky about scarves. Color, texture, weight, wrap-a-bility, poofiness-factor… all of it matters very much. And although I have knit a few for myself, this is sadly the first scarf or cowl I have made that I think has any real life in it (meaning I'll wear it for more than a week or before loosing interest or passing it on).

Yarn

I used almost two skeins of 100% wool from Michael's. Brand shown above. And size 7 (4.5 mm) 29inch circular needles. I cast on 74 stitches with two strands of the same color yarn (I just used one strand from each of the skeins). I am not sure if using two strands made it go faster, feel thicker or look better, but that's what I decided to go with and I am happy I did.

Cowl5

Then I joined the ends and started knitting. I only know how to do the knit stitch, or the garter stitch, but when knitted in the round it looks like what I (a knitting novice) consider "normal" stitches on one side and fantastic little "V" shapes on the other.

Cowl3

I like my cowls to be "tall" and come up high on my neck so I knitted 59 rows. I didn't count in the process, just worked on it until it felt right. (I was able to slip it around my neck as I was working to see how big it was getting.) Once I was happy with it, I cast off that last row.

Cowl4

I am currently working on the exact same pattern in a pretty "plum" color for a girlfriend of mine. Then my mom has requested a tan one. And if I have not officially given up on knitting after that, I am going to make one more – a striped one with that lime and tan yarn from the second photo. Michael's has all their yarn on sale this week and I figured it was a great opportunity to stock up…

Cowl2

If you are familiar with circular knitting, this "pattern" is probably much too easy, but if you are not, I have linked to youtube.com videos throughout this post. My grandma taught me how to knit (at Thanksgiving!) when I was nine, but these are some of the videos I watched to learn how to knit in the round. Hope they help!

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56 responses to “super simple knitted cowl.”

  1. Johanna Avatar

    So great to have knit something one considers wearable in the end, right? I knit a cape a few years ago and liked it – but never thought it would prove to be the one knitted item I would actually treasure throughout the years! It makes everything better (= warmer), working at the desk, nursing a newborn, going for walks through golden leaves. Love that thing. Here’s to wearing handmade! Cheers!

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  2. lisa fine Avatar

    Pretty! So the whole thing is knit with two colors at one time? Like you have a double strand of wool throughout the knitting?
    I’d like to stop and pick up some wool at Michael’s this week, and could use a new scarf or cowl. (It’s snowing here now!)

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  3. J3SS1C4 Avatar

    This turned out super cute! I’ve been curious to try knitting with the circular needles, but figured I should finish my current knitting project first!

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  4. jane rogers Avatar
    jane rogers

    Hi – wow I love it ! thank you sooo much for sharing it and all your other wonderful things ! I love all the different things you share and so much fun to try them all !
    jane

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  5. Rachel (Two Healthy Plates) Avatar

    Pretty! I want a cowl so maybe I should make one for myself. This would be an excellent winter project =)

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  6. Kristen (Simply Lovely) Avatar

    You make it look so easy! I’ve never been very good, but this is so cute I’m going to have to give it a try.

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  7. Giulia Avatar

    you make want to try! someday. it’s on my bucket list 🙂

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  8. Mitchell Kraft Avatar

    I am so picky about scarves too. Love your cowl. I need to make myself a decent one.

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  9. Sherry Eckblad Avatar

    That scarf is AMAZING! You have used my favorite color and I agree about the poofiness and feel of a scarf. Living in Minnesota where things can get pretty cold, when you are tired of it and want to pass it along I am here…waiting for it.

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  10. Molly Avatar

    cute! my mom is a fantastic knitter. i should really ask her to teach me. 🙂

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  11. Jennifer D Avatar
    Jennifer D

    The “v” stitches are stockinette stitch. 🙂 If you were knitting flat and you knit one row, purl one row, knit one row, purl one row, and so on, you’ll get the same affect. The backside (your normal ones) are called reverse stockinette and it is always what the back of stockinette looks like, whether knit flat or round. 🙂
    You should totally check out http://www.ravelry.com
    I think you would love it.

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  12. Jennifer D Avatar
    Jennifer D

    And if I could edit my comment, I would totally change “affect” to “effect”. My apologies to anyone whose eye starts to twitch when reading my comment. 😉

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  13. Dunia Avatar

    Wow, knitting… I have started several scarf and never finished them… maybe someday I will 🙂
    Right now I’m looking for a jacket for the “winter” (I live in Texas) and I love how youts look like. Where did you buy it? Do you know where can I get a similar one?
    Thanks!

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  14. Alice Armstrong Avatar
    Alice Armstrong

    Ummmm when are you going to have a knit pop up shop?! I’m ready to order my winter cowl!

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  15. Riot and Frolic Avatar

    Um, PERFECT! I’ve wanted to try circular needles for awhile. I kind of know how to knit AND purl, but am terrible at switching back and forth. This looks like a project I can handle! Thanks for the post!

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  16. Skye Avatar

    I can do very basic knitting. I’ve tried circular needles before but had a bit of trouble. I think I should try again because this cowl is rad! Thanks for the super simple tutorial. 🙂

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  17. pidgen Avatar
    pidgen

    Jennifer is right — the front is called stockinette. And your “normal” stiches are usually considered the back of the work {well, unless you want that to be the right side! lol.} You should really check out one of those “Knitting Encyclopidia” books from the library. They are so much fun and are easy to flip back and forth as you learn {or need to practice} new stiches.
    Oh, Jennifer’s also right about effect. I was twitching. lol.

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  18. Kelsey Avatar

    This looks so cozy! I haven’t picked up my knitting needles in awhile but this would be a perfect, cozy gift for my mom. Thanks for the inspiration!

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  19. amanda (simplemittens) Avatar

    kudos! I just made my first cowl and I think I’m addicted too!

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  20. extragrunty Avatar

    Yes to Ravelry! It’s my favorite resource for all things yarn related. I’ve been a member for years.

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  21. elise blaha Avatar

    yep, two strands at once. When I do the lime and tan one, I will alternate colors, not pull them together at the same time.

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  22. elise blaha Avatar

    haha! I will keep that in mind. 🙂

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  23. elise blaha Avatar

    thank you for the insight!! I have been on ravelry (it always gets suggested when I mention knitting) and I just get SO overwhelmed. WOW… so hard to know where to begin. I have lots of work to do if I want to get serious about knitting. 🙂

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  24. elise blaha Avatar

    thanks so much. I love it too and it is lands end canvas from last year.

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  25. elise blaha Avatar
  26. jessica o'brien | jessohbee Avatar

    oooh, that is one good cowl. i love the plum you’re using for your friend.

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  27. meg Avatar

    LOVE it! Sometimes I make them extra tall and tight to accommodate for when it stretches in the future. I bought that same lime yarn for a cowl, too!

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  28. eeny Avatar

    Yeah, now I can start knitting my cowl. Thanks, Elise.
    I learned knitting from my mom but I always forget fancy stitches and techniques as i do not knit a lot. But I found this awesome site called knittinghelp.com, they have great videos [continental and english knitting], easy to understand. I go there anytime I need a little help.
    You might want to check out their version of the long tail cast-on, it is so much faster and easier than the knitting on that you linked to.

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  29. elise blaha Avatar

    yeah, I tried long tail caston and did not love it. I actually just wrap the yarn around my hand and slip the needle under it for casting on, but I could not find a good video that showed it… 🙂

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  30. Marissa Avatar

    I was just going to say that cowl fits perfectly. I’m picky too with my scarves. I totally agree with you on the poofiness and weight. We don’t have a Michael’s in HI (how that kills my longing for artistic spontaneity), but I go home in a few months and hopefully will pick up this hobby while I’m in CA.

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  31. Angie Avatar

    Ooo, it’s so pretty and definitely warm n’ cozy looking!!! Great job, Elise! 😀

    Like

  32. SKUnger Avatar
    SKUnger

    Thanks, this is great! I have finished one tube scarf that I wrap twice for a twisty cowl…but I have had a heck of a time with patterns that are too complicated! I’m going to try your method. I love to just patiently knit…none of the fancy yarn over this way and that way! Thanks, Elise!

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  33. Mere Avatar

    Love this Elise! I’m going to try to make one of these immediately! Thanks for sharing!

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  34. Fish Avatar
    Fish

    I knit a big scarf once of black,gray, and green wool basically as you described. I also felted it in the washing machine. It is lovely. That’s a great brand of wool.

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  35. cinback Avatar

    You make this look so easy…I may give it a try even though I am not a knitter! Thanks.

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  36. Dawn F. Avatar
    Dawn F.

    Thanks for the tutorial. I am a basic knitter also. When I finish my fingerless mittens/gloves or whatever they are called this will be the perfect project.

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  37. Caroline Cameron Avatar

    The cowl looks great and please, please post pics of the two colour one – looks like it will be fab. I’ve just learned how to knit in the round with double pointed needles – the next project for you maybe? I love, love, love that I can do stocking (stockinette) stitch without purling a stitch because there is no right and wrong side when you are knitting in the round. Love it.

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  38. Lauren Avatar
    Lauren

    This is fabulous! Thanks for the inspiration and the link to the great videos!

    Like

  39. Brianna Avatar
    Brianna

    Looks cozy. I hope you’ll share the finished purple one.

    Like

  40. Diana Avatar

    That is a great scarf! I wish I could knit…maybe I’ll take the time to learn.
    xo
    Diana
    http://unusuallylovely.com

    Like

  41. Kate Avatar

    I love this! I’m pinning it and going to buy some yarn! Thanks, Elise!

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  42. Caroline Avatar

    Does the length of the circular needles matter much other than how big you want the hole for your head and neck to be? I had a pair of circular needles when I was overseas, but they somehow got lost in the move and I had only started knitting a scarf, which I sadly gave up on. Lol I really want to learn now to knit this cowl you made so I can gift them eventually!!

    Like

  43. elise blaha Avatar

    No, it can be smaller, but too much bigger and you will over stretch your yarn. 🙂

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  44. Vivid Avatar

    I love cowls!! I learned to knit a years ago & have a full set f needles but I just can not get good at it. I’m a crocheter, I may try something like this as my first knit project in years! It’s super cute.

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  45. Loretta Avatar
    Loretta

    Don’t you LOVE simplicity. So classy! Now if you wanted you could cast on way more stitches so the cowl could wrap around your neck twice, don’t knit as many rows and fringe one edge. You would need a longer knitting round and bunch those stitches on.
    More stitches, less rows. 10 or 15. Thanks for the inspiration and Happy knitting!

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  46. Loretta Avatar
    Loretta

    Oh, and if you don’t like the ends to curl, start your rows with a double garter stitch selvage.
    row 1: Slip the first stitch knitwise through the back loop, knit the 2nd stitch. work to
    the last two stitches knit two.
    Repeat

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  47. Erin Avatar

    I created a crochet/knitting linky party on my blog:
    http://ketoews.blogspot.com/2013/02/crochetknitting-project-linky-party.html
    Feel free to link any of your projects. (your weavings can be included as well. =)

    Like

  48. motiv8d Avatar
    motiv8d

    Hi, I new to knitting and was interested in knitting a scarf. I love what you have done and have a question. When casting on you said to cast on 74 stitches with 2 strands..did you knit with your yarn doubled? Also, I have on 74 stitches and it does not seem nearly long enough to fit around my neck. HEEEELLLLPPPP!!!!!!

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  49. elise blaha Avatar

    yep, by two strands, I mean doubled. And 74 stitches is what I used FOR SURE. it will work.

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