Constance Cowl in Erika Knight British Blue 100 - Downloadable PDF

Constance Cowl by Jeanette Sloan – Knitting Pattern Summary

The Constance Cowl is a beautifully designed knitted accessory created by designer Jeanette Sloan, available as a downloadable PDF pattern. This pattern produces a single, generously sized cowl that is as practical as it is elegant, making it an ideal project for intermediate knitters looking to expand their lace and texture skills.

What Is Being Made

The finished piece is a large, wearable cowl with a finished width of approximately 24cm / 9½ inches and a substantial circumference of approximately 184cm / 72½ inches. This generous circumference means the cowl can be looped multiple times around the neck for warmth and style, or worn as a dramatic single loop. One of the most distinctive design features is the zig-zag shaped edges, which are a natural result of the slanted lace stitch construction, giving the cowl a dynamic, eye-catching silhouette.

Construction and Techniques

The Constance Cowl is worked in rows on a long circular needle, rather than in the round, which is an interesting and slightly unconventional approach for a cowl. This method gives the knitter greater control over the lace pattern and contributes to the reversible nature of the finished fabric. The use of a long circular needle accommodates the large stitch count required for the generous circumference.

A key highlight of this pattern is that the resulting fabric is fully reversible, meaning both sides of the cowl present an attractive appearance. This is a particularly desirable quality in an accessory that will be seen from multiple angles when worn. The reversibility is achieved through the careful construction of the slanted lace stitch, which works symmetrically through the fabric.

Stitches Used

The pattern employs a range of knitting stitches and techniques suited to an intermediate skill level. Knitters working on the Constance Cowl will use the following stitches and methods:

• K (Knit) – the foundational knit stitch used throughout the pattern
• P (Purl) – the purl stitch, used to create texture and contribute to the reversible fabric
• K2tog (Knit 2 Together) – a right-leaning decrease used to shape the lace pattern
• P2tog (Purl 2 Together) – a purl-side decrease that mirrors the knit decreases
• ssk (Slip, Slip, Knit) – a left-leaning decrease; the first and second stitches are slipped one at a time as if to knit before being worked together
• M1 (Make One) – an increase stitch worked by inserting the tip of the right needle under the horizontal loop in front of the next stitch, placing it on the left needle, and purling through the back of the loop
• Sl (Slip) – slipping stitches as directed to maintain the lace pattern
• pm (Place Marker) – stitch markers are used to help track pattern repeats and sections

The combination of increases (M1) and decreases (K2tog, P2tog, ssk) is what creates the characteristic slanted lace stitch that defines the Constance Cowl. This interplay of shaping stitches produces the zig-zag edges and the open, lace-like texture running through the body of the fabric. Lace knitting at this level requires careful attention to pattern repeats and stitch counts, making it a rewarding challenge for intermediate knitters.

Materials – Yarn and Needles

The pattern is designed specifically for Erika Knight British Blue 100, a luxurious 100% pure British Bluefaced Leicester wool. This yarn is available in 100g / 3oz hanks, each containing approximately 220 metres / 240 yards. The pattern requires 3 hanks to complete the cowl. The colourway shown in the pattern photographs is Regent's Park, a colour from the Erika Knight British Blue 100 range.

Bluefaced Leicester is a breed-specific British wool known for its fine, lustrous fibre and soft