Cathedral Cowl

Cathedral Cable Cowl by Loraine Birchall

What is Being Made

The Cathedral Cable Cowl is a unisex knitted cowl designed by Loraine Birchall for Woolly Madly Deeply Ltd. This project offers two size options to suit different preferences: a slimmer cowl with a 22 inch/56cm circumference (Size 1) and a wider cowl with a 33 inch/84cm circumference (Size 2). The cowl is a versatile neckwear piece suitable for both men and women, providing warmth and style with its distinctive cable pattern.

Craft and Primary Techniques

This is a knitting project classified as intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for knitters with some experience beyond basic techniques. The primary construction method involves knitting in the round to create a seamless tubular cowl. The pattern demonstrates cable knitting techniques, which require working with multiple stitches crossed over one another to create the characteristic raised, twisted texture that gives the cowl its "Cathedral" aesthetic. The intermediate skill level reflects the complexity of managing cable stitches while maintaining consistent tension and shaping.

Stitches Used

The Cathedral Cable Cowl features cable stitches as its defining stitch pattern element. Cable stitches are created by crossing groups of stitches over each other using a cable needle, producing the three-dimensional twisted rope-like appearance that characterizes this design. The pattern construction likely incorporates ribbing stitches for the edging and structural elements, which provide elasticity and help the cowl maintain its shape around the neck.

Materials and Yarn Weight

The Cathedral Cable Cowl is designed to be worked in aran weight yarn, which is a medium-weight yarn that knits at a moderate gauge. The pattern specifies Debbie Bliss Blue Faced Leicester Aran as the recommended yarn choice. For the slimmer Size 1 cowl, you will need 210 to 220 yards of aran weight yarn. For the wider Size 2 cowl, you will need 315 to 340 yards of aran weight yarn. The aran weight provides excellent stitch definition for cable patterns while creating a fabric with good drape and warmth.

Needles and Tools

The pattern requires two different needle sizes to achieve the proper fabric structure. Ribbing needles are suggested at 4mm/US6 size for the edging sections, which creates a tighter gauge that helps the ribbing maintain elasticity. The body of the cowl is worked on larger needles, with suggested sizes of 5mm/US8 or optionally 5.5mm/US9 needles. The larger needle size for the body creates more drape in the fabric compared to the ribbing. Circular needles or double-pointed needles would typically be used for knitting this cowl in the round.

Pattern Details

Pattern Version 1.a was released in November 2017 and is protected by copyright held by Loraine Birchall for Woolly Madly Deeply Ltd. The downloadable PDF format provides a complete pattern with instructions and images across six pages. The pattern includes visual examples showing the cowl knitted in different yarn colors, including a Stone colorway in Debbie Bliss Blue Faced Leicester Aran and a Hollyhock colorway in Stylecraft Special Aran with wool, demonstrating how the cable pattern appears in different fiber choices.