Hotspur Cowl

Hotspur Cowl by Stella Ackroyd

What is Being Made

The Hotspur Cowl is a versatile neckwear accessory designed by Stella Ackroyd, available in two distinct styles. The classic cowl measures approximately 54 cm (21¼ inches) in circumference by 33 cm (13 inches) in depth when blocked. Alternatively, a loop cowl option provides an extended circumference of 130 cm (51 inches) by 19 cm (7½ inches) in depth, offering wearers flexibility in how they style and wear the finished piece. The cowl is completely seamless and reversible, making it a practical and elegant accessory suitable for various occasions and personal styling preferences.

Knitting Techniques Used

This pattern employs fundamental circular knitting techniques, worked entirely in the round using a circular needle to create a seamless construction. The cowl begins with a cast-on worked directly onto the circular needle, followed by purl rounds that establish the fabric edge. The main body is worked in stocking stitch, which creates the classic smooth, V-textured appearance characteristic of knitted fabrics. The reversible nature of the design means both sides of the cowl present an attractive finished appearance, eliminating the need for traditional seaming or edge finishing. The pattern includes a two-color construction, with yarn changes worked seamlessly into the circular knitting process.

Stitches Used

• Knit stitch (K): Forms the primary fabric structure in stocking stitch
• Purl stitch (P): Used in the opening rounds to establish the cowl edge
• Yarn forward (yfwd): Incorporated into the stitch pattern as indicated in the pattern instructions

Materials Required

The Hotspur Cowl is worked using Home Flock 4 Ply yarn, a lightweight fingering-weight yarn that creates delicate, refined fabric. Two separate 50-gram balls are required: one in colorway A and one in colorway B, allowing for creative color blocking or tonal variations depending on yarn selection. The pattern is worked on a 3.75mm (US 5) circular needle; the classic cowl version uses a 40 cm circular needle, while the loop cowl option requires an 80 cm circular needle to accommodate the larger stitch count. The recommended tension is 23 stitches and 28 rows per 10 cm (4 inches) when measured over stocking stitch and blocked with the specified needle size.

Difficulty Level

Rated as a beginner-friendly pattern, the Hotspur Cowl is suitable for knitters new to circular knitting or those seeking an accessible project. The straightforward stitch pattern—primarily knit and purl stitches worked in rounds—combined with the seamless construction makes this an ideal introduction to in-the-round knitting techniques. Beginner knitters will gain practical experience with circular needles, tension consistency, and color changes while creating a wearable, finished accessory.