Miter Might Not

Miter Might Not Cowl by Carissa Browning

Project Overview

Miter Might Not is an intermediate-level knitted cowl that demonstrates how strategic placement of increases creates dramatically different results in garment construction. This downloadable PDF pattern showcases the creative possibilities of mitered shaping techniques in cowl design, offering two distinct size options with varying proportions and visual impact.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a knitted cowl—a neck-worn accessory that combines warmth with style. The design features two size options: Size A with a 30-inch circumference and 15-inch height, and Size B with a 38-inch circumference and 9-inch height. The significant difference in proportions between sizes demonstrates how the same mitered construction technique yields versatile garment shapes, allowing knitters to choose between a taller, narrower cowl or a wider, shorter wrap-style option.

Techniques and Construction Methods

Brioche Knitting: The primary technique featured in this pattern is brioche knitting, an advanced stitch method that creates exceptionally elastic, reversible fabric with a distinctive textured appearance. Brioche knitting involves working stitches together with their yarnovers, which requires specific abbreviations and techniques detailed in the pattern.

Mitered Shaping: The pattern's name emphasizes the importance of miter placement—the strategic positioning of increases throughout the knit. By changing where increases occur, knitters can dramatically alter the final garment's appearance and proportions, making this an excellent study in how construction choices impact design outcomes.

Circular Knitting: This cowl is worked on circular needles, allowing for seamless construction and the ability to work in continuous rounds, which is typical for cowl and neck accessory patterns.

Stitches Used

• Brioche Knit (brk): Knitting the next stitch together with its yarnover, a fundamental brioche stitch
• Brioche Purl (brp): Purling the next stitch together with its yarnover
• Brioche Left-Slanting Decrease (brLsl): A two-stitch decrease worked by slipping a stitch and its yarnover as if to brioche knit, knitting the next two stitches together, then passing the slipped stitch over—creating a left-leaning decrease line
• Brioche Knit-Yarnover-Brioche Knit (brkyobrk): A combination stitch incorporating brioche knitting with yarnover elements
• Knit Stitch: Standard knit stitch for foundational fabric

Materials and Specifications

Yarn: This pattern calls for Malabrigo Rios, a 100% merino wool yarn offering 210 yards (192 meters) per 100-gram skein. Two color versions are provided: Version A uses Purpuras (dark color) and Archangel (light color), while Version B uses Jupiter (dark color) and Yerba (light color). Each size requires one skein each of the dark and light colors, allowing for two-color colorwork or striping effects within the brioche rib structure.

Needles and Tools: Construction requires a US #6 (4mm) circular needle measuring 24 inches in length, appropriate for the cowl's circumference. The pattern also calls for three stitch markers to track pattern repeats, a removable stitch marker specifically for brioche four-stitch decreases, a tapestry needle for finishing, and waste yarn for provisional cast-on or stitch management techniques.

Gauge: After blocking, the brioche rib fabric should measure 16 stitches and 17 rows over 4 inches. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the finished measurements and ensuring the cowl drapes correctly.

Yarn Weight and Difficulty

This pattern uses worsted-weight yarn, a versatile mid-range yarn weight that provides good stitch definition and reasonable knitting speed. The intermediate difficulty level reflects the brioche knitting techniques required—while not beginner-friendly, the pattern is accessible to knitters with solid foundational skills who are ready to explore specialized stitch techniques. The brioche abbreviations and specialized decreases require careful attention to pattern instructions and stitch manipulation.

Designer: Miter Might Not is designed by Carissa Browning and is available as a downloadable PDF pattern through CarissaKnits.com.