Saguaroche Cowl

Saguaroche Cowl by Jessica G Harlow

What Is Being Made

The Saguaroche Cowl is an advanced knitting project designed as a versatile neck accessory available in five different sizes. The cowl features a two-color brioche rib pattern that creates a textured, reversible fabric. Sizes range from a compact 16-inch circumference (41cm) suitable for children or close-fitting styles, up to a generous 48-inch circumference (122cm) for oversized drape and layering versatility. This downloadable PDF pattern from independent designer Jessica G Harlow offers knitters the flexibility to choose their preferred finished dimensions.

Techniques Used

This pattern employs brioche knitting, an advanced technique that creates a luxurious, elastic fabric with excellent drape and recovery. Brioche knitting involves yarn overs and knit stitches worked in a specific sequence to produce elongated loops that give the cowl its distinctive textured appearance. The pattern includes important technical notes about brioche yarn overs: the method you choose depends on your personal yarn-over wrapping style. Knitters who wrap yarn overs with the yarn going under the needle and then over will use the yosl method (similar to Adam West's technique), while those who wrap yarn overs by going over then under will prefer the slyo method (similar to Andrea Mowry's approach). The pattern is worked in the round on circular needles, requiring careful attention during the cast-on to avoid twisting unless an intentional twisted cowl is desired.

Stitches Used

• Brioche Rib: The primary stitch pattern combining yarn overs with knit stitches to create the textured, reversible fabric
• Yarn Overs (YO): Essential brioche element worked in either yosl or slyo variation depending on individual technique preference
• Knit Stitches: Foundation stitches worked in conjunction with yarn overs throughout the brioche rib pattern
• Long Tail Cast-On: The cast-on method specified for this project, with stitch counts of 104, 156, 208, 260, or 312 depending on size selection

Materials

The Saguaroche Cowl is designed to work with fingering weight yarn (4-ply), requiring approximately 100 grams total for the largest size. The pattern accommodates two contrasting fingering yarns: Color 1 (the cactus color) uses 2 skeins of Malabrigo Finito Aguas, while Color 2 (the background color) uses 1 skein of Sock Obsession Yarns White Sands Silky Singles. Knitters will need US Size 2 (2.75mm) circular needles in lengths of 16 inches for the smallest size, 24 inches for the second size, 32 inches for both the third and fourth sizes, and 47 inches for the largest size. The recommended gauge is 6.5 stitches and 8 rows per inch (2.5cm) in Brioche Rib, measured across both colors combined. A stitch marker is required to denote the beginning of round when working in the round.