Trinity cowl

Trinity Cowl by Brigitte Reydams

What is Being Made

The Trinity Cowl is a knitted neck accessory designed by Brigitte Reydams. This cowl measures 9 inches in width and 37 inches in length, creating a versatile wrap that can be worn as a single loop or doubled around the neck. The finished cowl is seamed into a continuous circle for comfortable, seamless wear.

Yarn and Materials

This project uses 2 skeins of Malabrigo Rasta, a super chunky weight yarn that creates a dense, textured fabric. The pattern calls for Size 15 needles and a large sewing needle for seaming the cowl closed. The gauge is 2.75 stitches per inch, which is typical for super chunky yarn and contributes to the quick knitting time of this intermediate project.

Techniques and Construction

The Trinity Cowl is constructed using a straightforward technique: cast on 26 stitches and work the repeating trinity stitch pattern until the piece reaches 37 inches in length. Once the desired length is achieved, the live stitches are grafted to the cast-on edge using a large sewing needle, creating a seamless circular cowl.

Trinity Stitch Pattern

The trinity stitch is a textured stitch pattern that creates a distinctive three-dimensional fabric. The 4-row repeat alternates between purl rows and knit rows that feature the core stitch technique:

• Row 1 (Wrong Side): Purl across
• Row 2 (Right Side): K1, then repeat *P3 tog, (K1, P1, K1 into same stitch)* across, ending with K1
• Row 3: Purl across
• Row 4 (Right Side): K1, then repeat *(K1, P1, K1 into same stitch), P3 together* across, ending with K1

The trinity stitch works by decreasing three stitches together (P3tog) and then increasing back to three stitches by working knit, purl, and knit into a single stitch. This creates a bumpy, textured surface that is both visually interesting and structurally sound.

Skill Level and Stitches Used

This project is rated as intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for knitters who are comfortable with basic stitches and stitch manipulation. The primary stitches used are knit and purl, along with the decrease technique purl 3 together (P3tog) and the increase technique of working multiple stitches into a single stitch. Knitters should also be familiar with casting on, binding off, and basic seaming techniques.