Arrochar

Arrochar Cowl by Meg Gadsbey

What Is Being Made

Arrochar is a textured two-colour cowl designed by Meg Gadsbey. This is a neck warmer worked seamlessly in the round, combining visual interest through colour work with structural detail at the edges. The cowl features a straightforward construction suitable for knitters with intermediate skills who want to explore mosaic patterning without the complexity of managing multiple colours per row.

Craft and Technique

This design uses the knitting craft, worked entirely in the round on circular needles. The primary technique employed is slipped-stitch mosaic patterning, a method that creates the appearance of complex colourwork while simplifying the actual knitting process. In mosaic knitting, only one colour is worked per row, with stitches slipped from previous rows to build the pattern. This approach eliminates the need for managing multiple colours simultaneously, making it more accessible than traditional stranded colourwork.

The cowl incorporates twisted rib edges at both the top and bottom, which provide neat, structured finishing and help the cowl maintain its shape and sit securely at the neck.

Stitches Used

• Knit stitch (the foundational stitch for the main pattern)
• Slipped stitches (used to create the mosaic pattern effect)
• Twisted rib (for the top and bottom edges)

Materials

Yarn: DK weight yarn (also known as 8 ply) in two colours. The pattern requires 196 yards/180 metres in the main colour (MC) and 98 yards/90 metres in the contrasting colour (CC). The sample was knitted in Tarndie Polwarth 8 ply, which is 100% Polwarth wool, using Taupe as the main colour and White as the contrasting colour.

Needles: Two sets of 4.5 mm (US 7) and 5 mm (US 8) circular needles, each 16–20 inches (40–50 cm) long. Longer needles or the magic loop method can be used as an alternative.

Notions: One stitch marker and a yarn needle for weaving in ends.

Gauge and Finished Dimensions

The pattern is designed to achieve a gauge of 23 stitches and 38 rounds per 4 inches (10 cm) in the main mosaic pattern when knitted in the round and after blocking. Achieving the correct gauge is important for obtaining the intended finished dimensions and drape of the cowl.