Bosom Friends Cowl

Bosom Friends Cowl by Laura Dupuis

What is Being Made

The Bosom Friends Cowl is a beginner-friendly knitted cowl designed by Laura Dupuis of White Willow Wearables. This circular cowl measures 12 inches in width and 8.5 inches in height, making it a versatile neckwear accessory. The pattern is an excellent stash-busting project, requiring less than 200 yards of yarn, and is suitable for knitters with basic knitting skills who are comfortable with fundamental stitches.

Techniques and Construction

This cowl is constructed using knitting in the round, a fundamental technique for creating seamless circular garments. The pattern begins with casting on 102 stitches and joining them in the round, eliminating the need for seaming. The design emphasizes simplicity and accessibility, as the pattern description notes that "if you can knit and purl you can make it," making it ideal for knitters expanding their skills into intermediate projects. The straightforward texture creates visual interest without requiring complex stitch manipulation, allowing the yarn's natural characteristics to shine through.

Stitches Used

The Bosom Friends Cowl utilizes the most fundamental knitting stitches:

• Knit stitch (K) - the primary building block of the fabric
• Purl stitch (P) - used in combination with knit stitches to create the simple texture pattern

The pattern employs a simple textured stitch combination that creates visual depth while remaining accessible to intermediate knitters. The gauge for the texture pattern is 17 stitches by 24 rows over 4 inches (10 centimeters).

Materials and Tools

The Bosom Friends Cowl calls for worsted weight yarn, specifically approximately 200 yards. The pattern features Allison Barnes Yarn Classic Worsted as the recommended yarn (pictured in the Raspberry Cheesecake colorway), though any size 4 worsted weight yarn from your stash works equally well. This makes it an excellent project for using up leftover yarn from other projects.

Essential tools include:

• Size US 8/5mm circular needles, 16 inches (41 centimeters) in length, or the size needed to achieve proper gauge
• Scissors for cutting yarn
• Darning needle for weaving in ends
• One stitch marker for tracking the beginning of the round

Difficulty Level and Suitability

While categorized as intermediate in overall difficulty, the pattern is labeled as beginner friendly, making it an excellent bridge project for knitters transitioning from basic skills to more complex work. The simple texture pattern paired with straightforward construction means that knitters need only master knit and purl stitches to successfully complete this cowl. The lightly speckled appearance of worsted weight yarn complements the simple texture beautifully, and the quick completion time makes it a satisfying and achievable project.