Cowl and Hat in Schachenmayr Merino Extrafine 120 - S8927 - Downloadable PDF

Cowl and Hat Knitting Pattern in Schachenmayr Merino Extrafine 120 – Design S8927

This free downloadable PDF knitting pattern (Design S8927) from Schachenmayr presents a coordinating cowl (Loop) and hat (Mütze) set, designed to be worked in a striking combination of Schachenmayr Merino Extrafine 120 and Merino Extrafine Color 120. The pattern is rated intermediate in difficulty and is an excellent project for knitters who are comfortable working in the round and managing two yarn colors simultaneously. The set makes a beautifully cohesive cold-weather accessory pairing, with the colorwork detail giving both pieces a lively, textured appearance.

This pattern is part of a larger instruction sheet (reference 4102/90, copyright © 2014 Coats PLC / Schachenmayr) that also includes Design S8926, a women's jacket. The cowl and hat instructions are specifically designated as Design S8927 and are self-contained within the PDF.

Yarn and Materials

The cowl and hat are each worked using 100 g of yarn per piece. The colorway specified in the pattern uses:

• Schachenmayr Merino Extrafine 120 in Aubergine, shade 00149 – a rich, deep purple solid
• Schachenmayr Merino Extrafine Color 120 in Jazz Color, shade 00483 – a variegated colorway that adds movement and visual interest to the fabric

Schachenmayr Merino Extrafine 120 is a DK weight yarn made from fine merino wool, known for its softness, stitch definition, and comfortable next-to-skin wear. The DK weight makes it ideal for accessories that need to be warm yet not overly bulky, and the merino fiber provides natural elasticity that helps ribbing and fitted sections retain their shape.

Needles Required

The cowl and hat are both knitted in the round using circular needles. The following needle sizes are specified:

• Cowl (Loop): 1 circular needle, 4 mm, 80 cm long
• Hat (Mütze): 1 circular needle, 3.5 mm, 40 cm long (for the ribbed brim) and 1 circular needle, 4 mm, 40 cm long (for the main body)

Needles are Milward brand circular needles, as specified in the original pattern materials list.

Stitches and Techniques Used

Rib Pattern (Rippenmuster)

Both the cowl and the hat incorporate a rib stitch, worked as 1 stitch knit, 1 stitch purl alternating (1x1 ribbing). This classic technique creates a stretchy, structured fabric that is particularly well-suited to hat brims and cowl edges, helping the finished pieces hug the wearer comfortably without gaping.

Main Pattern (Grundmuster) – Two-Color Slip Stitch Texture

The primary body of both pieces is worked in a two-color slip stitch pattern, which is the defining decorative feature of this design. The stitch count for this pattern is based on a multiple of 2 stitches + 1 + 2 edge stitches when worked flat, adapted for working in the round. The pattern alternates between the two yarn colors across a repeating sequence of rows:

• Row 1 (right side) in Aubergine: All stitches knitted
• Row 2 (wrong side) in Aubergine: All stitches purled
• Row 3 in Jazz Color: Stitches are alternated between knitting one stitch and slipping one stitch with the yarn held at the back – this slip stitch technique is what creates the characteristic woven or mosaic