Lisey's Entrelac Cowl

Lisey's Entrelac Cowl by Yellow Ribbon Knits

Project Overview

Lisey's Entrelac Cowl is a knitted cowl designed by Yellow Ribbon Knits to help knitters master the entrelac technique. This downloadable PDF pattern offers an accessible entry point into a classic colorwork method, making it suitable for knitters looking to expand their skill set with a wearable finished project.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a cowl—a circular neck accessory that can be worn as a close-fitting neckwarmer or looped twice for versatility. The finished cowl showcases the distinctive geometric stacked-square appearance characteristic of entrelac knitting, creating visual interest through the interplay of color changes and texture.

Entrelac Technique Explained

Entrelac is an advanced knitting method that creates interlocking rectangular blocks that appear to be woven together. Rather than working in traditional rows or rounds, entrelac involves casting on a small number of stitches, knitting short rows to form a square, then picking up stitches along the edges of completed squares to build the next tier. This creates a three-dimensional fabric with a distinctive latticed appearance. The technique requires attention to stitch pickup and directional changes but produces stunning geometric results that reward the effort invested in learning.

Stitches and Techniques Used

• Cast on (CO) – Foundation stitches to begin the project
• Knit (k) – Basic knit stitch forming the primary fabric
• Purl (p) – Reverse stitch used for shaping and texture
• Knit 2 together (k2tog) – Right-leaning decrease for shaping
• Purl 2 together (p2tog) – Decrease using purl stitches
• Pick up (pu) – Picking up live stitches along edges to build successive entrelac blocks
• Entrelac – The primary structural technique creating interlocking geometric blocks

Yarn and Materials

Recommended Yarn: Lang Sol Dégradé in Color 81005 is the designer's top recommendation. This yarn is 100% cotton with yardage of 200 meters per 100 grams. The long color gradient in Lang Sol Dégradé provides the perfect speed of color change for entrelac, with a light and silky hand that drapes beautifully in the finished cowl. Alternative yarns with similar long color gradients include Schoppelwolle Gradient and Noro Silk Garden.

Yarn Weight Options: This pattern accommodates multiple yarn weights including DK, worsted, aran, and chunky, providing flexibility based on desired finished fabric density and drape.

Needles: Straight or circular needles in sizes 6.0–7.5 mm are required. The designer notes that personal gauge tends toward the loose side, so knitters may need to size up to larger needles (toward the 7.5 mm end) to achieve the specified gauge.

Gauge

The pattern specifies a gauge of 6.5 stitches by 13 rows over 2 inches (5 centimeters) when worked with 6.5 mm needles. Achieving proper gauge is essential for entrelac projects to ensure that stitch pickup along block edges aligns correctly and the finished cowl reaches the intended dimensions.

Difficulty Level

While labeled as beginner-friendly in terms of overall project scope, this pattern is positioned as medium difficulty due to the entrelac technique itself. Knitters new to entrelac should expect a learning curve in understanding block construction, stitch pickup sequences, and directional changes. However, the cowl format provides a manageable first entrelac project—smaller in scope than a full garment while still delivering impressive results.

Designer Information

This pattern is created by Yellow Ribbon Knits, an independent designer. The pattern is available as a downloadable PDF and can be found through Ravelry, the designer's Etsy shop (Etsy.com/shop/YellowRibbonKnits), and their official website at YellowRibbonCrafts.com. The designer can be reached at patterns@yellowribboncrafts.com for questions or support.