Madelia Cowl PDF

Madelia Cowl by Nancy Ekvall – Knitted Striped Cowl Pattern (Downloadable PDF)

The Madelia Cowl is a beautifully simple yet striking knitted cowl designed by Nancy Ekvall and published by Spud & Chloë as part of their On the Run Series. This pattern is available as a downloadable PDF and is rated Advanced Beginner, making it an excellent project for knitters who have mastered the basics and are ready to explore working in the round with colorwork stripes. The finished cowl measures 24 inches in circumference and 11 inches in height, creating a generous, cozy wrap around the neck that can be worn in a variety of ways.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a single-size, seamless knitted cowl worked entirely in the round from the bottom up. The design features a clean, classic silhouette accented by a pop of contrasting color through stripe detailing, allowing knitters to personalize the look to their own taste. The cowl is soft, warm, and — thanks to the yarn choice — fully machine washable, making it as practical as it is stylish.

Construction Techniques

• Bottom-up construction: The cowl is cast on at the lower edge and worked upward, giving knitters a logical, straightforward progression through the pattern.
• Worked in the round: Using a circular needle, the cowl is knitted seamlessly with no seaming required, producing a smooth, professional finish on both the inside and outside.
• Seamless design: Because the piece is worked continuously in the round, there are no seams to sew up at the end, making finishing quick and easy.
• Stripes: Two colors are used to create stripe patterning, introducing a simple but effective colorwork element that adds visual interest without requiring complex techniques like stranded knitting or intarsia.

Stitches Used

• Knit (k): The foundational knit stitch forms the primary fabric of the cowl.
• Purl (p): Purl stitches are incorporated into the pattern to create textural variation within the stitch pattern.
• Cast on (CO) and Bind off (BO): Standard cast-on and bind-off methods are used to begin and finish the piece.
• Place marker (pm): A stitch marker is used to denote the beginning of each round, keeping the knitter on track throughout the circular construction.

Materials Required

• Yarn: Spud & Chloë Outer (65% Superwash Wool, 35% Certified Organic Cotton; 100g / 60 yards per hank) — a super chunky weight yarn. The pattern requires 2 hanks of Color A and 1 hank of Color B, totaling 3 hanks. The colorway shown in the pattern is No. 7200 Soapstone (A) and No. 7201 Flannel (B).
• Needles: A size 15 (10mm) 24-inch circular needle, or the size needed to obtain gauge. The large needle size reflects the chunky nature of the yarn and contributes to the quick, satisfying knit-up of this project.
• Notions: A stitch marker and a tapestry needle for weaving in ends.

Gauge

The pattern calls for a gauge of 9 stitches and 14 rows over 4 inches in pattern. Achieving the correct gauge is important for ensuring the cowl reaches its intended finished measurements of 24 inches in circumference and 11 inches in height.

Yarn Qualities and Appeal

Spud & Chloë Outer is a blend of Superwash Wool and Certified Organic Cotton, giving the finished cowl a wonderfully soft hand feel while remaining durable and easy to care for. The Superwash treatment means the cowl can be safely machine washed