Peryton (Winged Deer) Double Knit Cowl

Peryton (Winged Deer) Double Knit Cowl by Tania Richter

What Is Being Made

The Peryton (Winged Deer) Double Knit Cowl is a knitted neck accessory featuring a mythical winged deer motif created through the double knit technique. This cowl is designed as a finished piece measuring 24 inches in circumference and 9 inches in height, making it a versatile accessory suitable for layering or wearing as a statement piece. The double knit construction creates a reversible fabric with coordinated colorwork visible on both sides of the garment.

Craft and Technique Overview

This project uses double knitting, an advanced colorwork technique that creates a double-layered fabric with two distinct colors worked simultaneously. Unlike traditional Fair Isle or stranded colorwork, double knitting produces a thicker, reversible fabric where both sides display the same pattern. The technique involves working knit and purl stitches in alternating sequence with two yarn colors held separately, creating a fabric that is substantially warmer and more structured than single-layer knitting.

Stitches and Pattern Construction

The cowl is constructed using the following stitch fundamentals:

• Stockinette stitch forms the base fabric structure, providing a smooth, classic appearance
• Double knit stitches are worked in a specific sequence where each square on the chart represents two stitches: one knit stitch followed by one purl stitch. This alternating knit-purl pattern is consistent throughout, with knit stitches always preceding purl stitches
• The pattern is worked from a chart over 60 rows, with 120 stitch pairs (240 total stitches) cast on for the circular construction

Materials and Yarn Requirements

This cowl requires approximately 300 yards of yarn total, divided equally between two colors: 150 yards of main color and 150 yards of a contrasting color. Malabrigo Silky Merino or an equivalent DK weight yarn is recommended for this project, as the yarn weight directly affects the final gauge and finished measurements. DK weight yarn provides the appropriate drape and stitch definition necessary for clear colorwork definition in double knit patterns.

Needles and Additional Materials

Construction requires 16-inch US size 3 circular needles (3.25 mm) for working the cowl in the round. The circular needle length accommodates the 240 stitches while maintaining proper tension and ease of work. Additional materials needed include a tapestry needle for weaving in yarn ends and stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and construction progress.

Gauge and Finished Measurements

The recommended gauge is 20 stitches and 28 rows per 10 centimeters (4 inches) in stockinette stitch. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the finished measurements of 24 inches in circumference and 9 inches in height. Gauge swatching before beginning the project ensures the final cowl will fit as intended and that the colorwork pattern will display at the correct scale.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as intermediate difficulty, reflecting the technical demands of double knitting. While the basic knit and purl stitches are fundamental, managing two yarn colors simultaneously, maintaining consistent tension with both strands, and following a chart pattern require experience beyond beginner-level knitting. Knitters should be comfortable with circular needle techniques and have prior experience with colorwork before attempting this project.