Xacobeo Cowl

Xacobeo Cowl by Trelly Hernández

What is Being Made

The Xacobeo Cowl is a knitted cowl designed as a versatile neck accessory. This intermediate-level project creates a finished cowl measuring 7 inches wide by 63 inches in circumference, making it suitable for wrapping around the neck multiple times or draping loosely for various styling options. The cowl is worked in the round from a cast-on base, creating a seamless tubular construction.

Techniques Used

This design employs several fundamental and decorative knitting techniques to create visual interest and structure:

• Circular knitting: The cowl is worked in the round using circular needles, eliminating the need for seaming and creating a continuous, seamless fabric.
• Ribbing pattern: The foundation begins with a knit-purl ribbing worked through the back loop, creating a textured, elastic base that provides structure and recovery.
• Lace work: The Gothic Arches pattern incorporates yarn overs and decreases to create openwork lace motifs that form decorative arch shapes throughout the cowl.
• Yarn overs (yo): These create intentional holes in the fabric that are essential to the lace pattern design.
• Slip-stitch decreases: Slip-1-knit-1-pass-slipped-stitch (sl1-k1-psso) and knit-2-together (k2tog) decreases are used to balance yarn overs and shape the lace arches.
• Stitch manipulation: The pattern includes a triple decrease (k3tog) that creates focal points within the Gothic Arches pattern.

Stitches Used

The Xacobeo Cowl utilizes a focused selection of stitches to achieve its elegant appearance:

• Knit stitch (k): The primary building block of the fabric.
• Purl stitch (p): Used in ribbing and as part of the pattern structure to create textural contrast.
• Yarn over (yo): Creates the openings that define the lace pattern and add visual lightness.
• Slip-1-knit-1-pass-slipped-stitch (sl1-k1-psso): A left-leaning decrease used throughout the Gothic Arches pattern.
• Knit-2-together (k2tog): A right-leaning decrease that pairs with yarn overs to form the arch motifs.
• Knit-3-together (k3tog): A triple decrease that creates the dramatic peak of each Gothic Arch.

Pattern Structure

The cowl begins with 176 cast-on stitches joined in the round with a marker. The first section consists of 5 rows of ribbing worked in a knit-2, purl-2 repeat pattern, which establishes an elastic, textured edge. Following the ribbing foundation, the Gothic Arches pattern is introduced—a 12-round repeat that is worked twice in total to create the main body of the cowl. The pattern alternates between odd rounds that feature the lace motifs and even rounds where stitches are worked as they appear, with yarn overs purled. This creates a balanced, reversible appearance and allows the lace pattern to develop clearly.

Materials and Gauge

The Xacobeo Cowl is designed to be worked with 2 skeins of Malabrigo Mecha yarn, shown in the Borrajas colorway in the sample. Malabrigo Mecha is a bulky-weight, merino wool blend known for its softness and vibrant color palette. The project requires 7mm circular needles measuring 32 inches in length, which accommodate the 176 cast-on stitches comfortably. Additional materials include a stitch marker to denote the beginning of the round and a yarn needle for weaving in ends. The gauge is 11 stitches per 4 inches when the ribbing pattern is worked on 7mm needles and measured after blocking, ensuring proper fit and drape of the finished cowl.

Difficulty Level

Rated as intermediate, the Xacobeo Cowl is suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to tackle lace patterns. The