Winterberry Hat and Cowl Set

Winterberry Hat and Cowl Set by Karen Burnett

Project Overview

The Winterberry Hat and Cowl Set is an advanced knitting design created by independent designer Karen Burnett. This coordinated two-piece set combines a cozy cowl with a matching hat, both featuring prominent cable work. Designed with Scotland's cold winters in mind, the set prioritizes warmth without excessive bulk, making it practical for layering under jackets while maintaining visual interest through intricate stitch patterns.

What Is Being Made

This pattern includes two complementary garments:

• Cowl: A tubular neckwear piece measuring 32cm (12½ inches) wide and 32cm (12½ inches) deep, designed to wrap comfortably around the neck
• Hat: A fitted cap with an unstretched circumference of 46cm (18 inches), sized to coordinate with the cowl

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

This advanced pattern centers on cable knitting, a technique that creates twisted, rope-like texture by crossing groups of stitches over one another. The design incorporates several specific cable variations:

• C4F (Cable 4 Front): A four-stitch cable crossed to the front, used repeatedly throughout the pattern for visual impact
• C4B (Cable 4 Back): A four-stitch cable crossed to the back, alternating with front crosses for dynamic texture
• C6F and C6B (Cable 6 Front and Back): Larger six-stitch cables that create bolder, more pronounced twists
• Stockinette Stitch (k and p): Knit and purl stitches form the background, with knit stitches (k) and purl stitches (p) creating contrast against the cables

The cowl pattern works on multiples of 37 stitches and repeats over 8 rounds, combining cables with reverse stockinette sections (purl stitches) that make the raised cable texture stand out. The hat follows a similar cable-focused approach, worked in the round using circular needles.

Materials and Tools

Yarn: The pattern calls for 2 skeins of Langdale Aran by Eden Cottage Yarns. This yarn is 100% merino wool, offering softness and breathability alongside warmth. Each skein contains 165 meters and weighs 100 grams, providing approximately 330 meters of yarn total—suitable for the combined cowl and hat project.

Needles: Three sizes of 40cm circular needles are required:

• Size 4.5mm (US 7)
• Size 5mm (US 8)
• Size 6mm (US 10)

The use of multiple needle sizes allows for gauge adjustment and ribbing techniques typical in hat and cowl construction, where smaller needles create elastic edges and larger needles accommodate the main pattern sections.

Difficulty Level

Rated as an advanced pattern, the Winterberry Set requires solid knitting experience. Knitters should be comfortable with cable techniques, working in the round with circular needles, reading stitch charts, and managing multiple stitch types (knits, purls, and cables) within the same round. The repetitive 8-round pattern sequence becomes manageable with practice, but the cable crossings demand attention and precision.