Cantera Cowl in Malabrigo Silky Merino - Downloadable PDF

Cantera Cowl in Malabrigo Silky Merino – Knitting Pattern by Laura Reinbach

The Cantera Cowl is a beautifully architectural knitted cowl designed by Laura Reinbach, available as a downloadable PDF. Drawing its name and inspiration from architecture, sculpture, and stone carving, this design features deep, bold chevron cable ridges that create a striking three-dimensional texture. The pattern is rated advanced in difficulty and is worked in the round on circular needles, making it a rewarding project for experienced knitters looking to showcase both colorwork versatility and cable technique.

What Is Being Made

The finished project is a knitted cowl — a closed-loop neckwarmer worn around the neck and shoulders. After blocking, the Cantera Cowl measures 11.5 inches (29 cm) wide, 11.5 inches (29 cm) tall, and 23 inches (58 cm) in circumference. Its proportions make it substantial enough to wear as a cozy, sculptural accessory. The deep chevron ridges are designed to be equally stunning in a semi-solid colorway or a variegated shade, giving knitters flexibility in their yarn selection.

Materials Required

• Yarn: Malabrigo Silky Merino, a luxurious DK-weight yarn composed of 51% Silk and 49% Merino wool, sold in 50 g skeins of approximately 150 yards (137 m) each. The pattern sample uses 3 skeins in colorway Tatami #431. The silk content gives the fabric a beautiful sheen and drape, while the merino provides softness and elasticity.
• Needles: US size 6 (4 mm) circular needles, 24 inches (61 cm) in length, for working in the round.
• Notions: A cable needle, a stitch marker, and a tapestry needle for weaving in ends.

Gauge

The recommended gauge, measured after blocking, is 19 stitches and 30 rows per 4 inches (10 cm) in stockinette stitch. While the pattern notes that gauge is not critical, variations will affect the final dimensions of the finished cowl.

Techniques Used

• Knitting in the round on circular needles — the entire cowl is worked as a seamless tube, eliminating the need for seaming.
• Cable knitting — the signature chevron pattern is created using a cable needle to cross stitches over one another, producing deep, raised ridges.
• Increasing and decreasing — a kfb (knit into the front and back) increase round nearly doubles the stitch count before the cable section begins, and a k2tog (knit two together) decrease round reduces it back down afterward, allowing the cable panel to be framed by neat garter stitch borders.
• Garter stitch in the round — worked by alternating a knit round and a purl round, creating a tidy ridged border at both the cast-on and bind-off edges.
• Blocking — essential for this pattern, as the final measurements are taken after blocking. Blocking opens up the cables and evens out the stitches, particularly important with the silk-merino blend.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette stitch — the base fabric used for gauge reference and within the cable pattern sections.
• Garter stitch in the round — alternating knit and purl rounds to form the border sections at the beginning and end of the cowl.
• 6-st Right Cross (RC): Slip 3 stitches to cable needle, hold to back, knit 3, then knit 3 from the cable needle. This creates a right-leaning cable cross.
• 6-st Left Cross (LC): Slip 3 stitches to cable needle, hold to front, knit 3, then knit 3 from the cable needle. This creates a left-leaning