Cosmos Cowl in Rowan Alpaca Soft DK (Eng) - Downloadable PDF

Cosmos Cowl by Martin Storey – Knitting Pattern Summary

The Cosmos Cowl is a beautifully designed knitted cowl by Martin Storey, published by Rowan and available as a downloadable PDF (pattern reference ZB276-00007-ENP). This intermediate-level knitting project produces a generously sized, colourwork cowl with a striking repeating fairisle motif, making it an ideal project for knitters who are comfortable with the basics and ready to explore stranded colourwork techniques.

What Is Being Made

The finished piece is a large, circular cowl worked in the round. It measures 24 cm (9½ in) wide and approximately 143 cm (56¼ in) in circumference, giving it a dramatic, looping drape that can be worn wrapped multiple times around the neck for warmth and style. The cowl is seamlessly constructed in the round and then joined at the cast-on and cast-off edges to form a continuous loop.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern is written specifically for Rowan Alpaca Soft DK, a luxuriously soft DK weight yarn that combines the warmth and lightness of alpaca with a smooth knitting quality. Three colours are used to achieve the fairisle colourwork design:

• Colour A – Rainy Day (shade 210): 5 x 50gm balls
• Colour B – Charcoal (shade 211): 3 x 50gm balls
• Colour C – Classic Brown (shade 204): 3 x 50gm balls

The combination of these three tones creates a sophisticated, earthy palette that complements the geometric fairisle repeat beautifully.

Needles

The cowl is worked using either a set of four double-pointed 4mm (US 6) needles or a 4mm (US 6) circular needle no more than 40 cm (16 in) in length. The short circular needle is well suited to working in the round at this stitch count, while the double-pointed needles offer a traditional alternative for those who prefer that method.

Tension

The recommended tension is 25 stitches and 26 rows to 10 cm, measured over the fairisle pattern using 4mm (US 6) needles. Achieving the correct tension is especially important in colourwork knitting, as carrying multiple yarns across the back of the fabric can cause the knitting to pull in if the floats are not kept sufficiently loose.

Techniques Used

The primary colourwork technique used throughout this pattern is the fairisle technique, also known as stranded colourwork. In fairisle knitting, two or more colours are used within a single row or round, with the yarn not currently in use being carried loosely across the back of the work as a float. This creates a double layer of yarn at the back, adding warmth and structure to the fabric. Knitters should take care to keep floats even and not too tight to maintain the correct tension and ensure the fabric lies flat.

The cowl is worked entirely in the round, which is particularly well suited to fairisle knitting because the right side of the work always faces the knitter, making it easy to follow the chart and see the pattern develop. Working in the round also eliminates the need for purling in colourwork, which many knitters find more challenging.

Stitches Used

• Stocking stitch (stockinette): The entire cowl is worked in stocking stitch, achieved by knitting every round when working in the round. This creates a smooth, flat fabric that showcases the fairisle colourwork to its best advantage.

Pattern Construction

The cowl begins with a cast-on of 120 stitches using yarn C (Classic Brown). A stitch marker is placed to denote the beginning and end of each round. The colourwork is worked from a chart featuring a 60-stitch pattern repeat, which is worked twice across each round, and a 62-round vertical repeat that continues throughout the length of the cowl. The pattern is worked continuously until the cowl reaches approximately 143 cm in circumference, ending after round 62