Denali Fair Isle Cowl in SweetGeorgia Superwash Sport - Downloadable PDF

Denali Fair Isle Cowl – Knitting Pattern by Allison O'Mahony for SweetGeorgia Yarns

The Denali Fair Isle Cowl is a beautifully crafted, Aztec-influenced two-colour stranded knitting pattern designed by Allison O'Mahony and published by SweetGeorgia Yarns. This pattern is available as a downloadable PDF and is rated Advanced in skill level, making it a rewarding project for experienced knitters looking to expand their colourwork repertoire. One of its most remarkable features is that the finished cowl is completely reversible, offering two beautiful faces in one accessory — a rare and impressive design achievement.

What Is Being Made

The finished project is a circular cowl with a circumference of 22 inches / 56 cm and a height of 8 inches / 20.5 cm. The cowl is designed to be a versatile, wearable accessory with gorgeous drape and soothing warmth. Its relatively compact size makes it an ideal knitting gift project, and the wide range of possible colour combinations ensures it can be personalised endlessly. The Aztec-inspired Fair Isle motifs give the cowl a bold, graphic character that elevates it well beyond a simple accessory.

Colourwork Technique: Fair Isle / Stranded Knitting

Fair Isle knitting, also known as stranded colourwork, is a traditional technique in which two colours of yarn are worked simultaneously across each round. One colour is carried as the main colour (MC) and the other as the contrast colour (CC). The yarn not currently being knitted is stranded or floated loosely across the wrong side of the fabric. In the Denali cowl, this technique is used to create the Aztec-influenced geometric motifs that appear throughout the design. Because the cowl is reversible, the floats and the right side of the fabric are both intentionally finished to a high standard — a hallmark of thoughtful, advanced colourwork design.

Stitches and Skills Used

• Stranded two-colour Fair Isle knitting — the primary technique throughout the pattern
• Working in the round on double pointed needles (dpns), requiring comfort with managing multiple needles simultaneously
• Cast on (CO) to begin the cowl in the round
• Reading colourwork charts — the pattern includes charts to guide the placement of MC and CC stitches across each round
• Reversible construction — an advanced design consideration that requires careful attention to both sides of the fabric throughout the knitting process
• Blocking — described as required in the pattern, using wool wash, pins, and a steam iron, with optional blocking mats and wires, to achieve the finished measurements and proper drape
• Finishing with tapestry needles — two tapestry needles are listed as required notions, indicating a seaming or grafting element in the finishing process

Materials: Yarn

The pattern calls for 2 skeins of SweetGeorgia Yarns Superwash Sport weight yarn, one skein in each of two colours. The sample shown uses Raspberry as the main colour (MC). The contrast colour (CC) is indicated in the pattern materials. SweetGeorgia Superwash Sport is a premium yarn known for its rich, saturated colour — a hallmark of the SweetGeorgia brand — as well as its soft hand and easy-care superwash treatment. The sport weight gives the cowl excellent stitch definition for colourwork while maintaining a lightweight, drapey feel.

Materials: Needles and Notions

• Needles: US Size 7 / 4.5 mm set of five double pointed needles (dpns) — adjust size as needed to obtain correct gauge
• Stitch marker — to mark the beginning of rounds
• Two tapestry needles — for finishing
• Blocking tools: wool wash, pins, and a steam iron (required); blocking mats and wires are optional