Gridlock Cowl

Gridlock Cowl by Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton

What is Being Made

The Gridlock Cowl is a one-size knitted cowl designed by Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton. This accessory piece measures approximately 7.5 inches in width and 34 inches in circumference, making it suitable for wearing as a neck wrap or collar-style cowl. The finished garment showcases a distinctive geometric openwork design that combines visual interest with wearability.

Techniques Used

This pattern features the designer's proprietary Geometric Openwork™ technique, which creates striking open sections throughout the cowl without requiring the knitter to break the yarn. A key technical advantage of this method is the ability to invisibly carry the yarn up the side of the column between the triangles, maintaining crisp, clean edges in the openwork areas. The pattern incorporates a DropStitch Openings section that is repeated multiple times (9 complete repeats plus a partial 10th repeat) to build the full cowl structure. This intermediate-level approach demonstrates advanced shaping and yarn management techniques.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch used in this pattern is Garter stitch, which creates a textured, reversible fabric. Garter stitch is formed by knitting every row, producing horizontal ridges on both sides of the work. The pattern also incorporates drop stitches and strategic yarn overs to create the geometric openings that define the cowl's appearance.

Materials and Tools

• Yarn: Two 85-gram skeins of Alpine Wool from Lion Brand in colorway #174 Olive (93 yards / 85 meters per skein). This chunky-weight yarn provides excellent stitch definition and quick project completion.
• Needles: US 10.5 / 7 mm straight needles
• Gauge: Approximately 14 stitches and 28 rows equal 4 inches (10 centimeters) in Garter stitch

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as intermediate difficulty, appropriate for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to explore more advanced techniques such as geometric openwork and invisible yarn carrying methods.