Irasburg Cowl in Berroco Stratto

Irasburg Cowl by Tabetha Hedrick in Berroco Stratto — Pattern Summary

The Irasburg Cowl is a beautifully oversized, wearable knitted cowl designed by Tabetha Hedrick and published by Berroco. Rated as an intermediate skill level project, this pattern offers knitters a satisfying combination of two complementary stitch patterns worked in a luxurious chunky-weight yarn. The finished piece is generously proportioned, measuring approximately 19 inches wide by 60 inches in circumference, making it a dramatic, cozy accessory that can be looped multiple times around the neck or worn as a wide, enveloping collar.

What Is Being Made

The Irasburg Cowl is a large-circumference knitted cowl — essentially an extra-long, tube-shaped neck warmer. Its substantial 60-inch circumference means it can be styled in multiple ways, whether draped loosely over the shoulders or wrapped snugly around the neck for warmth. The 19-inch width adds to its cocooning, voluminous feel, making it as much a statement piece as a functional cold-weather accessory.

Techniques Used

• Working in the round — The cowl is constructed as a seamless tube, a foundational circular knitting technique ideal for accessories like cowls and hats.
• Lace knitting — One of the two primary stitch patterns used is a Lace Pattern, which involves deliberate yarn-overs and decreases to create an open, decorative fabric with elegant visual texture.
• Fisherman's Rib — The second stitch pattern is Fisherman's Rib, a technique that produces a deeply textured, stretchy ribbed fabric with a plush, almost brioche-like appearance. This is achieved by knitting into the stitch below rather than the stitch on the needle, creating a double-layered, squishy rib structure.
• Blocking — The pattern explicitly notes that gauge is measured after blocking, meaning wet or steam blocking is an essential finishing step to open up the lace and set the stitches to their correct dimensions.
• Gauge swatching — Two separate gauges are specified for the two different stitch patterns, making accurate gauge swatching particularly important for this design.

Stitches Used

• Lace Pattern — worked at a gauge of 9 stitches and 20 rows to 4 inches, this stitch pattern creates an airy, decorative section of the cowl.
• Fisherman's Rib — worked at a gauge of 9 stitches and 21 rows to 4 inches, this stitch creates a dense, stretchy ribbed texture that contrasts beautifully with the lace sections.
• Stitch markers are used to delineate pattern sections, keeping the two distinct stitch patterns organized as the work progresses in the round.

Materials

• Yarn: Berroco Stratto in colorway #12706 Denim — 8 balls (50 g each) are required. Berroco Stratto is a chunky-weight yarn, which contributes to the cowl's cozy, substantial drape and quick knitting pace.
• Needles: Knitting needles in size 11 / 8 mm, or the size needed to obtain gauge. Given the large circumference of the cowl, circular needles of an appropriate cable length would be expected for working in the round.
• Notions: 2 stitch markers and a tapestry needle for finishing are all that is required beyond yarn and needles, keeping the supply list refreshingly simple.

Who This Pattern Is For

The Irasburg Cowl is best suited for intermediate knitters who are comfortable with working in the round and have some experience with lace knitting and specialty rib techniques such as Fisherman's Rib. The use of two distinct stitch patterns and the importance of matching gauge across both make this a step up from a beginner project, but the chunky yarn and relatively straightforward construction keep it approachable for those ready to expand their skills. The result is a sophisticated, high-impact accessory