Shoal Cowl in Rowan Denim Revive - ZB296-00011-DE - Downloadable PDF

Shoal Cowl in Rowan Denim Revive by Martin Storey – Pattern Summary

The Shoal Cowl is a beautifully structured knitted cowl designed by Martin Storey and published by Rowan. Available as a downloadable PDF (ZB296-00011-DE), this pattern is rated intermediate in difficulty and is worked in the round to create a seamless, cosy neckwarmer with a finished circumference of 70 cm and a height of 29 cm — a generous, wearable size that sits beautifully around the neck and shoulders.

What Is Being Made

The finished project is a circular cowl — a closed-loop neckwarmer with no seams, worked entirely in the round. The design combines a two-colour ribbed border at both the cast-on and cast-off edges with a striking colourwork body, giving the cowl a polished, professional finish that transitions seamlessly between texture and pattern. The overall aesthetic is contemporary yet classic, making it a versatile accessory for everyday wear.

Yarn Used

The pattern calls for Rowan Denim Revive, a DK weight yarn, used in two carefully chosen shades:

• Colour A – Darkness (shade 217): 2 x 50 g balls
• Colour B – Silt (shade 216): 2 x 50 g balls

Rowan Denim Revive is a thoughtfully crafted yarn that brings both softness and durability to the finished fabric. Its DK weight makes it ideal for accessories like cowls, providing good stitch definition that allows both the ribbed sections and the colourwork chart to show clearly. The pairing of Darkness and Silt creates a subtle, tonal contrast — a muted, nature-inspired palette that suits the Shoal name perfectly.

Needles Required

Two circular needle sizes are used throughout the pattern:

• 3.25 mm circular needle (maximum 50 cm length) — used for the ribbed border sections
• 3.75 mm circular needle (maximum 50 cm length) — used for the main colourwork body

The use of two needle sizes is a deliberate design choice: the smaller needle creates a neat, firm rib that hugs the edges of the cowl, while the larger needle allows the stranded colourwork section to maintain an even, relaxed tension across the fabric. This approach helps prevent the common issue of colourwork knitting becoming too tight.

Techniques Used

• Knitting in the round — the entire cowl is worked circularly, with the beginning and end of each round marked to keep the work neat and well-organised
• Two-colour ribbing — the border sections are worked in a 1x1 rib using both Colour A and Colour B simultaneously, with knit stitches worked in one colour and purl stitches in the other, creating a distinctive striped rib effect
• Stranded colourwork in Norwegian technique (Norwegertechnik) — the main body of the cowl is worked using the Norwegian stranding method, in which both yarn colours are carried across the back of the work. This technique is known for producing a particularly even, tidy fabric on the reverse side and is well-suited to colourwork patterns worked in the round
• Needle switching mid-project — the knitter transitions between needle sizes at defined points in the pattern, moving from the smaller 3.25 mm needle to the larger 3.75 mm needle for the colourwork section, then back to the 3.25 mm needle for the final ribbed border

Stitches Used

• Two-colour 1x1 rib — alternating knit and purl stitches worked with two colours, forming the structured border at both edges of the cowl. This section is worked for approximately 4 cm at each end
• Stocking stitch (knit every round) — the colourwork body is worked in stocking stitch in the round, which creates