Slip Stitch Cowl in Noro Kureyon

Slip Stitch Cowl in Noro Kureyon – Pattern Summary

The Slip Stitch Cowl is a beautifully textured infinity scarf designed by Valerie Zumwalt using the iconic Noro Kureyon yarn. Described as romantic, lush, and practical, this go-everywhere wrap is worked in the round as a seamless cowl, making it an ideal project for knitters who want a striking accessory with minimal construction complexity. The pattern is available as a free downloadable PDF and is rated Easy, making it a wonderful choice for beginner and confident beginner knitters alike.

What Is Being Made

This project produces a circular infinity cowl with a generous circumference of approximately 46 inches (117 cm) and a width of 10 inches (25.5 cm). The finished piece is designed to be worn looped around the neck as a cozy, stylish wrap suitable for everyday wear.

Yarn and Materials

• Yarn: Noro Kureyon (100% wool), in two colorways — #255 brown/red/gold (Color A) and #242 rust/olive/black (Color B). Each skein weighs 1¾ oz / 50g and contains approximately 110 yd / 100m.
• Needles: Size 8 (5mm) circular needle, 24 inches / 61 cm long, or size needed to obtain gauge.
• Notions: One stitch marker.

Noro Kureyon is a beloved single-ply wool yarn celebrated for its rich, hand-dyed colorways that transition gradually through a wide spectrum of tones. Using two complementary colorways in this pattern creates a dynamic, painterly effect as the colors interact through the slip stitch technique.

Techniques Used

• Knitting in the round on a circular needle — the cowl is worked as a continuous tube with no seaming required.
• Two-color slip stitch pattern — the primary decorative technique, alternating between Color A and Color B across an 8-round repeat. Slip stitch colorwork is a beginner-friendly method of creating multi-color texture without ever carrying two yarns at the same time in a single round.
• Wyib (with yarn in back) slipping — stitches are slipped purlwise with the yarn held to the back, a key detail that creates the characteristic raised, woven texture of slip stitch fabric.

Stitches Used

• Knit stitch (k) — the foundational stitch used throughout.
• Purl stitch (p) — used in specific rounds to create ribbed and textural contrast within the pattern repeat.
• Slip stitch (sl wyib) — stitches slipped with yarn in back, worked in both Color A and Color B rounds to build the two-color slip stitch motif.
• Rib-style set-up rounds — the pattern opens with a k1, p3, k3 ribbing sequence across Rounds 1–3 to establish the stitch alignment before the slip stitch repeat begins.

Pattern Structure

The cowl begins with three set-up rounds worked in Color A using a k1, p3, k3 rib sequence. The main body then works an 8-round slip stitch repeat, alternating between Color A and Color B. Rounds 1 and 5 establish the ribbed framework, while Rounds 2, 3, 6, and 7 introduce the slip stitches that interlock the two colors visually. Rounds 4 and 8 are plain knit rounds that help even out the fabric. This 8-round repeat is worked nine times, followed by one final partial repeat of Rounds 1–4, creating a rhythmic and meditative knitting experience well-suited to beginners building confidence with colorwork.

Gauge

The stated gauge is 19 stitches and 36 rounds to 4 inches (10 cm) in the slip stitch pattern. Achieving gauge is important for matching the intended finished dimensions of this cowl.