West Pentire Cowl

West Pentire Cowl by Colleen Abbot

What Is Being Made

The West Pentire Cowl is a knitted cowl named after a small hamlet overlooking Crantock Beach on the North Coast of Cornwall, UK. This cozy neckwear piece measures 19 inches around by 7.5 inches high, making it an ideal accessory for cold winter days, particularly suited for outdoor activities like walking on coastal headlands. The cowl is designed to be worn as a versatile layering piece that provides warmth and comfort.

Knitting Techniques and Construction

This cowl is constructed using circular knitting techniques, worked in the round on a single circular needle. The pattern employs a combination of ribbed sections and charted stitch patterns to create visual interest and texture. The construction begins with a cast-on of 152 stitches and includes strategic stitch marker placement to help track pattern repeats around the circumference. The design features a ribbed foundation and closure, with a charted pattern section worked in the middle of the piece.

Stitches Used

• Knit and Purl Ribbing: K2, P2 rib is used for the opening and closing rounds, creating an elastic edge that helps the cowl maintain its shape and stay in place when worn
• Reverse Stockinette: The gauge is established at 6 stitches per inch in reverse stockinette, indicating this stitch is central to the fabric structure
• Charted Pattern: A 20-row chart is repeated three times around the cowl, creating a repeating motif that encircles the piece
• Increases and Decreases: Strategic increases and decreases, including K2tog, are used to shape the cowl and transition between pattern sections

Yarn and Materials

The West Pentire Cowl calls for approximately 270 yards of heavy worsted weight yarn. The pattern specifically recommends Berroco Flicker, requiring 2 skeins. Alternatively, any heavy worsted weight yarn that achieves the specified gauge of 6 stitches per inch in reverse stockinette can be substituted. A 24-inch Size #8 circular needle is required for working this cowl in the round. Additional notions include stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and a tapestry needle for weaving in ends.