Ceora Cowl in Cascade 220 Superwash Merino - W725 - Downloadable PDF

Ceora Cowl in Cascade 220 Superwash Merino – Pattern Summary

The Ceora Cowl is a beautifully textured knitted cowl designed by Shannon Dunbabin and published by Cascade Yarns. This intermediate-level pattern is available as a free downloadable PDF and produces a finished cowl measuring 22 inches in circumference and 9 inches tall — a versatile, cozy accessory that sits comfortably around the neck in a classic infinity or tube style.

What Is Being Made

This pattern creates a circular knitted cowl worked entirely in the round on a short circular needle. The finished piece features a distinctive repeating lace-and-texture motif framed by tidy ribbed edges at both the cast-on and bind-off ends. The result is a polished, wearable accessory suitable for cooler weather that showcases elegant stitch movement without being overly complex.

Materials Required

• Yarn: Cascade Yarns 220 Superwash Merino — 100% Superwash Merino Wool, sold in 100 g (3.5 oz) skeins containing 220 yards (200 m) each. Only 1 skein is required. The sample was knitted in color #47, Westpoint Blue Heather.
• Needle: US 8 (5.0 mm) 16-inch circular knitting needle
• Notions: Yarn needle and 1 stitch marker

The 220 Superwash Merino yarn is an aran weight yarn, making it a great choice for a project that knits up relatively quickly while still showing stitch definition clearly. The Superwash treatment means the finished cowl is machine-washable — a practical benefit for everyday accessories. Merino wool is prized for its softness against the skin, warmth, and natural elasticity, all of which make it ideal for a neck accessory worn close to the face.

Gauge

The pattern requires a gauge of 22 stitches and 32 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) in the Ceora pattern, worked in the round. Achieving gauge is important for hitting the intended finished dimensions of the cowl.

Techniques Used

• Circular knitting (knitting in the round): The entire cowl is worked as a seamless tube on a 16-inch circular needle, eliminating the need for seaming and creating a clean, professional finish.
• Ribbing: Both the cast-on and bind-off edges are finished with P2, K2 ribbing worked over 4 rounds each. Ribbing creates a stretchy, neat border that helps the cowl maintain its shape and lie flat at the edges.
• Lace-style pattern knitting: The body of the cowl is worked in the signature Ceora Pattern, a 6-round repeating sequence that uses yarn overs and decreases to create a traveling diagonal motif. The yarn over adds a new stitch while the corresponding decrease removes one, keeping the stitch count consistent while producing elegant visual movement across the fabric.
• Casting on and binding off in the round: The cowl begins with a cast-on of 120 stitches joined carefully to avoid twisting, and finishes with a standard bind-off.
• Weaving in ends and blocking: The pattern recommends weaving in ends and blocking if necessary to open up the lace motif and even out the stitches for a polished finish.

Stitches Used

• Knit (K) — the foundational stitch forming the smooth fabric of the cowl body
• Purl (P) — used in the ribbing sections and as a structural element within each repeat of the Ceora Pattern, creating vertical columns that frame the lace motif
• Yarn Over (YO) — creates a deliberate eyelet or increase within the Ceora Pattern, adding decorative openwork and shifting the motif diagonally across each repeat
• K2tog (Knit 2 Together) — a right