Cassia Cowl + Beanie in MODE at Rowan Alpaca Haze and Alpaca Wool - Downloadable PDF

Cassia Cowl + Beanie Knitting Pattern by Quail Studio – MODE at Rowan Alpaca Haze and Alpaca Wool

The Cassia Cowl + Beanie is a beautifully coordinated two-piece set designed by Quail Studio and published under the Mode at Rowan collection. Available as a downloadable PDF, this intermediate-level knitting pattern produces a luxuriously textured cowl and matching beanie worked in a rich brioche stitch construction. The combination of two complementary yarns creates a stunning tonal depth, making this set an elegant cold-weather accessory project.

Cassia Cowl

What Is Being Made

The Cassia Cowl is a seamless, circular cowl with a generous finished circumference of 89.5 cm (35¼ in) and a depth of 33 cm (13 in). Its substantial size makes it ideal for wearing looped once or draped loosely around the neck and shoulders for cosy, enveloping warmth.

Construction Technique

The cowl is worked entirely in the round, seamlessly from the hem upward. This seamless construction eliminates the need for any seaming and produces a clean, professional finish throughout. Working in the round also allows the brioche pattern to flow continuously, which is particularly well-suited to the rhythmic nature of brioche knitting.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch technique used in the Cassia Cowl is brioche knitting, a deeply textured, reversible fabric beloved for its squishy, ribbed appearance. The pattern employs the following special brioche abbreviations:

• Sl1yo – The working yarn is brought under the needle to the front of the work, the next stitch is slipped purlwise, and then the yarn is brought back over the needle and the slipped stitch, ready to work the following knit stitch. This creates the yarn-over pairing essential to brioche structure.
• Brk1 (brioche knit) – The stitch that was slipped in the previous row is knitted together with its accompanying yarn over, producing the characteristic raised knit column of brioche fabric.
• Brp1 (brioche purl) – The stitch that was slipped in the previous row is purled together with its yarn over, creating the complementary purl column in the brioche rib.

Brioche knitting is worked by slipping stitches and pairing them with yarn overs across alternating rows or rounds, then working those paired stitches together on the following pass. The result is an exceptionally lofty, cushioned fabric with twice the visual depth of standard ribbing — making it a perfect showcase for the halo and softness of alpaca fibres.

Materials

The Cassia Cowl is knitted using two yarns held together, which is a hallmark of many Mode at Rowan designs and creates a richly blended, multi-dimensional colour effect:

• Yarn A – Rowan Alpaca Wool in Currant 020 (50 g balls) – 4 balls required. Alpaca Wool is a DK/Sport weight yarn that provides the structural body of the fabric.
• Yarn B – Rowan Alpaca Haze in Merlot 020 (25 g balls) – 3 balls required. Alpaca Haze is a finer, halo-rich yarn that adds a soft, misty bloom over the base colour when held alongside Yarn A.

The pairing of Currant 020 and Merlot 020 creates a deep, jewel-toned berry palette that is both sophisticated and seasonally versatile.

The recommended needles are 4.5 mm (US 7) circular needles measuring 80 cm in length, which comfortably accommodate the full circumference of the cowl when worked in the round.

Cassia Beanie

What Is Being Made

The Cassia Beanie is the matching hat component of this coordinated set, designed to be worked in the same yarns and stitch pattern as the cowl. Together, the cowl and beanie form a cohesive, textured access