"Gwendolyn Hat & Cowl" - Hat Knitting Pattern For Women in Willow and Lark Ramble

Gwendolyn Hat & Cowl Knitting Pattern by Georgia Farrell – Willow and Lark Ramble

The Gwendolyn Hat & Cowl is a two-piece contrast-rib accessory set designed by Georgia Farrell as part of the Willow and Lark Best of British Collection. The set consists of a classic knitted hat and a matching cowl, both worked in two colours to create a striking striped and purl-bump texture. Described as quick knits that are equally suited to a wintery walk or a smart commute, these accessories strike a balance between everyday practicality and polished style. The pattern is available as a downloadable PDF and is rated as intermediate in difficulty.

What Is Being Made

The Gwendolyn Hat

The hat is a fitted women's knitted hat with a circumference of 47 cm (18½ in) around the head. It is worked in the round using double-pointed needles and features a two-colour contrast rib design that plays beautifully with purl bumps in the accent colour. The result is a textured, visually interesting fabric that elevates a simple ribbed hat into something more refined and distinctive.

The Gwendolyn Cowl

The cowl measures 62 cm (24½ in) around and 40 cm (15¾ in) in depth, making it a generously sized, cosy accessory. Like the hat, it is worked in the round and uses the same two-colour contrast rib technique, ensuring the hat and cowl coordinate seamlessly as a set. The cowl's substantial depth means it can be worn draped loosely or pulled up for extra warmth.

Techniques Used

• Knitting in the round – Both the hat and cowl are worked entirely in the round using sets of double-pointed needles, which creates a seamless, tube-like fabric with no sewing up required. This technique is ideal for accessories and produces a neat, professional finish.
• Stripes – The two-colour design incorporates stripe sequences that alternate between the main colour (MC) and the contrast colour (C), creating bold, clean bands of colour across both pieces.
• Contrast rib – The defining feature of the Gwendolyn set is its contrast rib construction, in which purl bumps are worked in the accent colour. This technique adds tactile texture and visual depth to what might otherwise be a straightforward ribbed fabric, making the colour interaction a central design element.

Stitches Used

• Knit (K) – The foundational knit stitch forms the smooth, raised columns of the ribbing and the main body fabric of both pieces.
• Purl (P) – Purl stitches are worked in the contrast colour to create the distinctive purl bumps that define the pattern's texture and visual character.
• Rib pattern – The combination of knit and purl stitches in a repeating sequence forms the contrast rib that runs throughout both the hat and cowl.

Materials

Yarn

The pattern is designed specifically for Willow & Lark Ramble, a 100% wool DK weight yarn sold in 50 g (1¾ oz) balls. Georgia Farrell and Willow and Lark strongly recommend using Ramble to achieve a finished item consistent with the pattern photographs, as the fibre content, weight, twist, and composition of the yarn all influence the look and drape of the finished accessories.

• Main Colour (MC): 3 balls – suggested colourways include Country Blue 135 or Cranberry 111
• Contrast Colour (C): 1 ball – suggested colourways include Sky Blue 121 or Rose 126

The two suggested colourway combinations demonstrate how the contrast rib technique can be interpreted in different ways – a cool blue-on-blue pairing for a tonal, understated look, or a warm cranberry-and-rose combination for a richer, more vibrant effect. Knitters are encouraged to choose