Neil

Neil Cowl by Melissa Schaschwary

Project Overview

Neil is an intermediate-level knitted cowl designed by Melissa Schaschwary. This downloadable PDF pattern creates a textured, wearable neck accessory using bulky-weight yarn and circular knitting needles. The cowl is worked in the round from a cast-on edge, combining ribbed and patterned sections for visual interest and structure.

What Is Being Made

Neil is a knitted cowl—a tubular neck garment that drapes around the shoulders and neck. The finished cowl features a ribbed border that transitions into a stitch-patterned body, creating both elasticity and decorative texture. This is a practical, versatile accessory suitable for various skill levels within the intermediate range.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern calls for 2 skeins of Clouds Bulky by Augustbird, a bulky or 12-ply yarn. Each skein contains 120 yards (110 meters) and weighs 100 grams (3.53 ounces), providing approximately 240 yards of yardage total. Bulky-weight yarn creates quick stitch definition and allows the pattern details to show clearly.

Needles required include US 11/6.5 mm and US 11/8 mm circular needles in 24-inch length. The pattern uses two needle sizes: the smaller needles (US 10.5/6.5 mm) for the ribbed border section and larger needles (US 11/8 mm) for the body, allowing the designer to control gauge and fabric density across different sections. Gauge is 12 stitches and 16 rows over 4 inches (10 centimeters) of pattern stitch.

Additional notions include a darning needle for weaving in ends and optional stitch markers to track the beginning of rounds and stitch pattern repeats.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

Neil employs several fundamental and intermediate knitting techniques:

• Long Tail Cast On: The pattern begins with a Long Tail Cast On method, creating 102 stitches. This cast-on technique provides an elastic, finished edge suitable for cowls and garments requiring flexibility.
• Knitting in the Round: The entire cowl is worked circularly using 24-inch circular needles, eliminating the need for seaming and creating a seamless, tubular fabric.
• Ribbed Border: The first section features a ribbed pattern combining knit and purl stitches. The ribbed border uses knit through the back loop (K tbl) stitches, which create a twisted, refined appearance. The ribbing pattern is [K tbl 2 times, (P3, K3) repeated 5 times, P2], worked for 5 rounds total. This ribbed section provides stretch and helps the cowl conform to the wearer's neck.
• Stitch Pattern Body: After the ribbed border, the pattern transitions to a larger needle size and introduces a stitch pattern across the body rounds. The body pattern includes knit and purl stitches arranged in a repeating sequence: [K tbl 2 times, (K8, P1, K7) once more], creating texture and visual variation.
• Knit Through the Back Loop (K tbl): This stitch variation appears in both the border and body sections, twisting the stitch for a refined, textured finish.
• Gauge Management: The pattern requires meeting a specific gauge (12 stitches and 16 rows over 4 inches) to ensure proper fit. Using two different needle sizes helps achieve the correct gauge in different sections.

Pattern Structure

The Neil cowl follows a two-section construction: a ribbed border worked on smaller needles, followed by a patterned body worked on larger needles. This structure is common in cowl design, as the ribbing provides shape and elasticity while the body section showcases stitch definition and pattern interest. The use of stitch markers and abbreviations throughout the pattern helps knitters track their progress and maintain accuracy across multiple rounds.

Difficulty Level

Rated as intermediate, Neil requires familiarity with circular knitting, gauge swatching, and reading stitch patterns. Knitters should be comfortable with basic stitches (knit, purl), cast-on methods, and working in the round before attempting this pattern. The combination of ribbing and stitch patterning, along with gauge requirements, makes it suitable for knitters with some experience.