Zig Zag Cowl with Bobble Hat - Knitting Pattern for Women in Debbie Bliss Super Chunky Merino by Debbie Bliss - DB424 - Downloadable PDF

Zig Zag Cowl and Bobble Hat Knitting Pattern by Debbie Bliss (DB424)

This downloadable PDF knitting pattern by Debbie Bliss includes instructions for two coordinating accessories: a Zig Zag Cowl and a Bobble Hat. Both pieces are worked in Debbie Bliss Super Chunky Merino yarn in two complementary colourways — Hot Pink 13 and Sunset 06 — creating a striking, colour-blocked effect that is as eye-catching as it is cosy. Rated as a beginner-friendly pattern, this set is an ideal introduction to colourwork and circular knitting techniques.

About the Zig Zag Cowl

The cowl is a generously sized one-size accessory, measuring 100cm (39¼in) in circumference and 20cm (8in) in height. It is worked entirely in the round on a 9mm (US 13) circular needle, 60cm/24in long, making it a quick and satisfying knit thanks to the super chunky yarn weight.

The defining feature of the cowl is its zig zag stitch pattern, which is achieved through a clever combination of knit and purl stitches worked across two colours. The pattern uses a repeating arrangement of five knit stitches in colour A (Hot Pink 13) and five purl stitches in colour B (Sunset 06), with the colour B purl column shifting by one stitch on each successive round. This offset creates the characteristic diagonal zig zag visual effect without the complexity of traditional stranded colourwork — the two yarns are simply carried and switched at the appropriate points within the round.

Cowl Stitches and Techniques

• Knit stitch (k) — the foundation of the zig zag columns
• Purl stitch (p) — used in alternating blocks to create the textural contrast
• Working in the round — on a 60cm/24in circular needle, joined at cast-on with a placed marker
• Two-colour knitting — alternating between Hot Pink 13 (A) and Sunset 06 (B) within each round
• Place marker (pm) — used to mark the beginning of each round

Cowl Materials

• Yarn: Debbie Bliss Super Chunky Merino — 1 x 100g/3½oz ball in Hot Pink 13 (A) and 1 x 100g/3½oz ball in Sunset 06 (B)
• Needles: 9mm (US 13) circular needle, 60cm/24in long
• Tension: 11 sts and 15 rows to 10cm/4in over stocking stitch using 9mm (US 13) needles

About the Bobble Hat

The matching Bobble Hat is worked to fit an average adult head, with a circumference of approximately 50cm (19¾in). Like the cowl, it is knitted in the round, beginning on a 9mm (US 13) circular needle, 40cm/16in long. The body of the hat is worked in straightforward stocking stitch — knitting every round — for 20 rounds before shaping begins. This makes the main body of the hat extremely accessible for beginners, as no purling is required when working stocking stitch in the round.

The hat is started with colour A (Hot Pink 13) and features a simple, clean stockinette fabric that allows the super chunky merino to take centre stage. Once the body is complete, the pattern moves into crown shaping, using decrease rounds to taper the top of the hat neatly. As the stitch count reduces and the circumference becomes too small for the circular needle, knitters transition to a set of 9mm (US 13) double-pointed needles (DPNs) to complete the crown. The first decrease round works k2tog decreases ev