Alocasia Cowl

Alocasia Cowl by Annie Lupton

What Is Being Made

The Alocasia Cowl is a small knitted cowl designed by Annie Lupton of Boho Chic Fiber Co. Inspired by the Alocasia Polly houseplant, this accessory features the distinctive arrowhead-shaped leaves characteristic of the plant, with leaves alternating in directions throughout the design. The finished cowl measures 22 inches (56 cm) in circumference and 9 inches (23 cm) in height, making it a compact neckwear piece perfect for cooler months.

Techniques and Construction

This is an intermediate-level knitting project worked in the round using stranded knitting, a colorwork technique that creates pattern through the use of multiple yarn colors within a single row. Stranded knitting involves carrying yarn colors not in use across the back of the work, allowing for intricate two-color designs. The cowl is constructed in stockinette stitch, the most fundamental knit fabric, which provides a smooth, flat surface ideal for displaying the leaf motifs. The stranded knitting technique combined with the alternating leaf directions creates visual interest and captures the botanical inspiration of the Alocasia plant's highly defined spines and veins in contrasting tones.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette stitch – the primary stitch structure worked in the round, creating the smooth base fabric
• Stranded knitting – the colorwork method used to integrate the leaf pattern with multiple yarn colors

Materials and Yarn Weight

The Alocasia Cowl is designed to be knit with Brooklyn Tweed Loft Yarn, a 100% wool yarn available in fingering weight. The pattern calls for approximately 120 yards of the main color (MC) in Artifact, a dark green shade that echoes the natural coloring of the Alocasia Polly plant. Each 50-gram skein contains 275 yards (251 meters), making this a quick project ideal for using leftover yarns from other projects. The wool yarn provides a rustic, woolly feel with a slightly tweedy appearance that adds texture and warmth to the finished accessory.

Needles and Gauge

This pattern requires Size 4 (3.5 mm) circular needles measuring 16 inches (40.5 cm) in length. The working gauge is 24 stitches and 30 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) in stranded knitting stockinette stitch. Achieving the correct gauge is essential for the cowl to reach its intended finished dimensions and for the stranded colorwork pattern to display properly.

Project Summary

The Alocasia Cowl combines botanical inspiration with accessible colorwork knitting, making it an engaging intermediate project. The stranded knitting technique allows knitters to explore two-color patterning while the quick yardage requirement makes it an excellent stash-busting project. Whether crafted in the suggested Brooklyn Tweed Loft yarn or substituted with fingering-weight alternatives, this cowl brings houseplant-inspired joy to winter wardrobes.