Anning Cowl

Anning Cowl by Emily Wood

What is Being Made

The Anning Cowl is a knitted cowl designed by Emily Wood, available in three sizes: 23 inches (58 cm), 30 inches (76 cm), and 37 inches (94 cm) in circumference. The cowl measures 11 inches (28 cm) in width and is worn as a neck accessory that drapes comfortably around the shoulders. This project is ideal for advanced knitters seeking a moderately complex colorwork design with visual impact.

Techniques Used

The primary technique featured in the Anning Cowl is mosaic knitting, a method that creates intricate colorwork patterns without the complexity of traditional stranded colorwork. Mosaic knitting allows knitters to work with two colors while only knitting one color per row, making it more manageable than fair isle or intarsia techniques. The pattern creates a distinctive woven squares design through strategic color placement and slip stitches. The cowl is worked in the round on circular needles, which ensures a seamless construction.

Knitters have flexibility in color selection: the sample uses a neutral color paired with a gradient yarn for a subtle effect, but the pattern accommodates two contrasting colors or numerous other color combinations. This versatility makes the Anning Cowl adaptable to individual preferences and available yarn stash.

Stitches Used

The Anning Cowl incorporates two primary stitch patterns:

• Stockinette Stitch – The foundational stitch used in sections of the cowl, creating a smooth, classic fabric with a gauge of 24 stitches by 36 rows per 4 inches (10 cm) after blocking
• Woven Pattern – The signature mosaic pattern that forms the colorful woven squares, worked over 14 rounds and repeated multiple times throughout the cowl. This pattern achieves a gauge of 27 stitches by 46 rows per 4 inches (10 cm) after blocking

The pattern notes indicate that exact gauge is not critical but will affect the finished size of the cowl, offering some flexibility for knitters who may not achieve precise gauge measurements.

Materials Required

The Anning Cowl pattern calls for sport weight yarn in two colors. Yardage requirements vary by size: the smallest size requires 245 yards (224 meters) of main color (MC) yarn and 90 yards (82 meters) of contrasting color (CC) yarn, while the largest size needs 400 yards (366 meters) of MC and 145 yards (133 meters) of CC.

Needles required include a US size 4 / 3.5 mm circular needle in lengths appropriate to the chosen size: 16 inches (40 cm) for the smallest cowl, 24 inches (60 cm) for the medium, and 32 inches (80 cm) for the largest. Additional notions include a stitch marker for tracking rounds and a tapestry needle for weaving in yarn ends upon completion.

Pattern Structure

The Anning Cowl pattern is organized around a 14-round repeat of the Woven pattern, which is worked a total of 7 times to complete the cowl. This repetitive structure creates the consistent woven squares design characteristic of the finished piece. The pattern includes detailed round-by-round instructions, with knit rounds interspersed among the mosaic pattern rounds to build the fabric systematically.