Ardmore Cowl

Ardmore Cowl by Laura Chau

What is Being Made

The Ardmore Cowl is a tubular colourwork cowl featuring an original brocade-style stranded colourwork pattern. This intermediate-level knitting project creates a versatile neckwear piece available in two sizes: a Single Loop version with a circumference of 29 inches (73cm) and a Double Loop version with a circumference of 58 inches (147cm). Both versions share a consistent depth of 7½ inches (19cm), making this design adaptable for different wearing preferences and styling options.

Techniques Used

The Ardmore Cowl employs several advanced knitting techniques to create a polished, finished garment. The cowl is worked in the round using stranded colourwork, a technique where two colors are carried simultaneously to create the brocade-style pattern. The construction begins with a provisional cast-on, allowing for a seamless join at the completion of the project. A decorative Latvian Braid is used to finish the join, which serves both functional and aesthetic purposes by breaking up the pattern repeat. This design choice eliminates the need for precise row gauge matching between the two sizes, as the braid provides visual separation. The exposed three-needle bind off is cleverly incorporated directly into the braid finish, removing the necessity for grafting and creating a clean, professional edge.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The primary stitch structure is stockinette stitch worked in the round, which forms the foundation for the stranded colourwork pattern. The brocade-style colourwork pattern is created through the stranded knitting technique, where yarn floats are carried on the inside of the fabric. The Latvian Braid finish adds textural interest and structural integrity to the join, incorporating the bind-off edge seamlessly into the decorative element.

Materials

The Ardmore Cowl is designed for sport weight yarn in two contrasting shades. The pattern is shown in Malabrigo Arroyo, which is 100% superwash merino wool offering 335 yards (306 meters) per 100-gram skein. For the Single Loop size, approximately 330 yards (301 meters) of main color and 270 yards (246 meters) of contrasting color are required. The Double Loop size requires double these yardages: approximately 660 yards (603 meters) of main color and 540 yards (493 meters) of contrasting color. The sample shown uses Malabrigo Arroyo in 685 Greenish Blue for the main color and 063 Natural for the contrasting color. Circular needles appropriate for sport weight yarn are required for working this project in the round.