Clarissa Cabled Cowl in Blue Sky Fibers Extra - 201922 - Downloadable PDF

Clarissa Cabled Cowl in Blue Sky Fibers Extra – Pattern Summary

The Clarissa Cabled Cowl is a beautifully designed knitted cowl from Blue Sky Fibers, created by designer Samantha MacKay as part of the Classic Series. This pattern is available as a downloadable PDF and is rated intermediate in difficulty, making it an excellent project for knitters who are comfortable with basic techniques and ready to explore the satisfying world of cable knitting. The result is a generous, wearable cowl that offers both style and warmth, versatile enough to be worn slouched loosely around the neck or pulled up to cover the face on a particularly chilly day.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a cabled cowl worked in the round from cast on to bind off. The cowl is notably generous in length — measuring 18 inches in length — and is offered in three sizes with varying circumferences:

• Small (S): Bottom circumference 17¾", Top circumference 17¾"
• Medium (M): Bottom circumference 20½"
• Large (L): Bottom circumference 23¾"
• Overall bottom circumference range: 35½ (41½, 47½)" laid flat, with a finished top circumference of approximately 18"

The cowl is designed to be worn in multiple ways, offering both practical cold-weather protection and a relaxed, fashionable silhouette when slouched at the neck.

Techniques Used

The Clarissa Cabled Cowl is worked entirely in the round on circular needles, which creates a seamless tube — ideal for a cowl construction. The defining technique throughout this pattern is cable knitting, which runs continuously from the cast on all the way to the bind off, giving the finished piece a rich, textured appearance on every inch of its surface.

Cable knitting is a classic knitting technique that involves crossing groups of stitches over one another using a cable needle, creating twisted rope-like or lattice-like patterns in the fabric. This technique adds both visual interest and a degree of structural density to the knitted fabric, which contributes to the cowl's warmth and body.

• Knitting in the round on circular needles for seamless construction
• Cable knitting using a cable needle to cross stitches
• Working from a stitch marker to track rounds
• Finishing with a tapestry needle for weaving in ends

Stitches Used

The primary stitch pattern used throughout the Clarissa Cabled Cowl is the lattice cable stitch, an intricate and visually striking cable arrangement that creates a woven, grid-like texture across the surface of the fabric. The gauge for this pattern is set specifically in the lattice cable stitch:

• Gauge: 19 stitches and 20 rows = 4 inches in lattice cable stitch

The lattice cable is a more complex cable construction than a simple twist or rope cable, typically involving multiple crossing points that interlock to form a diamond or woven grid effect. This stitch pattern is what gives the Clarissa Cabled Cowl its rich, heirloom-quality texture and makes it an engaging project for intermediate-level knitters looking to build their cable skills.

Materials – Yarn, Needles, and Tools

This pattern is specifically designed for use with Blue Sky Fibers Extra, an aran weight yarn described as light and lofty. The fiber content and construction of Extra make it particularly well-suited to cable knitting, as it holds stitch definition beautifully while remaining soft and comfortable against the skin.

• Yarn: Blue Sky Fibers Extra (Aran Weight) — 55% baby alpaca, 45% fine merino wool; 150g / 218 yards per hank
• Quantity: 2 (2, 3) hanks depending on size
• Color shown: No. 3