Counterpose Cowl

Counterpose Cowl by Corrine Walcher

What Is Being Made

The Counterpose Cowl is a neck accessory featuring striking positive and negative colorwork design. This downloadable knitting pattern is part of a coordinated accessory set that also includes a matching hat and fingerless gloves, all designed by Corrine Walcher. The cowl works up to a finished size of 18 inches around when unstretched and 23 inches when stretched, with a height of 8.75 inches. The design showcases two-color knitting with a reversible aesthetic, allowing knitters to choose which colorway serves as the main color based on personal preference.

Craft and Techniques

This is an intermediate-level knitting project that employs colorwork techniques to create visual interest. The pattern uses stranded colorwork, which requires managing two yarn colors simultaneously while knitting. The cowl is worked in the round, which is a fundamental technique for creating seamless tubular garments. Knitters will need to pay careful attention to tension throughout the colorwork sections, as uneven tension can result in puckering that will not block out during finishing. The pattern is suitable for knitters with some experience in managing multiple colors and working circular constructions.

Stitches Used

The Counterpose Cowl is worked primarily in stockinette stitch, which is the foundational stitch for this project. Stockinette stitch creates a smooth, classic fabric with characteristic V-shaped stitches on the right side. The colorwork chart directs placement of knit stitches in two different colors to build the positive and negative design elements across the fabric.

Materials and Specifications

Yarn: Dragonfly Fibers Valkyrie, which is 100% Superwash Merino wool. Each skein contains 200 yards and weighs 4 ounces. The sample cowl was knit in two colors: Birch (Color A) and Julia's Tresses (Color B), using a total of 130 yards. For the complete three-piece accessory set, two full skeins of Valkyrie are recommended.

Needles: Size 7 US (4.50 mm) needles are required. Knitters may choose between a set of 5 double-pointed needles or a 16-inch circular needle, depending on personal preference for working in the round.

Gauge: The pattern specifies a gauge of 16 stitches and 24 rows per 4 inches when working blocked stockinette stitch in the round. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the correct finished measurements.

Pattern Format

This pattern is provided as a downloadable PDF file, making it convenient for digital access and printing. The pattern includes standard knitting abbreviations (K for knit, P for purl) and a colorwork chart to guide color placement throughout the project.