Elyse Cowl

Elyse Cowl by Melissa LaBarre

What is Being Made

The Elyse Cowl is a warm, versatile neck accessory designed by Melissa LaBarre. This cowl is intended to be worn doubled around the neck for maximum warmth on chilly days, or loosened into a single long loop when temperatures rise. With finished measurements of 54 inches in circumference and 5¼ inches in depth, this cowl provides substantial coverage while maintaining a refined, understated aesthetic.

Techniques and Construction

The Elyse Cowl is constructed using circular knitting, worked in the round from cast-on to completion. The design employs a straightforward construction method that makes it accessible to intermediate knitters. The cowl features a distinctive garter stitch welt pattern that creates visual interest and helps define the shape of the finished piece. These welts pinch the cowl into an interesting silhouette while maintaining the dense, squishy texture characteristic of garter stitch.

The pattern uses a repeating stitch sequence that alternates between knit and purl rounds to create garter stitch in the round, combined with strategic purl sections that form the welts. This combination of techniques produces a fabric with excellent drape and structure.

Stitches Used

• Garter stitch in the round: Created by alternating knit rounds and purl rounds, producing the dense, textured fabric that gives the cowl its characteristic warmth and squishiness
• Garter stitch welt pattern: A repeating motif of knit and purl sections that creates horizontal welts throughout the cowl, adding visual dimension and helping to shape the piece

Materials

Yarn: Lark by Quince & Co., a 100% American wool yarn with 134 yards per 50-gram skein. The project requires 3 skeins in the Pomegranate colorway, providing approximately 402 yards of yardage total. This worsted-weight yarn is ideal for creating the dense, warm fabric required for this design.

Needles and Notions: One 29-inch circular needle in US size 7 [4.5 mm] is required to work the cowl in the round. Additional notions include a stitch marker to denote the beginning of the round and a tapestry needle for weaving in ends.

Gauge and Finishing

The pattern specifies a gauge of 20 stitches and 36 rounds over 4 inches in garter stitch in the round, measured after blocking. The cowl is cast on with 270 stitches and worked in continuous rounds using the welt pattern sequence. Achieving the correct gauge is essential for obtaining the finished measurements of 54 inches in circumference and 5¼ inches in depth.