Hawke Cowl in Rowan Island Blend Fine - ZB296-00013-FR - Downloadable PDF

Hawke Cowl in Rowan Island Blend Fine – Pattern Summary

About This Design

The Hawke Cowl is an elegant knitted cowl designed by Martin Storey and published by Rowan. Released as a downloadable PDF (reference ZB296-00013-FR), this pattern is rated intermediate in difficulty, making it a rewarding project for knitters who are comfortable with colourwork techniques and circular knitting. The cowl is a sophisticated accessory piece worked in the round, combining two-colour ribbing with a stranded colourwork body to create a visually striking, wearable item.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a single knitted cowl — a seamless, tubular neck accessory designed to be worn around the neck and shoulders. The finished cowl is worked entirely in the round on a circular needle, giving it a smooth, joined construction with no seams. The colourwork patterning makes it a standout accessory suitable for cooler seasons.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern is specifically written for Rowan Island Blend Fine, a 4-ply weight yarn. Three colourways are used in this design:

• Colour A – Vellum (shade 101): 2 x 50g balls
• Colour B – Tungsten (shade 110): 2 x 50g balls
• Colour C – Wedgewood (shade 103): 1 x 50g ball

Using three carefully chosen shades, the palette moves between neutral and cooler tones, giving the finished cowl a refined, contemporary look. As a 4-ply yarn, Rowan Island Blend Fine produces a lightweight yet warm fabric, ideal for a cowl that sits close to the neck.

Needles and Tension

The pattern calls for a 3.25mm (UK 10 / US 3) circular needle, no longer than 50cm, which is the appropriate length for working a cowl in the round without the stitches becoming too stretched or too bunched. A stitch marker is used to indicate the beginning and end of each round.

The recommended tension is 28 stitches and 32 rows to 10cm measured over the colourwork pattern using 3.25mm needles. Achieving the correct tension is particularly important in colourwork knitting, as carrying multiple yarns across the back of the work can tighten the fabric if the floats are not managed carefully.

Construction and Techniques

The cowl is cast on with 198 stitches using Colour B (Tungsten) and joined in the round, with care taken not to twist the cast-on row — a fundamental step in circular knitting. The construction moves through two distinct sections:

• Two-colour ribbing: The cowl opens with a two-colour rib section. Round 1 establishes the rib by alternating one stitch knitted in Colour B with one stitch purled in Colour A, creating a bicolour ribbed cuff. The non-working yarn is carried across the wrong side of the fabric. This ribbing is continued for a total of 10 rounds, producing a neat, stretchy, and decorative border.
• Stranded colourwork body (Fair Isle technique): After the ribbing, the pattern transitions into a stranded colourwork section worked in stocking stitch in the round — meaning every round is knitted (no purl rounds). The colourwork is worked from a chart, with the knitter beginning and ending at the positions indicated for the correct sizing. The technique used is the classic Fair Isle method, in which the yarn not in use is carried (floated) loosely across the wrong side of the work. Keeping these floats even and not too tight is key to maintaining the correct tension and ensuring the fabric retains its elasticity and drape.

Stitches and Techniques Used

• Two-colour rib: A 1x1 rib worked with two contrasting colours simultaneously, creating a decorative and functional border
• Stocking stitch in the round: Every round knitted, producing a smooth right-side fabric — the foundation of the colourwork body