Lunch With a Friend

Lunch With a Friend Cowl by Stacked Woolens

Project Overview

Lunch With a Friend is a beginner-friendly knitted cowl designed by Meridith Shepherd for Stacked Woolens. This downloadable PDF pattern creates a versatile neck accessory inspired by the aesthetic of wide welted ribbing viewed from the reverse side. The design features a thin stockinette stitch center panel flanked by undulating lace stitches on each side, combining textural interest with elegant simplicity.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a cowl—a circular knitted neckwear piece that can be worn as a single or double loop around the neck. The Lunch With a Friend cowl is offered in three finished sizes to accommodate different preferences and body types: Short (22" circumference), Medium (28" circumference), and Long (40" circumference). All versions maintain a consistent height of 8 inches, creating a versatile accessory suitable for layering or wearing as a standalone statement piece.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

This beginner-level pattern employs several fundamental knitting techniques that make it accessible to newer knitters while maintaining visual sophistication. The construction combines stockinette stitch with lace stitch elements, creating textural contrast throughout the piece.

• Stockinette Stitch: Forms the thin center panel of the cowl, creating a smooth, classic knit fabric that serves as the visual anchor of the design
• Welted Ribbing: Inspired the overall aesthetic; the pattern incorporates ribbed elements that create dimensional texture
• Undulating Lace Stitch: Positioned on both sides of the stockinette center, this stitch creates flowing, wave-like openwork that adds visual movement and breathability to the cowl
• Circular Knitting: The cowl is constructed in the round, eliminating the need for seaming and creating a seamless, professional finish

The pattern utilizes stitch markers to help track pattern repeats and maintain stitch placement accuracy, making it easier for knitters to follow the lace sequences. A stitch holder or waste yarn is used during construction to hold stitches temporarily, a standard technique in circular knitting projects.

Materials and Specifications

The Lunch With a Friend cowl is designed to be worked in sport weight yarn, a lightweight yarn category that creates delicate, drape-friendly fabric ideal for cowls and neckwear.

• Yarn: The Plucky Knitter Primo Sport in the colorway Papier. This yarn is composed of 75% Merino wool, 20% cashmere, and 5% nylon, providing a luxurious blend that combines the breathability and elasticity of merino with the softness and warmth of cashmere. The nylon content adds durability and prevents pilling. Each skein contains 100 grams and yields 275 yards (250 meters)
• Yardage Requirements: The pattern requires 1 skein for the Short size, 1 skein for the Medium size, and 2 skeins for the Long size, allowing knitters to choose their preferred finished dimensions
• Needles: US Size 5 (3.75mm) needles are used for the main knitting
• Additional Tools: A crochet hook is included in the materials list, likely used for finishing techniques such as binding off or weaving in ends
• Gauge: The pattern is worked at a gauge of 22 stitches and 33 rows per 4 inches (10 centimeters) in stockinette stitch, which is standard for sport weight yarn and helps ensure proper sizing and drape

Design Inspiration and Characteristics

The Lunch With a Friend cowl emerged from a creative conversation between designer Meridith Shepherd and her knitting companion during one of their regular weekly knitting sessions. The designers were inspired by the visual appeal of wide welted ribbing viewed from the wrong side, discovering an unexpected beauty in the thin stockinette lines created by this perspective. This observation became the foundation for the pattern's design, resulting in a cowl that celebrates both intentional design and the happy accidents that occur during creative exploration. The pattern represents the kind of accessible, thoughtfully designed project that makes knitting a cherished social activity.