Mori

Mori Cowl by Taiga Hilliard Designs

What is Being Made

The Mori Cowl is a quick-to-knit neck accessory that can be completed in a single evening. This cowl is designed as a circular, tubular garment that wraps around the neck, offering five different size options to accommodate various fit preferences. The finished cowl measures 20, 22, 24, 28, or 30 inches in circumference, making it versatile for different wearers and layering preferences.

Knitting Techniques and Construction

This beginner-friendly cowl uses fundamental knitting techniques suitable for those new to the craft. The pattern employs in-the-round knitting, which creates a seamless, tubular fabric without requiring seaming. Knitters begin by casting on stitches using the long tail method, then join in the round and place a start-of-round marker to track progress through the repeating pattern rounds.

The cowl features a lacy stitch pattern created through strategic yarn overs and decreases, giving the finished piece an open, textured appearance. The pattern repeats rounds 4 through 8 until the cowl reaches the desired length of approximately 6¾ inches before binding off. The edging is finished by binding off purl-wise, which creates a neat, professional edge.

Stitches Used

• Knit (K) – The fundamental stitch forming the base fabric
• Purl (P) – Used in specific rounds to create texture and pattern variation
• Knit Two Together (K2tog) – A right-leaning decrease used to create the lacy pattern
• Yarn Over (YO) – Creates decorative eyelets and openwork in the lace pattern

Materials and Gauge

The Mori Cowl is designed for aran or bulky weight yarn, specifically using Madelinetosh Chunky yarn in the original design. Knitters require US size 11 (8.00 mm) needles, or whatever needle size is necessary to achieve the correct gauge. The pattern specifies a gauge of 12.0 stitches and 16 rows over 4 inches, which is essential for achieving the proper finished dimensions.

Yardage requirements range from 60 to 120 yards depending on which size option is selected. The super chunky yarn weight combined with larger needles contributes to the quick knitting time, allowing this project to be completed in a single evening session.

Size Options and Cast-On Counts

• 20-inch circumference: Cast on 60 stitches
• 22-inch circumference: Cast on 66 stitches
• 24-inch circumference: Cast on 72 stitches
• 28-inch circumference: Cast on 84 stitches
• 30-inch circumference: Cast on 90 stitches

Pattern Summary

After casting on and joining in the round, knitters work through an eight-round sequence that establishes the cowl's lacy texture. The pattern combines simple knit and purl rounds with decorative yarn overs and decreases in Round 4, which repeats as (K2tog, YO) across the entire round. This creates an open, mesh-like appearance characteristic of lace knitting. The sequence is repeated until the cowl reaches the target length, then finished with a final knit round and purl-wise bind-off.

This downloadable PDF pattern from independent designer Taiga Hilliard Designs offers an accessible entry point for beginner knitters seeking to expand their skills while creating a practical, wearable accessory. The straightforward stitch combinations and quick completion time make it an ideal project for those new to in-the-round knitting techniques.