Remi Cowl

Remi Cowl by Emily J. Designs

What Is Being Made

The Remi Cowl is a quick-to-knit cowl neck accessory designed by Emily J. Designs. This project creates a finished cowl that measures 5.5 inches (8 inches, or 10 inches) wide and 24 inches (24 inches, or 28 inches) in circumference, depending on which of the three available sizes you choose. The cowl is worked as a flat rectangular piece from end to end and then seamed or grafted together to form the circular neckwear.

Craft and Techniques

This is a knitting project suitable for beginner-level knitters. The construction method involves working the cowl flat in rows, then joining the two ends together using either a traditional seam or a grafting technique (also called Kitchener stitch). This end-to-end construction approach is efficient and allows knitters to easily adjust the circumference by adding or removing rows as needed.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Remi Cowl features a knit and purl pattern that creates visual interest and color-play, particularly when worked in striped yarn. The main pattern alternates between knit stitches and purl stitches in a structured repeat. The pattern uses basic abbreviations including K (knit), P (purl), and st(s) (stitch or stitches). The gauge is listed as 14 stitches and 18 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch, though the pattern notes that exact gauge is not critical for this project, making it forgiving for beginners.

Materials

The Remi Cowl requires:

• Yarn: Cascade Yarns 128 Superwash Multis in a chunky weight. Depending on size, you will need 1 skein (for the two smaller sizes) or 2 skeins (for the largest size). Each skein contains 128 yards (117 meters) and weighs 110 grams (3.5 ounces). The yarn is 100% Superwash Merino Wool, making it durable and easy to care for. The sample shown was worked in colorway #123 Boston, which is a striped multi-color option that showcases the knit and purl pattern beautifully.
• Needles: US size 10 (6mm) knitting needles, or whatever size is needed to achieve the recommended gauge

Why This Pattern Works

The Remi Cowl is an excellent beginner project because it uses only basic knitting stitches and straightforward construction. The chunky yarn weight means the project works up quickly, providing satisfying progress and a finished accessory in minimal time. The knit and purl pattern adds visual texture without requiring complex stitch techniques, and the forgiving gauge means minor variations won't affect the final fit. The striped yarn enhances the dimensional quality of the knit and purl pattern, creating an attractive color-play effect that makes the simple stitches look more intricate than they are.