Tri Button Cowl in Blue Sky Fibers - T17 - Downloadable PDF

Tri Button Cowl in Blue Sky Fibers – Pattern Summary (T17)

The Tri Button Cowl is a cozy, chunky-weight knitted cowl designed by Vladimira Cmorej as part of the Traveler's Series, published by Blue Sky Fibers. This beginner-friendly pattern produces a textured, ribbed cowl that fastens with buttons, making it both functional and stylish. The design is worked flat and seamlessly transitions from a long ribbed body into three separate button straps, giving the cowl its distinctive tri-button closure.

What Is Being Made

This pattern creates a buttoned cowl — a neck warmer worked as a flat ribbed panel that wraps around the neck and fastens with buttons through three individual straps. The tri-strap button closure is the defining feature of this design, allowing the wearer to adjust the fit and adding a charming, structured detail to an otherwise simple accessory. The finished cowl measures approximately 30 inches in length before the straps are added.

Construction and Techniques

The Tri Button Cowl is constructed using a combination of flat knitting and seamless techniques. The process begins by casting on 49 stitches and working entirely in a ribbed pattern for the full 30-inch body of the cowl. At the end of the main body, a simple increase row brings the stitch count to 51 stitches, which are then divided into three separate sections to form the individual button straps.

• Worked flat: The entire cowl body and all three straps are knitted back and forth in rows, making this an accessible project for knitters who are not yet comfortable with circular knitting.
• Seamless construction: Despite being worked flat, the design is structured so that no seaming is required to finish the cowl.
• Rib stitch body: The long main section is worked in a k1, p1 rib variation, which creates a stretchy, textured fabric that hugs the neck comfortably.
• Three separate button straps: After the increase row, stitches are divided — with the first strap worked over 17 stitches while the remaining 34 stitches are placed on a holder. Each strap is worked individually to a length of approximately 3¼ inches.
• Buttonhole construction: Each strap features a one-row buttonhole created by binding off 3 stitches and then casting them back on using the cable cast-on method on the following row. This produces a clean, sturdy buttonhole suited to chunky yarn and larger buttons.

Stitches Used

• Knit (k) and purl (p) — the fundamental building blocks of the entire pattern
• k1, p1 Rib — used throughout the cowl body and all three straps for a stretchy, reversible texture
• Stockinette stitch (st st) — referenced in the abbreviations as a foundational technique
• Make 1 (m1) — a standard increase stitch used in the transition row before the straps to add two additional stitches
• Bind off in rib pattern (BO) — each strap is bound off while maintaining the rib pattern for a neat, elastic edge
• Cable cast-on — used specifically within the buttonhole rows to recreate the bound-off stitches cleanly

Difficulty Level and Suitability

This pattern is rated beginner difficulty, making it an excellent project for newer knitters who are comfortable with basic knit and purl stitches and are ready to try a simple increase and a one-row buttonhole. The repetitive ribbing throughout the long body of the cowl provides great practice for maintaining consistent tension, while the strap and buttonhole sections introduce a small but rewarding construction challenge. The Traveler's Series context suggests this cowl is designed as a practical, travel-friendly accessory — quick to knit and satisfying to wear.

Materials

This pattern is designed for use with Blue