Tulip cowl

Tulip Cowl by Annarita Ceretti

What is Being Made

The Tulip cowl is a seamless, circular knitted neck accessory designed by independent designer Annarita Ceretti. This cowl features a striking two-colour brioche stitch pattern worked in the round. The finished cowl measures 24.5 inches (62 cm) in circumference and 9 inches (23 cm) in height, making it a versatile, one-size-fits-most neckwear piece suitable for layering and styling.

Craft and Techniques

This is a knitting project classified at an intermediate difficulty level. The Tulip cowl is constructed entirely in the round using circular needles, which eliminates the need for seaming and creates a polished, professional finish. The defining technique is brioche stitch, a reversible and highly elastic stitch that creates a luxurious, dimensional fabric with excellent drape and recovery. Working brioche stitch in two colours adds visual interest and complexity to the design, requiring the knitter to manage yarn changes while maintaining consistent tension and stitch definition throughout the project.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch employed in this pattern is brioche knit (brk), which involves knitting a stitch together with its corresponding yarn over from the previous round. This technique creates the characteristic puffy, reversible texture that brioche stitch is known for. The pattern also incorporates yarn overs (yo) as part of the brioche construction. The two-colour brioche work requires careful attention to which yarn is active and how colours are managed across rounds to achieve the intended visual effect.

Materials and Specifications

The Tulip cowl is designed to be worked in sport weight yarn. The pattern calls for approximately 170 metres (186 yards) total of sport weight yarn in two colours:

• Light colour: 120 metres (131 yards)
• Dark colour: 120 metres (131 yards)

The pattern specifically recommends Alpaca DROPS or other comparable sport weight yarn for optimal results. Knitters will need a 16-inch (40 cm) circular needle in US 3 (3.25 mm) size, or the size required to achieve the specified gauge. Additional notions include one stitch marker and a darning needle for weaving in ends.

Gauge

The pattern is worked to a gauge of 9.5 stitches and 12 rounds over 10 cm (4 inches) in brioche stitch. Achieving accurate gauge is essential for this project, as brioche stitch can vary significantly in finished dimensions depending on tension and needle size. Knitters should swatch in brioche stitch using both colours to ensure their gauge matches the pattern specifications before beginning the cowl.