Two Tone Moss Cowl

Two Tone Moss Cowl by Jo Sharp

What is Being Made

The Two Tone Moss Cowl is a soft, pliable cowl designed as a versatile neckwear accessory. This project creates a tubular cowl that can be worn as a neck warmer or cowl-style scarf. The design features a distinctive two-tone color effect created by combining contrasting soft tweed yarn shades, resulting in visual depth and interest in the finished piece.

Craft and Construction Method

This is a knitting project suitable for beginners. The cowl is primarily worked using circular needles to create the piece in the round, eliminating the need for seaming. The pattern offers flexibility in construction methods: knitters can work seamlessly in the round using circular needles, or alternatively use straight needles with a seam join for a simpler approach. The design incorporates a deliberate twist in the fabric created during the cast-on process, which becomes a permanent design feature that adds visual interest as the work progresses.

Stitches and Techniques Used

The primary stitch pattern used throughout this cowl is Moss stitch, a classic textured stitch that creates a bumpy, woven-like appearance. The pattern begins with a specialized cast-on technique that intentionally creates a twist in the fabric. The first round involves knit stitches combined with a pass-over technique (similar to a cast-off action), which helps establish the stitch pattern. Stitch markers are used to denote the beginning of each round, and knitters may use either contrasting thread or plastic markers for this purpose.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

This project uses Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran Tweed yarn in two contrasting shades. The yarn weight is aran, a medium-weight yarn that provides good stitch definition for the Moss stitch pattern and creates a soft, pliable fabric suitable for comfortable neckwear. Circular needles are the primary tool, though straight needles are also an acceptable alternative depending on the construction method chosen.