Knitted cowl: pattern and stitch count
A cowl is a scarf without ends — knit in the round and finished in a few evenings. The key is a stitch count that fits the pattern repeat, and a circumference that goes over the head without hanging loose.
Circumference and height
A single-loop cowl is 55–65 cm round and 25–35 cm tall: it sits close to the neck and goes over the head. A double-wrap cowl is 120–140 cm round and 20–30 cm tall.
Worked example: lace cowl
This is real output from the builder for a 62 cm cowl in “Fir tree” lace.
Key numbers
- Cast-on
- 138
- Repeats per round
- 23
- Rounds
- 92
Finished garment
- Circumference
- 62.7 cm
- Height
- 30.7 cm
- Pattern
- Fir tree
- Yarn (estimate)
- 250–320 m
How many stitches to cast on
Circumference × gauge, rounded to a multiple of the stitch repeat. In the example, 62 cm at 22 sts per 10 cm gives 136.4 — the builder uses 138 sts because the “Fir tree” repeat is 6 stitches (23 repeats per round). Height — 92 rounds.
Cast on loosely — long-tail over a needle 1 mm larger — and bind off stretchily, or the edge will not stretch.
Yarn
A single-loop cowl in DK-weight yarn takes 250–320 m — 2–3 skeins. Softness next to the neck matters: merino, alpaca, cashmere-silk.
FAQ
How many stitches to cast on for a cowl?
Circumference in cm × stitches per cm, rounded to the repeat. For example, 60 cm at 20 sts per 10 cm is 120 sts — fits repeats of 4, 6, 8 or 12.
Why does the edge of my cowl curl?
Stockinette in the round always curls. Start and finish with 3–4 cm of rib or garter, or knit the whole cowl in lace.
How much yarn for a cowl?
A single loop takes 250–350 m of DK-weight yarn, a double wrap 450–650 m.