Quick Knit Cowl Pattern: Flying Off the Needles

It’s that time of year when everyone is looking for patterns last-minute gifts. I’m here to share a quick knit cowl pattern that you can finish in just one night. The Wide (larger) size can be worn as a hooded cowl and the Narrow (smaller) size is a one-skein project.

This post contains affiliate links. I may receive compensation (at no added cost to you) if you make a purchase using these links. I’m a King Cole Brand Ambassador and this post is part of our ongoing collaboration.

Here’s a secret about me. (Ok, it’s not really a secret, but you may not already know it.) I’m a v…e…r…y s…l…o…w knitter. As in usually if I’m knitting in December, someone isn’t getting a Christmas gift. So when Marly Bird invited me to join her 24 Days of Quickies blog hop as a knitting designer, I knew I’d have to get creative to find a project that I could knit in a day. That’s when I remembered these skeins of King Cole Big Value BIG yarn (available at your local yarn shop, or online at LoveCrafts or Wool Warehouse) that were included in my King Cole Brand Ambassador box of goodies back in August.

Big Value BIG is a jumbo yarn, and even I can finish a project in one night on US Size 35 (19 mm) needles.

I designed this quick knit cowl pattern so that it’s reversible with a textured section that you can wear at the back (as a seam) or at the front or side (as a decorative element). I also designed two sizes. I’m wearing the larger (Wide) size in the pictures. This version makes a gender-neutral hooded cowl that would fit most adults.

The smaller size is less narrow, but it’s still a wide and cozy cowl. And, it’s also a one-skein project!

By the way, if you don’t have a jumbo yarn like Big Value BIG on hand, you could hold together two strands of a super bulky yarn like King Cole Big Value Super Chunky instead to make this quick knit cowl pattern!

This pattern is part of 24 Days of Quickies with Marly Bird. Follow along here to get access the other patterns featured today as well as all 24 days of free crochet and knitting patterns. Each pattern is also available as a free PDF download for 24 hours.

If you make your own Flying Off the Needles Cowl, I’d love to see it! Share your progress and questions by tagging me on Facebook as @Underground Crafter, Instragram as @ucrafter, or Twitter as @ucrafter. You can also share a picture in the Underground Crafters Facebook group. Sign up for my weekly newsletter and get a coupon code for your choice of one of my premium patterns and private access to my vault of subscriber goodies. Plus, you’ll never miss one of my free patterns again!

Add the Flying Off the Needles Cowl to your favorites or queue, or buy the ad-free PDF on Ravelry.

Flying Off the Needles Cowl

Knitting Pattern by Underground Crafter

This reversible cowl pattern works up quickly in jumbo yarn. The smaller size is a one skein project; the larger size can be worn as a hooded cowl.

Finished Size

• Narrow (Wide). Photographed sample is size Wide.
  • Narrow: 24” (61 cm) circumference x 9” (23 cm) height after seaming.
  • Wide: 24” (61 cm) circumference x 11” (28 cm) height after seaming.

Materials

• King Cole Big Value BIG (available at LoveCrafts or Wool Warehouse) yarn (100% acrylic, 8.9 oz/250 g/82 yd/75 m) – 1(2) skein(s) in 4434 Denim, or approximately 77 yd (94 yd)/70.5 m (86 m) in any jumbo weight yarn.
• US Size 35/19 mm knitting needles, or size needed to obtain gauge.
• Yarn needle.

Gauge

• 6 sts x 8 rows = 4” (10 cm) in pattern. For best fit, check your gauge.

Abbreviations Used in This Pattern

• BO – bind off
• CO – cast on
• k – knit
• p – purl
• rep – repeat
• sl – slip stitch
• st(s) – stitch(es)

Pattern Notes

• Cowl is knit flat then seamed. The textured section (Rows 1-2, Final Row, and BO Row) can be worn at the back, front, or side.
• Slip stitches knitwise with yarn in back.
• A helpful tutorial for seaming with the mattress stitch is available here.

Pattern Instructions

Cowl – Narrow Size

• CO 13 sts.
• Row 1: P across.
• Row 2: Sl 1, p across.
• Row 3: Sl 1, p1, k3, p3, k3, p2.
• Row 4: Sl 1, p1, k to last 2 sts, p2.
• Rows 5-12: Rep Rows 3-4, 4 more times.
• Row 13: Rep Row 3.
• Row 14: Rep Row 2.
• Rows 16-22: Rep Rows 13-14, 4 more times.
• Rep Rows 3-22 until cowl measures approximately 23” (58.5 cm) or approximately 1” (2.5 cm) shorter than desired final circumference, ending after Row 12 or 22.
• Next Row: Rep Row 2.
• BO in pattern for Row 2. Fasten off with long yarn tail (approximately 24”/61 cm) for seaming.

Cowl – Wide Size

• CO 16 sts.
• Row 1: P across.
• Row 2: Sl 1, p across.
• Row 3: Sl 1, p1, k4, p4, k4, p2.
• Row 4: Sl 1, p1, k to last 2 sts, p2.
• Rows 5-12: Rep Rows 3-4, 4 more times.
• Row 13: Rep Row 3.
• Row 14: Rep Row 2.
• Rows 16-22: Rep Rows 13-14, 4 more times.
• Rep Rows 3-22 until cowl measures approximately 23” (58.5 cm) or approximately 1” (2.5 cm) shorter than desired final circumference, ending after Row 12 or 22.
• Next Row: Rep Row 2.
• BO in pattern for Row 2. Fasten off with long yarn tail (approximately 24”/61 cm) for seaming.

Finishing

• Thread long yarn tail through yarn needle. Fold Cowl over with CO and BO rows together. Use mattress stitch (see Pattern Notes) to seam CO and BO rows together. With yarn needle, weave in ends.

© 2020 by Marie Segares (Underground Crafter). This pattern is for personal use only. You may use the pattern to make unlimited items for yourself, for charity, or to give as gifts. You may sell items you personally make by hand from this pattern. Do not violate Marie’s copyright by distributing this pattern or the photos in any form, including but not limited to scanning, photocopying, emailing, or posting on a website or internet discussion group. If you want to share the pattern, point your friends to this link: https://undergroundcrafter.com/2020/12/09/quick-knit-cowl-pattern-flying-off-the-needles/. Thanks for supporting indie designers!