Beginner Favorite

Knit a cowl / Neck Warmer

A knitted cowl keeps you incredibly warm on cold winter days, and is often the very first garment many people knit.

Knitting a cowl (or neck warmer) is incredibly popular, especially for those who have just learned to knit. Unlike a scarf which often needs to be over 60 inches long, a cowl is finished in a fraction of the time.

Why is a cowl the perfect first project?

A tube cowl is simply a cylinder. You don't have to worry about increases and decreases to shape the garment, and you can just knit round and round on a circular needle until it's long enough. You also end up with a garment that has dual functions: warmth, and the ability to pull it up over your nose on the coldest days!

Construction of a tube cowl

Needles and shape

The easiest way is to use a short circular needle, usually 16 inches (40 cm) long. When you knit on a circular needle, you don't even have to seam the cowl together at the end!

Patterns and texture

Since the work is a continuous tube, the edges are prevented from curling inwards on the sides. You can therefore safely knit stockinette stitch! But if you want the cowl to be a bit thicker and more elastic, ribbing or seed stitch are fantastic alternatives.

The curling tube: Note that if you knit in pure stockinette stitch (only knit stitches in the round), the bind-off edge at the top and the cast-on edge at the bottom will curl into a sausage shape. Many like this design, but if you want to avoid it, you must knit a border with, for example, ribbing at the top and bottom.

Choose the softest yarn

Since the cowl will lie directly against the skin under your chin and behind your neck – some of the body's most sensitive areas for itching – you should avoid coarse sheep's wool intended for outerwear. Choose soft cashmere, alpaca (preferably silk alpaca blends), or extra fine merino wool. If you choose a "fluffy" yarn (e.g., mohair or brushed alpaca) held together with a wool yarn, you'll get an incredibly warm and fuzzy surface.

What yarn is best for a cowl?

Choose a soft yarn that doesn't itch, since the cowl will be in direct contact with the sensitive skin on your neck and face. Alpaca, merino wool, and cashmere blends are excellent choices.

How many stitches do I need for a cowl?

This completely depends on the thickness of the yarn and your gauge. With a chunky yarn you might only need 60-80 stitches, while a thinner yarn (DK/Sport) often requires 100-140 stitches to get the right circumference (approx 20-24 inches / 50-60 cm is standard for a snug cowl).