Ever wanted to knit a cabled-looking piece that doesn’t actually involve knitting cables? Then Mallow Cowl featuring travelling stitches - a combination of increases and decreases that has an appearance of cables without adding bulk to the fabric - is here for you.

Gentle mallow flowers symbolise health and protection - two things a lot of us are wishing for these days both for our loved ones and ourselves. Inspired by the shape and special meaning of the mallow, this piece is ready to shield off if not the hardships of life, then at least cold and unpleasant weather. This design combines a look of a triangular shawl with an effortless styling and coziness of a cowl. Interesting shaping cuts off the bulk of the fabric at the back neck making it easy to wear under jackets and coats.

The project explores different techniques of Japanese knitting, including two types of wrapped stitches. The main panels feature a cable-looking design that is composed of travelling stitches. Both the charts and written row-by-row instructions provided.

Loved this knit? have a look at its sister designs, Mallow Shawl and Mallow Mittens.

Size

• Depth at the deepest point 23” / 58cm
• Circumference at the midneck 24” / 61cm

Yarn

• 440yds / 400m of worsted weight yarn, preferably in a solid or slightly tonal colorway
• Sample cowl: Swish Worsted from Knit Picks (100% superwash merino; 1.75oz / 50g, 110yds / 120m), 4 balls, color Haze Heather

Needles and Gauge

• 24 sts and 36 rows in 4” / 10cm in Diagonal Rib Stitch, unblocked
• 21 sts and 34 rows in 4” / 10cm in Diagonal Rib Stitch, blocked
• US 6 / 4mm needles (straight or on a long cable) or the size needed to obtain gauge
• Cable needle or a dpn of a matching size for wrapped stitches

Construction

• The cowl is worked flat from the bottom corner with an applied i-cord edging.

• Increases made along the sides shape the bottom part as a triangle.

• Additional stitches are cast on on both sides for the top section of the design. Decreases along the sides in this part shape the cowl to be narrower at the top for a better fit.

• The top part is finished off with 2x2 ribbing. The finished piece is seamed at the back.

• This project features two types of wrapped stitches, diagonal rib pattern, and travelling stitches - a combination of increases and decreases that has an appearance of cables.