Welcome to the Brighton Rock Cowl! This is one of those deceptively simple heirloom pieces which you’ll want to wear for years ahead. The garter stitch panel running around the centre is squishy and satisfying while the knitted-on cables create elegant sculptured and reversible edges. Finished off by invisible grafting to create a loop, this is a very wearable item - and is a permanent stable in my autumn and winter wardrobe!

Make the smaller size for a lightweight cowl to tuck into a coat, or the larger version to wear loose or doubled-up for extra snuggly and classy comfort.

It’s the perfect way to use those two skeins of gorgeous fingering-weight yarn which go together perfectly, but you’ve never known quite what to do with. Luxe yarns with a hint of silk, cashmere or alpaca work beautifully, as do those favourite sock yarns which are singing to you from your stash.

Please note: this pattern is for the cowl shown in the photos. The hat shown in some of the pictures is my Freedom and Cables pattern, which is available for free here.

YARN:

Quantities for small (large) cowl:

• Yarn A: 50g/200m (100g/400m) fingering weight yarn
• Yarn B: 50g/200m (100g/400m) fingering weight yarn

NEEDLES AND NOTIONS:

• Smooth contrast colour scrap yarn, for provisional cast-ons and holding live stitches
• 3.5mm (US size 4) needles (or size required to get gauge)
• 3.75mm (US size 5) 32-inch circular needles (or one size larger than needles required to get gauge)
• 3.75mm (US size 5) DPNs (or one size larger than needles required to get gauge)
• Cable needle
• Tapestry needle

GAUGE AND SIZING:

• Gauge: 22st and 40 rows = 4 inches/10cm over garter stitch using smaller needles.

• Exact gauge isn’t crucial, but it is worth doing a gauge swatch and blocking it to ensure that you like the resulting fabric.

• Pattern shows instructions for small (large) sizes: both 11 inches/28cm wide, and approximately 10 inches/25cm (20 inches/51cm) long after finishing. You’ll knit twice this length and then graft the ends together. Wet-blocking is essential to enable the correct final dimensions.

• Both sizes are one-size-fits-all.

• This pattern includes provisional cast-ons, picking up and knitting, and grafting together in pattern.