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Add colorwork to your knitter’s bag of tricks with this friendly, introductory pattern. The First Colorwork Cowl’s motifs incorporate easy combinations of both one-color and simple two-color stranded rounds. Colors alternate frequently, meaning catching floats is not necessary! A digital companion pattern provides written instructions alongside 4- and 5-color variations. Worked in worsted-weight yarn, this pattern makes for great colorwork practice and swift gift knitting.

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This pattern is part of our BT by Brooklyn Tweed pattern line; a collection of skill-accessible knitting patterns written in a concise, visually appealing way. Each pattern offers a beginner-friendly entry point into the larger world of Brooklyn Tweed yarns and patterns. Projects you make from BT by Brooklyn Tweed will be straightforward to knit and fun to wear!

Construction

• The First Colorwork Cowl is worked in the round from top down. Increase rounds worked over the length of the cowl result in a gently flared shape that sits comfortably on the shoulders when worn.

Finished Dimensions

• 25” (63.5 cm) top circumference; 32” (81.5 cm) bottom circumference; 9½” (24 cm) length

Yarn

Brooklyn Tweed Shelter — 100% American Targhee-Columbia Wool (140 yards/128 meters per 50g skein)

• 2 skeins of Color 1 (C1); 1 skein of Color 2 (C2); 1 skein of Color 3 (C3)
• Note: The 4-color and 5-color versions may be worked with 1 skein of each color; when swatching, swap C3 and MC for the 4-color version and swap C4 and MC for the 5-color version.
• 3-color version photographed in colors Old World (C1), Hayloft (C2), & Fossil (C3)
• 4-color version photographed in colors Yellowstone (C1), Hayloft (C2), Bale (C3), & Fossil (C4)
• 5-color version photographed in colors Plume (C1), Flannel (C2), Embers (C3), Bale (C4), & Snowbound (C5)

Potential yarn substitutes include Tones and Imbue Worsted. Note that put-ups (yardage per skein) may be different for alternate yarn lines, so check your total yardage for your chosen variation.

• Tones sample photographed in colors Zest Overtone (C1), Granita Overtone (C2), Baseline Undertone (C3) & Persimmon Overtone (C4)
• Imbue Worsted sample photographed in colors Terrarium (C1), Warbler (C2), La Bien Aimée Imbue Hegelia (C3), & La Bien Aimée Imbue Lichen (C4)

Yardage

• Approximately 160 yards/147 meters of Color 1 (Dark), 34 yards/31 meters of Color 2 (Medium) and 59 yards/54 meters of Color 3 (Light)

Gauge

• 20 stitches per 4”/10 cm; 6 rounds per inch in colorwork (exact row gauge is not critical)
• 5 stitches per inch in colorwork pattern

Needles

One 24”/60 cm circular needle

• Suggested size: US 8 (5 mm)

One smaller 16”/40 cm circular needle

• 2-3 sizes smaller than main needle for working ribbing
• Suggested size: US 5 (3.75 mm)

Tutorials for all special techniques listed below are included in the pattern:

Colorwork 101
Video — Selecting Color For Colorwork
Video — Color Dominance 101
Reading Charts
Wet Blocking

Skill Level
1 out of 5: Beginner