Add a touch of class to your wardrobe with the Peru Double Cowl by Annabelle Drumm.
Buy this knitting pattern
on my Store
Ravelry
This three yarn cowl is both practical and a work of art, hand knitted in the round using woven float technique. Full instructions for how to get started in this technique are included in the pattern. You will need to do some Chart reading and slip stitch sewing.
The Peru Double Cowl can be worn down the front or back of your clothes. You can double it over for an extra warm neck or, try twisting and wrapping it up over your head to keep your ears warm. The border is bouclé though you can use any textured, Aran weight yarn. The centre is made from two colours of fingering weight yarn. (More details below.) The combination makes an exquisite design inspired by the textiles of Peru.
Use colours that are sympathetic to each other for a subtle, classy look or go for high contrast colours when you want to turn heads. It’s a quick project that doesn’t take much yarn so, it’s great for busting your stash.
Included in the pattern
- Instructions on how to do the weaving technique with knitting needles including photos.
- Chart plus full written chart instructions.
- Tips on working easier and how to fix mistakes.
Dimensions
Small single cowl: 80 cm x 16 cm or 31 ½″ x 6 ½″
Regular double cowl (like the sample): 120 cm x 16 cm or 47 ¼″ x 6 ½″
Large double cowl: 140 cm x 16 cm or 55″ x 6 ½″
Yardage
Small single size
Aran weight border yarn: 140 metres / 153 yards
Fingering weight yarn colour 1: 69 metres / 75 yards
Fingering weight yarn colour 2: 131 metres / 144 yards
Regular double size
Aran weight border yarn: 210 metres / 230 yards
Fingering weight yarn colour 1: 104 metres / 113 yards
Fingering weight yarn colour 2: 197 metres / 216 yards
Large double size
Aran weight border yarn: 245 metres / 268 yards
Fingering weight yarn colour 1: 120 metres / 1132 yards
Fingering weight yarn colour 2: 230 metres / 252 yards
Equipment
Single size cowl
4.5mm (US size 7) circular needle 60cm (24″) long
3.5mm (US size 4) circular needle 60cm (24″) long
Regular and Large Double cowls
4.5mm (US size 7) circular needle 100-120cm (40-48″) long
3.5mm (US size 4) circular needle 100-120cm (40-48″) long
All sizes
Darning needle
Open lock stitch markers in three colours.
Small scissors
A few metres/yards of fingering weight waste yarn or sewing cotton to match your border yarn.
Buy this knitting pattern on my Store Ravelry
More about the Peru Double Cowl
This was a fun one to design. The Woven Float technique lends itself brilliantly to diagonal lines with sharp, tidy corners. I have experimented with curves, however, I’ve not uncovered the way to make them smooth so far… will continue to work on that. This pattern is just the right length to hang down the front or back of your clothes just grazing the waistline for an average height lady. I also included a version which is a single cowl length — that is more like the length of the Woven Illusion cowl — and also a slightly longer version which is great for those who are either taller than average or who prefer a more dramatic length.
Where did the inspiration come from?
The yarns in the centre section were originally from Peru which has such a wonderful rich history of textiles. Up in the Peruvian mountains you have plenty of use for tightly woven garments, ponchos, hats and scarfs. Peruvian patterns lend themselves well to the Woven Float Technique with all their diamonds and zig zags. I collected a number of textile patterns and then used them as inspiration to create the chart which is repeated around the main section of the cowl.
What yarns were used for the Double Cowl?
As part of my cowl series using the Woven Float Technique, my challenge was to use as much of my stash yarns as possible.
The fingering weight yarns
for the centre charted section were from Drops by GarnStudio. They are a Scandinavian company but, the yarn is imported from Peru. This Alpaca yarn is lovely to work with and the colours are far more impressive in person compared to the photos on your screen. Drops Alpaca have a wide variety of colours including heathered “mix” and uni colour variations. Take a look at Olive and Sea Fog, for example. https://www.garnstudio.com/yarn.php?show=drops-alpaca&cid=19
Drops Alpaca is also incredibly light weight. I made a sweater for my adult son and it only took 450g (about 15 1/2 oz) of yarn. It felt even lighter than that and was spectacular…. until he put it through the washing machine. Oh well, there goes 600,000 odd stitches of love. I’ll make the next one in superwash.
The colours I used for the Peru Double Cowl were Maroon (3650) and Nougat (618)
Buy this knitting pattern on my Store Ravelry
For the fabulous fluffy border
I used a skein I’d purchased in a second hand lot. It is 10ply — so Worsted or Aran weight — and it’s made of 3 shades of Alpaca Bouclé by Touch Yarns down in chilly Alexandra, in New Zealand. Being a vintage skein, I got in touch with them to see if they knew when it was manufactured. They said it was likely about 10-15 years ago. I recommend you take a look at their lovely yarns. They have mohair, merino and possum. https://www.touchhome.co.nz/collections/your-garden
New Zealand is famous for its extraordinary quality in yarns, meat and dairy products. It rains a lot there, resulting in a lush landscape filled with nutritious, bright green grass. As a result, the sheep and cows are superior to those in many other countries around the world.
Touch Yarns do have 12ply mohair which could make a very luscious replacement or, if you want to stick with Bouclé, Drops Yarn have the right weight to match the pattern here: https://www.garnstudio.com/yarn.php?show=drops-alpaca-boucle&cid=19
Stockists:
The bouclé was second hand, as mentioned. The Drops Alpaca was purchased from one of my favourite retailers, ClewStore on Etsy here: https://www.etsy.com/au/shop/ClewStore I’ve found them to be very reliable. They are based in Poland which seems to be very quick and economical postage.
So, you can buy and download the pattern on the links here below. Get in touch if you need any help and, once you’ve finished, post your photos on Ravelry as a project connected to my pattern. I’d love to see the colours you used.
Buy this knitting pattern on my Store Ravelry
Check out my other scarfs and cowls.