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Chunky Ribbed Cowl & How to Knit Rib Stitch

March 16, 2015 1 Comment

Chunky Ribbed Cowl - Click through for the free knitting pattern!

Spring has almost sprung, but that doesn’t mean cowl weather has left us just yet. Knit yourself a quick and easy chunky cowl to help keep a stiff spring breeze off your neck with this beginner friendly Chunky Ribbed Cowl Pattern.

Chunky Ribbed Cowl Pattern

This easy pattern uses thick yarn with optional striping for a versatile wardrobe staple. The ribbing of this cowl gives it a lot of structure so it will stay in place and close to the neck on chilly days. Doubling over the cowl is reminiscent of a chunky turtleneck, which is where its versatility becomes apparent – despite my personally bright color choice for the cowl pictured.

Skills
How to do a basic knitting cast on
How to do a knit stitch
How to purl
How to bind off
How to knit rib stitch (see the bottom of this post for a tutorial)
How to read yarn labels (to help selecting a different yarn than the one listed here)

Abbreviations
CO – cast on
k – knit
p – purl
sts – stitches
BO – bind off
MC – main color (pictured: pink)
CC – contrasting color (pictured: green)

Supplies
1 pair size 11 US knitting needles
2 skeins Patons Classic Wool Bulky yarn in Deep Blush
1 skein Patons Classic Wool Bulky yarn in Spring Green
tapestry needle for sewing cowl & weaving in ends
scissors

Chunky Ribbed Cowl - Click through for the free knitting pattern!

CO 72 sts
1-7. Using MC, k2, p2 (7 rows)
8-9. Using CC, k2, p2
10-14. Using MC, k2, p2 (5 rows)
15-16. Using CC, k2, p2
17-19. Using MC, k2, p2 (3 rows)
20-21. Using CC, k2, p2
22-26. Using MC, k2, p2 (5 rows)
27-28. Using CC, k2, p2
29-35. Using MC, k2, p2 (7 rows)

BO all sts, break yarn, draw tail through last loop to secure. Sew long ends together, forming a circle shape. Weave in all ends to finish.

Beginner pattern variation

Instead of alternating colors, simply work k2, p2 every row in one color.

More advanced pattern variation

Join yarn into a loop after CO and knit the pattern in the round. Since the number of CO sts is divisible by 4, there is no alternative pattern needed for rows 1-35 of this pattern to work in the round. This may or may not be how I knit this piece myself. I don’t love seaming – why seam when you can knit? ;)

PS: This might be obvious, but I don’t want to leave myself open to “WTH, this cowl is SO long!” without saying anything about it. You fold the finished cowl in half to wear it. Just so y’know.

How to knit rib stitch How to Knit Rib Stitch

If you’re a new knitter, you’ll need to learn how to knit the classic rib stitch for this pattern (and many other patterns). You’ll often find rib stitching on the cuffs and hems of sweaters, the edges of hats, and more. Ribbed knitting is great for its elasticity, which is why it makes a great edging for clothing because you can achieve a flexible fit without having to decrease or increase the number of stitches in your work.

How to knit rib stitch

Knewbies/Knitting 101: How to knit rib stitch

How to knit 2 over 2 rib stitch

Filed Under: Free Patterns, Knitting, Knitting & Crochet, Knitting 101 Tagged With: beginner cowl, chunky ribbed scarf, free pattern, how to knit, knewbies, knit a cowl, knitting 101, rib stitch

About Heidi

Heidi Gustad is a craft book author, designer & creator specializing in yarn crafts like knitting, crochet, latch hook & macramé. Her first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is out now.

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Comments

  1. Julie

    March 16, 2015 at 3:59 pm

    such a cute cowl! What an awesome project to help learn knitting skills.

    Reply

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Heidi Gustad from Hands Occupied / Craft Book Author and Knitting, Crochet, Latch Hook and Macrame Designer

Hi! I’m Heidi (she/her/hers), a craft book author & pattern designer specializing in knitting, crochet, latch hook & macrame. Really anything with yarn! ❤️  My work combines vintage and modern design elements, featuring bold colors and graphic motifs.

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Learn how to do the magic loop method for knitting Learn how to do the magic loop method for knitting in the round in 90 seconds. / Using the magic loop allows knitters to work in the round with a single, long circular needle at a range of circumferences. 
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For a longer, full-width & more detailed overview of magic loop knitting, check out my u2be & b1og, the 🔗🔗 are where you’d think. 🧶
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Since it won’t be clean for long, swipe to see w Since it won’t be clean for long, swipe to see what my home studio looks like these days. Nothing will ever quite be like the old Hands Occupied Studio, but I’m pretty pleased with how I shoehorned everything in this space. Function over form + a layer of yarn cuteness-meets-chaos is how I’d describe my creative space needs. 😆 When I was still renting the studio, those needs included “doesn’t rain suspicious brown water from a crack in the ceiling for a year,” so this is an improvement! 😆
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For a time lapse of the studio organizing and tszuj-ing process, scroll down a couple posts on my feed. (There’s also a video or two featuring the old studio if you’re curious.) Happy June, friends! 
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Who doesn’t love magic loop knitting? Who doesn’t know what it is? How about when circular needles were invented?
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In todays new bl0g post + video tutorial, you’ll learn about the magic loop method for knitting in the round, how to do it and why to use it, and when it came to be. The 🔗 is in my b1o. 🧶 
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Finally organizing & putting the finishing touches Finally organizing & putting the finishing touches on my home studio. After losing my studio space last fall, it’s feels really great to *occupy* this new space all the way. 😉
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I started by removing general clutter & returning straggler supplies from various WIPs, videos & design deadlines to their homes. Next, I hung a third peg board in the space - this one is mostly for display and less for organizing tools or projects. For the first time ever, I’m displaying projects from my book, plus a couple other faves. (The best thing about designing more yarn crafts besides knit & crochet is that I have some really fun -and delightfully pettable 😆- samples around.) I finished by adding a square dowel to my small supply storage tower to keep it from tipping over, plus re-arranging and de-cluttering the closet. 
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This cleaner space already has me feeling so much more creative and less overwhelmed. Now to find a safe spot in the basement for the tower of project samples in Rubbermaid tubs I liberated from my WIPs closet. Also why are there five?! 
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