Chunky Pinstripe Cowl Knitting Pattern

I’ll be getting much deeper into quick and easy knitting patterns with high gift-giving potential really soon, but in the meantime, this cowl would be a great one to knit for yourself when the first cold snap of the season comes on, or to start making a bunch of now for all those gift-giving opportunities that are coming up quicker than we would like to admit.

This pinstripe chunky cowl knitting pattern is an easy project for beginners. The cowl is worked in the round on circular needles and can be completed in an evening while catching up on your favorite show. These cowls, designed by Fox and Pine Stitches, pair nicely with their coordinating hat knitting patterns, so you can make a whole set for yourself or someone else if you like.

The pattern comes in three sizes, to fit toddlers, children and women, and because the body of the cowl is worked in stockinette in one-round stripes, it will work up super fast. (Stripes make the knitting go faster. That’s just science.)

It’s also super fast because it uses super bulky yarn in two colors. Or try holding two strands of worsted weight yarn together for a different look. They’re so quick and easy to make and infinitely giftable, you’re sure to be making a bunch of different versions once you’ve made you first.

The free pattern for the chunky pinstripe cowl is available from Fox and Pine Stitches.

Looking for more projects using super bulky yarn? I’ve got a nice collection of projects that use super bulky yarn leftovers (or small quantities) that you should definitely check out. That roundup has 30 different patterns you can make, including hats, mitts, slippers and more, many of which use less than 100 yards (or about 91 meters) of yarn.

[Photo: Fox and Pine Stitches]

Generally I like knitting patterns where I feel like you can use whatever yarn you have (because my stash is big enough and I want to use it, thanks) and make a successful project. This is one of those times when a special yarn makes the process that much easier.

The Floral Bouquet Shawl from Xandy Peters uses a specific extended color pooling yarn from Feisty Fibers, which allows you to place the bobble flowers with increasing frequency as you knit the project.

It starts with a solid color yarn, then the two color yarn is added in, and you make a bobble whenever you encounter the color pops. This would be hard to replicate with other yarn that doesn’t have the extended color pooling built in.

The background of the shawl is ribbed, making the project reversible.

The shawl uses fingering/sock yarn and comes out to be an asymmetrical triangle that’s 54 inches/137 cm long and 36 inches/ 90 cm deep and 60 inches/150 cm across the top edge.

Xandy says the pattern is for intermediate to advanced knitters. Knowing how to work traditional bobbles would probably help, but there’s a great video tutorial for how to work the floral bobbles so you can practice on other yarn or even incorporate the bobbles into other projects.

The bobbles are five-petaled flowers but they also kind of look like starfish to me, which could be fun on a child’s cardigan or other pattern. They’d also be fun on the leg of a sock or around the brim of a hat for extra whimsy.

The pattern includes photo and video tutorials, and written and charted instructions. It also includes tips on what to look for if you choose to use different yarn for the project, and instructions on how to dye your own yarn to use in the project.

If you want to give it a try, you can find the pattern on Ravelry.

[Photo: Xandy Peters]

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