English Rib Cowl Knitting Pattern

English rib is a stitch pattern that’s similar to brioche knitting in that it’s worked with yarn overs and knit two togethers to make a super squishy ribbed pattern.

For this cowl project from Mirella Moments, you’ll use DK weight yarn and work the project flat to make a close-fitting cowl that’s great for cold weather.

Of course a project like this is super easy to modify, too, if you want to. Since it is worked flat, if you want to make it wider, you can cast on more stitches (you need to have an odd number to make the pattern work out, but any number is fine). You could also try knitting with worsted weight yarn instead of DK (and increase the size of the needles used accordingly) to make the project bigger.

And if you want a deeper cowl, just knit more rows before you bind off.

You can work it in a solid color as shown, or try adding stripes. Because the pattern is ribbed it won’t be a super smooth color change, but you can try it on a swatch and see if you like the look before you commit to it.

This would be a great project for gift knitting (which is kind of our theme this month) because the single-row repeat is easy to learn and memorize, the knitting goes pretty quickly, and you only need about 200 yards of yarn. And most people could use a cowl to help them keep cozy in cold weather.

You can grab the free knitting pattern from Mirella Moments. They use the same stitch pattern on the Folgate headband, if you want to make a coordinating set (it uses worsted weight yarn).

And if you’re ready to learn brioche, the Northwind Headband is a great first brioche project!

[Photo: Mirella Moments]

Not too long ago I did a test knit for another designer that was for a cabled cardigan. It’s really cozy and nice but it just about broke me in a ton of different ways. I couldn’t get gauge, which I suppose is my own problem, but mainly I was somehow both bored and forced to pay attention at the same time.

Because it used the same cable all over, I always had to know what row I was on, but nine out of ten of those rows, nothing in particular was going on. So I couldn’t stop paying attention, but what I needed to attend to was boring.

It may have ruined me for knitting cabled sweaters, but maybe I just need something that’s more engaging. Like this Modern Aran Cardigan pattern from Lion Brand Yarn.

This is a reworking of an old pattern from their archives, and you can tell that form the classic look of the cables and the oversized feel (nothing cropped about this one!). It has allover cables, but like a classic Aran sweater it’s not the same cable, so you’ll have to pay attention to what row you’re on and what cable turns happen for which cables on that row.

Because of this, it’s considered an intermediate knitting pattern, but if you’re comfortable working from multiple charts at once it shouldn’t be a problem for you. There are three different charts and seven different cable moves.

Also because the pattern is so big and boxy there are only two sizes available, with a finished chest measurement of either 49 or 63 inches (that’s 124.5 or 160 cm). It’s up to you to decide how much ease you would like and whether that will work for your body.

The pattern uses worsted weight yarn (and calls for another classic, Lion Brand Fisherman’s Wool). It calls for six buttons and includes pockets to make it extra cozy.

This one looks like a great winter project to make and to wear if you’re up for a bit of a challenge. You can grab the free pattern or buy a kit with the yarn needed direct from Lion Brand Yarn.

[Photo: Lion Brand Yarn]

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