A lush cowl featuring large cables between waffle-textured panels.

The view from the look-out tower at the top of Powder Hill in the Kettle Moraine State Forrest is worth the climb, especially in the Fall when the vista is awash with abundant color. Once the weather turns cold and I’m forced to take my running indoors, I miss my treks up to the top.

This cowl is my homage to the solitude and peace I feel out on the trails. The cables mimic the alternating flights of stairs leading to the top of the tower, and the waffled-texture represents the ever-changing forrest floor.

The short version is a traditional sized cowl, perfect for tucking into a jacket. The longer loop can be slid down over the shoulders, or the top edge folded in for double warmth around your neck.

Both sizes taper from bottom to top by using decreasing needle sizes combined with decreases for a cozy shape.

Sizes:
Small- Circumference at bottom: 32” / 81 cm; Height: 9.5” / 24 cm
Large- Circumference at bottom: 40” / 102 cm; Height: 11” / 28 cm

Materials:
260-280 (375) yards 238-256 (343) m of Malabrigo Mecha (100% Merino; 130 yards 119 m per 100 grams
3.53 ounces) or other bulky weight yarn, shown in Natural and Piedras
-24 (32)-inch 60 (80)-cm circular needles in three sizes:
US # 10.5 6.5 mm or size needed to obtain gauge
US #9 5.5 mm or 2 sizes smaller than gauge needles
US #8 5 mm or 3 sizes smaller than gauge needles
-4 (5) stitch markers, including one distinguishable to denote EOR.
-Cable needle

A note about yardage: for the small size, if you are a loose knitter, you may wish to purchase a 3rd skein of Mecha (or closer to 280 yards of other bulky yarn), as some testers were very close on their yardage with 2 skeins. The original sample was completed with 2 skeins and some yarn left, but designer is a tight knitter.