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This garter stitch cowl knitting pattern was originally published at About.com, which has long since disappeared, but it’s a fun little pattern so I wanted to revive it.
This project adds a little twist to garter stitch by working it in the round. Instead of knitting every stitch you knit one round and purl the next. Repeat, and you’ve got garter stitch!
Cowl Knitting Supplies
For this garter stitch cowl knitting pattern I used three colors, but you can use as many or as few as you like. This would be fun as a stash busting knitting pattern if you have a lot of odd balls you want to use.
In this case I used three skeins (one of each color) of Cascade 220, which is a great yarn for a project like this because it comes in so many colors. You can use about 660 yards (in as many colors as you like) of any worsted/medium/yarn weight 4 yarn. If you want to follow along my colors were Gold, Camel and In the Heathers.
You’ll also need a circular knitting needle in size US 8/5mm size, with a cable at least 24 inches/61 cm long. Longer is fine but you’ll need it to be at least that long to be able to knit comfortably.
Gauge
Gauge isn’t critical for this project but I got 17 stitches and 32 rounds per 4 inches/10 cm, or 4.25 stitches and 8 rounds per inch/2.5cm working garter stitch in the round. The size of your finished project will vary if your gauge is quite different.
Size
My finished cowl is 70 inches/1.7 meters around and 8.5 inches/21.5 cm wide. I typically wear it wrapped two or three times around my neck as you see in the photos.
How to Knit a Garter Stitch Cowl
Decide which color order you want to use if you are changing colors. Using color A, cast on 300 stitches (a long tail cast on is a great option for this one if you know it, as it will go faster). Join for working in the round, being careful not to twist the cast on. This is a lot easier to do if you work the first row flat, then join and seam that row together when you weave in your end.
Either way, purl the first row/round.
After working one row/round, change to your second color and work in garter stitch in the round (knit one round, purl one round) until you’ve worked 6 ridges in this color, ending with a purl round. You’ll notice there’s a little bit of a seam where your round ends; that’s the nature of working in the round. Each time you change colors, cut the yarn, leaving a tail to weave in later.
Change to your third color and work as established for a further 6 ridges, ending with a purl round.
Switch back to your first color and work as established for a further 6 ridges, ending with a purl round.
Then work another strip in your third color, then another in your second.
Switch back to the first color, purl 1 round and bind off.
Cut the yarn, leaving a tail for weaving in. Weave in all ends.
