I know you guys have patiently sat through an awful lot of posts about Resin Jewelry – so it’s time for a triumphant return to knitting. And where better to start than with a free pattern?

The Bev Cowl uses 200g of worsted weight yarn to created the comfiest, squishiest easiest-to-wear cowl ever.

I had a few design goals for this cowl. I wanted it to be versatile – warm in the winter and loose for the transitional seasons. I wanted to fit flatteringly around the neck, and not feel like I was wearing a lot of fabric that draped in the front, but didn’t actually cover my chest. Finally, I wanted it to sit well under a jacket, without a ton of fabric bulking up the back of the neck.

The Bev has a clever little split in the back, that helps me achieve all of these things. It’s knit in the round for most for the cowl, and then back and forth for the last third or so. The sewn bind-off means that the bottom of the cowl is loose – to cover your chest and shape itself to your body so it’s not like wearing a tube. Best of all, on 5mm needles this baby can be worked up quickly – because winter is coming!

Here are the instructions – it’s super simple, and mindless. If you really want something special, switch the yarn from Green label to Orange Label Cashmere/Silk – you’ll never take it off!

The Bev Cowl

Gauge: 18 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette

You will need:

• 2 skeins Tanis Fiber Arts Green or Orange Label. Sample shown in ‘Sunset’
• 5mm, 24″ circular knitting needles, or size needed to obtain gauge
• Tapestry needle for sewn bind-off and weaving in ends
• 3 Stitch Markers

C/o 120 stitches, place marker and join for working in the round, being careful not to twist your stitches.

Ribbed Section: 
Row 1 – 20: *k2, p1* repeat from * to end

Begin patterned stitch:
Row 1: *k2, p4* repeat to end
Row 2: k to end
Row 3: *k2, p4* repeat to end
Row 4 – 6: k to end
Row 7: *p4, k2* repeat to end
Row 8: k to end
Row 9: *p4, k2* repeat to end
Row 10-12: k to end

Repeat rows 1 -12 four times

Prepare for split section:
Row 1: p6, pm *k2, p4* repeat to last 6 stitches, pm, p6
Row 2: k6, sm, k to marker, sm, k6
Row 3: p6, sm *k2, p4* repeat to marker, sm, p6
Row 4: k6, sm, k to marker, sm, k6
Row 5: p6, sm, k to marker, sm, p6
Row 6: k6, sm, k to marker, sm, k6
Row 7: p6, sm *p4, k2* repeat to marker, sm, p6
Row 8: k6, sm, k to marker, sm, k6
Row 9: p6, sm *p4, k2* repeat to marker, sm, p6
Row 10: k6, sm, k to marker, sm, k6
Row 11: p6, sm, k to marker, sm, p6
Row 12: k6, sm, k to marker, sm, k6

Split section (you will now switch from working in the round to working back and forth, keeping the 6 stitches of garter stitch on both sides of the split. At the end of every row, turn your work.)

Row 1: p6, sm *k2, p4* repeat to last 6 stitches, sm, p6
Row 2: p6, sm, p to marker, sm, p6
Row 3: p6, sm *k2, p4* repeat to marker, sm, p6
Row 4: p6, sm, p to marker, sm, p6
Row 5: p6, sm, k to marker, sm, p6
Row 6: p6, sm, p to marker, sm, p6
Row 7: p6, sm *p4, k2* repeat to marker, sm, p6
Row 8: p6, sm, p to marker, sm, p6
Row 9: p6, sm *p4, k2* repeat to marker, sm, p6
Row 10: p6, sm, p to marker, sm, p6
Row 11: p6, sm, k to marker, sm, p6
Row 12: p6, sm, p to marker, sm, p6

Repeat rows 1-12 twice and then rows 1-9 once more

Re-establish ribbed section:
Row 1 (WS): p6, sm, *p2, k1* repeat from * to marker, sm, p6
Row 2: p6, sm, *p1, k2* repeat from * to marker, sm, p6

Repeat rows 1 & 2 eighteen more times (20 rows of ribbing)

Bind off using Elizabeth Zimmerman’s sewn bind-off. I recommend sticking with this bind-off to make sure the cowl fit correctly at the bottom.

Wet-block, weave in your ends and rock it on super chilly days!

Ravelry project page here.