Cowls are one of the easiest and quickest knitting projects to complete, making them perfect for all skill levels. In this article, we’ve gathered 51 of the best cowl knitting patterns available that you should consider as well as answering the most commonly asked questions.
Here are the best cowl knitting patterns available:
1. Frons Cowl
This Frons Cowl PDF KNITTING PATTERN is a great project for those wanting to venture into lacework as it consists of panels of a leafy lace design. The PDF file includes detailed instructions and the pattern itself is a repeat of four rows making it quick and easy to knit up.
2. Dewberry Cowl
This Dewberry Cowl PDF KNITTING PATTERN is made using an Aran or worsted weight yarn meaning that it can be knitted up quickly. The PDF file includes detailed instructions for two sizes and makes it great for those who want to use circular needles for the first time.
3. Starshower Cowl
This Starshower Cowl PDF KNITTING PATTERN is made using a beautiful Open Star stitch utilizing fingering weight yarn to create a delicate cowl and is great for those who want to work with finer yarn. It can be classed as a long cowl or a short snood making it great for those who want a bigger project.
4. Aeque Cowl
This Aeque Cowl PDF KNITTING PATTERN is perfect for knitters who want to work with multiple colors as it incorporates five colors that are used equally throughout to make a striped pattern.
This cowl has an asymmetrical triangular shape which is great for advanced beginners who want to challenge themselves with complex shaping.
5. Chunky Hooded Cowl
This Chunky Hooded Cowl PDF Knitting Pattern is perfect for those who want to work with chunky yarn. It is knitted in the round and perfect for advanced beginners who want to work with circular needles for the first time while the hood allows you to work with shaping.
6. Appia Cowl
This Appia Cowl PDF KNITTING PATTERN is ideal for those who want to work on a larger lacework project. This cowl combines beautiful lace stitches which are perfect for intermediate knitters who want to challenge themselves with shaping and texture.
7. Lace Eyelet Cowl
This Lace Eyelet Cowl PDF knitting pattern has a triangular shape that means it will stay in place and is made in separate sections that are then sewn together.
Incorporating a simple garter stitch with eyelet and lace stitches makes it great for those who want to work on a project consisting of numerous stitches.
8. Outbreak
This Outbreak PDF Knitting Pattern is perfect for those who want to make a quirky cowl as it features a modern design that will easily stand out.
Ideal for experienced knitters, this cowl can be worked either symmetrically or asymmetrically and comes with detailed instructions that incorporate metric terminology as well as a full chart that provides a visual aid.
9. Rowan Cowl
This Rowan Cowl PDF knitting pattern is made using Aran or worsted weight yarn and consists of a thick leaf design that is perfect for the colder months. The PDF file comes with detailed written instructions as well as a full chart so you can track your progress easily.
10. Scraptastic Cowl
This Scraptastic Cowl PDF Knitting Pattern is perfect for those who have a lot of spare yarn around their home and want to make use of it.
Made using spare yarn, this cowl has a beautiful fan lace design that makes it great for advanced beginners. The PDF file includes written and charted instructions making it accessible for all knitters.
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11. Hale Cowl
This Hale Cowl Knitting Pattern is perfect for those who want to work with super bulky yarn meaning that this project can be made quickly and is ideal for beginners. The pattern includes detailed written instructions and incorporates US terminology so you can improve your pattern reading skills.
12. Fast Fade Cowl
This Fast Fade Cowl! PDF Downloadable Knitting Pattern is ideal for those who want to work with the “fade” trend which involves using multiple colors to create an ombre effect.
This cowl can be made using scraps and the detailed instructions make it perfect for beginners wanting to venture into colorwork.
13. Claire’s Cowl Outlander
This Claire’s Cowl Outlander Knitting Pattern is inspired by the cowl that the character Claire wears in Outlander and is perfect for keeping you warm during the winter months.
This pattern is perfect for beginners as you only need to know how to cast on, knit, purl, bind off, and how to stitch up the seams at the end. There are instructions for two sizes so you can choose how big to make the project.
14. Cowl Knitting
This Cowl knitting pattern PDF is an easy pattern for those who want to work with texture and only requires the knowledge of knit and purl stitches as well as a simple crochet chain edging.
The detailed written instructions are provided in English and are perfect for a beginner as no cable knitting is required.
15. Textured Infinity Scarf
This Textured Infinity Scarf Knit Pattern comes as an instant PDF download on purchase and is perfect for advanced beginners who want to challenge themselves.
There are detailed written instructions that incorporate US terminology as well as video tutorials to provide a visual aid. The Aran yarn ensures that it is quick and easy to knit up.
16. Party Of Five Cowl
This Party of Five Cowl Knitting Pattern is suitable for intermediate knitters who have a lot of leftover yarn that they want to incorporate into a new project.
Perfect for those who want to venture into colorwork, this cowl uses up to five colors and utilizes eyelet stitches so you can work on your shaping skills.
17. Manifold Cowl
This Manifold Cowl PDF Knitting Pattern is the perfect challenge for experienced knitters who want to work on a project that requires a lot of different skills.
This cowl incorporates lace, stripes, and slip stitches so you will never be bored while knitting it as it also has an i-cord edging. The PDF file includes both detailed written instructions as well as a full chart providing visual aid.
18. Adama Cowl
This Adama Cowl PDF KNITTING PATTERN is worked in worsted weight yarn making it quick to knit. It incorporates a simple diamond lace pattern which makes it great for advanced beginners wanting to get into lacework while the detailed written instructions are easy to follow.
19. Coppelia Cowl
This Coppelia Cowl PDF KNITTING PATTERN is a beautifully minimalist cowl that incorporates two colors making it great for beginners who want to work with more than one color. This pattern consists of a simple Stockinette stitch and is made using Aran or worsted weight yarn so it works up quickly.
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20. Cowboy Cowl
This Cowboy Cowl PDF Knitting Pattern is a beautifully textured cowl that is easy to knit despite looking complicated. Knitted from the top down, this cowl also allows you to incorporate buttons and crocheted button loops so you can customize it according to your style.
21. Beginners Brioche Cowl
This Beginners Brioche Cowl Knitting Pattern has been designed with beginners in mind and the brioche stitch is one of the most beautiful and popular stitches thanks to its wonderful texture and the fast speed it takes to knit up. It can be made with one color or multiple depending on your preference.
22. Coffee Bean Cowl
This Coffee Bean Cowl Knitting Pattern has been designed with beginners in mind as it only requires knowledge of knitting in the round and simple stitches. This PDF file comes with detailed written instructions that incorporate US terminology so you can work on your pattern reading skills.
23. Oxford Hooded Cowl
This Oxford Hooded Cowl Knitting Pattern can be made for anyone thanks to its unisex design and is a great project for beginners who want to work on the basic skills they have learned.
It is knitted on straight needles and only requires basic stitches. The instructions are highly detailed and include lots of photographs to serve as a visual aid so you can track your progress.
24. Escher Threefold Cowl
This Escher Threefold Cowl Knitting Pattern is ideal for experienced knitters who want to work on a modern and quirky design. This cowl is worked in the round and uses both provisional Cast On and Grafting to join the end.
Great for those who love to work with color, this pattern requires a minimum of three colors and incorporates a variety of stitches.
25. Seawater
This Seawater Knitting Pattern incorporates basic lacework into a trendy design and the easy-to-follow pattern makes it wonderful for advanced beginners who want to test their skills.
These detailed instructions are accompanied by a knitting chart that allows you to track your progress visually while the accompanying photographs mean that you can see what the cowl should look like.
26. Team Turtleneck Dickie Bulky Cowl
This Team Turtleneck Dickie Bulky Cowl Knitting Pattern is great for those who want to ensure that their neck is warm and snug during the winter months and is a lot easier to knit than how it initially looks.
It is made using bulky yarn meaning that it can be knitted up within a couple of hours of convenience and comes with instructions for a mock turtleneck as well as a full foldover turtleneck depending on your preference.
27. Iona Cowl
This Iona Cowl Knitting Pattern is ideal for intermediate knitters who have plenty of cable knitting experience under their belt as it incorporates a couple of different cable panels. These instructions only come in the form of a visual chart meaning that those who like written instructions may struggle.
28. Dots Cowl
This Dots Cowl PDF KNITTING PATTERN is both a graphic and whimsical design that is reversible making it great for experienced knitters who have worked with the double knitting technique before.
The instructions are highly detailed and the accompanying chart allows you to have plenty of visual aids to track your progress.
29. Hooded Cowl
This Hooded Cowl Knitting PATTERN is an ideal pattern for intermediate knitters who want to work with shaping and a variety of different stitches. This cowl has a turtleneck collar and large hood and is worked in one piece. The highly detailed instructions are available in English and use US terminology.
30. Adventurer Cowl
This Adventurer Cowl PDF Knitting Pattern has been designed with the advanced beginner in mind and utilizes fingering weight yarn and lacework.
This PDF file includes both detailed written instructions as well as a full chart to provide a visual aid. This cowl is worked flat on the bias and then requires the three-needle bind off to join the edges together.
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31. Rainbow Slip Cowl
This Rainbow Slip Cowl Knitting Pattern is great for those who want to work on circular needles and utilize a variety of different colors.
Due to the complexity of the design, you must be an intermediate knitter with plenty of projects under your belt. The detailed instructions mean that you can follow the pattern with ease.
32. Shawl Collared Cowl
This Shawl Collared Cowl Knitting Pattern is a wonderfully seasonal pattern that is perfect for the fall and winter months. Incorporating buttons and made using chunky yarn, this project is easy to make and knits up fast, making it a great gift idea and allowing beginners to test the skills they have learned.
33. Oversized Cowl
This Oversized Cowl Knitting Pattern is made using super bulky yarn meaning that it can be made within a couple of hours.
Suitable for beginners, this PDF file contains highly detailed written instructions that are printer and mobile-friendly and only require the knitter to be able to knit in the round as well as knit and purl stitches.
34. Dainty Dots Cowl
This Dainty Dots Cowl! PDF Downloadable Knitting Pattern is a great project for all skill levels and is made using fingering weight yarn. Suitable for those who want to learn how to knit in the round, this cowl has an easy repetitive pattern that looks intriguing and is incredibly quick to knit up.
35. Rays Cowl
This Rays Cowl! PDF Downloadable Knitting Pattern is made using a twisted rib making it great for advanced beginners who want to try more challenging stitches.
It also incorporates stockinette stitch making it easy to navigate. The interesting pattern means that it is enjoyable to knit and makes a great gift.
36. Radvent Cowl
This Radvent Cowl PDF Knitting Pattern is an incredibly versatile design as you can choose whether to knit it in one color or multiple depending on your skill level and confidence.
It is worked using DK weight yarn and is finished off with i-cord edging and an i-cord seam technique means that it looks flawless and professional regardless of your ability.
37. Cowgirl Cowl
This Cowgirl Cowl PDF Knitting Pattern is great for intermediate knitters who want to work on a project that incorporates a lot of stitches and techniques. Mainly consisting of slip stitch, this cowl also fastens in the back and has crocheted button loops, and is incredibly quick to make.
38. Nimbus Cowl
This Nimbus Cowl PDF KNITTING PATTERN is ideal for those who want a simple and minimalistic design. This PDF file comes with detailed written instructions and the project is knitted sideways in one piece and the edges are then joined together when the project is complete.
39. Anguli Cowl
This Anguli Cowl PDF KNITTING PATTERN is great for knitters who want to work on their shaping skills as this cowl is made in an asymmetric triangular shape.
The easy garter stitch and simple stripe sequence make it ideal for advanced beginners who want to venture into colorwork thanks to the detailed instructions that are easy to follow.
40. Cowl Knitting – Russian Bind-Off
This Cowl Knitting PATTERN PDF is great for advanced beginners who want to venture into more complex stitches as it requires knowledge of the Russian bind-off which can be difficult to accomplish.
This PDF file comes with detailed written instructions as well as a full chart which you can use as a visual aid to track your progress.
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41. Kentia Cowl
This Kentia Cowl PDF Knitting Pattern is a lot simpler to knit than it looks and makes for a great introduction to mosaic knitting which is ideal for advanced beginners.
The instructions are easy to follow and highly detailed so you can track your progress carefully and you have the choice to use one color throughout or incorporate more colors if you wish.
42. Spruce Grouse Cowl
This Spruce Grouse Cowl Knitting Pattern is a great project for those who want to make a project in one color but want to play around with various textures.
Ideal for all skill levels, this project is knitted in the round with circular needles so you don’t have to worry about any seams. It is quick to knit up meaning that it will make a wonderful gift.
43. Modernist Knitted
This Modernist Knitted Cowl Pattern is perfect for those who want to make a modern statement.
This cowl is for experienced knitters who know how to work with complex shaping and the detailed instructions are written in English and come with Metric measurements and come with an accompanying chart.
44. Cruces Cowl
This Cruces Cowl PDF KNITTING PATTERN is a great introduction to basic Fairisle and colorwork making it ideal for advanced beginners. Made in solid sections of Stockinette stitch, this cowl is knitted in the round meaning that you don’t have to worry about any seams.
45. Caladenia Cowl
This Caladenia Cowl PDF Knitting Pattern has a wonderful lace and bobble design which incorporates multiple colors and is knitted in a triangular shape. This PDF file comes with detailed written instructions as well as charted instructions for the lace panels so you can track your progress easily.
46. Constanzia Cowl
This Constanzia Cowl PDF knitting pattern is ideal for all skill levels as it looks a lot more complicated than it is.
Incorporating three-dimensional textures to create a sculpted look, this cowl is made using Aran or worsted weight yarn meaning that it can be knitted up fast and the PDF file comes with detailed written instructions that are easy to follow as well as a full chart so you can visually track your progress.
47. Tinos Cowl
This Tinos Cowl PDF KNITTING PATTERN is a beautiful asymmetrical triangular cowl that is worked flat from one corner to the other. Ideal for advanced beginners who want to work on the skills they have learned or an experienced knitter who wants a quick project that they can make within a few hours.
The instructions are easy to follow and incorporate appropriate terminology so you can work on your pattern reading skills.
48. Oversized Cowl
This Oversized Cowl Knitting Pattern may look difficult but is incredibly easy to make and is ideal for beginners who want to put their skills to the test and work on a larger project.
This cowl is made using super bulky yarn meaning that it can be made within a few hours and can be a great gift for a family member or friend during the colder months.
49. The Mermaid Tail Cowl
This Mermaid Tail Cowl Knitting Pattern is a beautifully whimsical design that is made with super bulky yarn meaning that it can be knitted within a few hours.
The PDF file contains highly detailed written instructions as well as video tutorials that provide a visual aid. The pattern is written in English and uses US terminology so you can work on your pattern reading skills if you are a beginner.
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50. Round And Round Cowl
This Round and Round Cowl PDF Knitting Pattern has been designed with beginners in mind and looks a lot more complicated than it is. This cowl is knitted in the round using circular needles making it a great introduction to circular knitting and meaning that you won’t have to worry about any seams.
You can choose whether to work this pattern with one color or numerous colors depending on your preference.
51. Skulls Infinity Scarf Cowl
Lastly, this Skulls Infinity Scarf Cowl PDF Knitting Pattern is the perfect project for experienced knitters who have an array of different projects and skills under their belt and want to be challenged further.
This pattern incorporates intricate colorwork and is made with a provisional cast on and knitted in the round with circular needles. The PDF file comes with highly detailed written instructions as well as a full-color chart so you can have a clear visual aid to track your progress.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Stitches Should You Cast On For A Cowl?
When it comes to deciding how many stitches you should cast on for your cowl, make sure that you are following the pattern’s instructions, especially if you are a beginner. This will ensure that your project has better results.
Can You Knit A Cowl With Straight Needles?
Knitting a cowl with straight needles is ideal for beginners who haven’t worked on a lot of projects before as circular needles can be tricky to navigate initially.
When knitting a cowl with straight needles, you will need to seam it together once you are done which is easy to do and doesn’t take too much time.
What Is The Difference Between A Cowl And A Snood?
They may seem similar but cowl and snoods are different. A cowl is a shorter version of an infinity scarf whereas snoods are much longer and may even include a hood.
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