There’s nothing better than cozying up with a warm, hand-knit cowl when the weather turns chilly. And the beauty of knitting one yourself is that you can make it as thick, thin, simple, or complex as you’d like! In this article, I’ll share 25 of my favorite knit cowl patterns for you to check out. Enjoy!
Best Knit Cowl Patterns
A knit cowl is the perfect accessory to add warmth and style to your fall and winter outfits. And as a knitter, I’m always on the lookout for fun, modern cowl patterns to make and wear.
In this list, you’ll discover 25 delightful cowl patterns, from easy knits for beginners to more advanced projects. Whether giving cowls as gifts or making them for yourself, you’ll find fresh inspiration ahead.
But what exactly is a cowl, anyway?
A knitted cowl is a tube-like accessory worn around the neck, similar to a scarf. But unlike scarves, cowls are knit in a continuous circle. To put one on, you simply slip it over your head.
Great for cold weather. Cowls stay snugly around your neck and won’t blow around in the wind. They’re less bulky than scarves, so they fit nicely under jackets, too. Cowls are excellent for doing outdoor work or enjoying winter sports like sledding, skiing, and ice skating.
Easy gift idea. Cowls make wonderful knit gifts, too! You can give almost anyone a cowl without worrying too much about the size. Since cowls are worn around the neck, you have more flexibility with fit than you would with a sweater or other fitted garment.
Customizable. But the best part of knitted cowls? You can customize them however you like – go bold with chunky cables, play with colorwork, or keep it simple with basic stripes.
Best Knit Cowl Patterns for Beginners
If you’re new to knitting, I recommend starting with these patterns: Simple Yet Effective (#3), GAP-tastic Cowl (#7), and Hillview Road Cowl (#9).
All three patterns are excellent “first cowl” projects to build your skills. Before you know it, you’ll be ready to try more advanced patterns!
25 Free Knitted Cowl Patterns
Check out these free and beginner-friendly knit cowl patterns for your next project. Happy knitting!
Bandana Cowl
If you love to rock the bandana look, this cowl is definitely the winter style for you. There are a few different versions of this pattern, including colorblock, breton stripe, traditional stripe, and monogram.
Designer: Purl Soho
Yarn weight: Aran
Suggested yarn: Purl Soho Plenty
Honey Cowl
This long and drapey cowl is a beautiful way to add some color to your outfit while keeping the heat in (and cold out!) at the same time. Its waffle-like fabric is soft and warm, and it’s available in four different sizes to get your perfect fit.
Designer: Antonia Shankland
Yarn weight: DK
Suggested yarn: madelinetosh Tosh DK
Simple Yet Effective
Like its name suggests, this pattern is simple to make but gets the job done when it comes to keeping your neck warm! This easy pattern knits up quickly and would make a wonderful gift. It’s worked seamlessly in the round and would also be a great choice for beginners.
Designer: tincanknits
Yarn weight: DK
Suggested yarn: Sweet Fiber Yarns Cashmere DK
Saturday Shrug
Made with a strand of lace and a strand of worsted held together, this shrug creates a delicate yet warm fabric that you can sink your shoulders into! It pulls down below the neckline for extra warmth, and is such a cute addition to your favorite sweater!
Designer: Jackie Rose
Yarn weight: Lace + Worsted
Suggested yarn: The Lamb & Kid Mho Mho + The Lamb & Kid Tod Worsted
Sockhead Cowl
This simple pattern is made with sock yarn and is super easy to knit. It’s made with the stockinette stitch and is a great pattern for working away on while watching TV or chatting with a friend. It can be worn on your neck, pulled up over your face, or all the way up on your head to stay toasty warm!
Designer: Kelly McClure
Yarn weight: Fingering
Suggested yarn: madelinetosh Tosh Sock
Flying Solo
This modern cowl is knit with two strands of fingering held together. It drapes lightly over your shoulders and would be a beautiful addition to your favorite winter outfits. This pattern is a good option for advanced beginners.
Designer: Espace Tricot
Yarn weight: Fingering + fingering
Suggested yarn: ArtFil Solo
GAP-tastic Cowl
Here’s a chunky cowl that can be worn looped around your neck or hanging over your favorite coat. It knits up quickly and is a great beginner project. It’s super warm and would also make an excellent winter gift!
Designer: Jen Geigley
Yarn weight: Bulky
Suggested yarn: Lion Brand Wool-Ease Chunky
Free For All Cowl
This gorgeous pattern can be made with either worsted yarn or with fingering-weight yarn held double. Featuring textured stripes, it’s an easy way to add a thoughtful and beautiful touch to your outfit. It measures approximately 9” wide by 24” in circumference and is best for intermediates.
Designer: Jen Peck
Yarn weight: Worsted
Suggested yarn: Plymouth Yarn Encore Tweed
Hillview Road Cowl
This textured pattern is knit seamlessly from the top down. It measures 10” x 11” and is great for beginners. Pull it on and head out the door for your favorite winter activities!
Designer: Holli Adams Samet
Yarn weight: Worsted
Suggested yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Worsted
Oats
This easy pattern is knit in the round and is available in three sizes: child, adult short, and adult long. It features easy-to-follow instructions and is made with simple knits and purls.
Designer: Tin Can Knits
Yarn weight: Worsted
Suggested yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Worsted
Chanterelle Cowl
This lacy pattern adds delicate beauty that’s also so comfortable. It’s made with fingering-weight yarn, which means it’s lightweight and perfect for those spring and early fall days. This pattern is best for intermediates.
Designer: Binge Tricot
Yarn weight: Fingering
Suggested yarn: Madelinetosh Tosh Sock
Wolkig
Made with decreases and increases, this pattern has extra volume that covers every part of your neck and keeps gusts of wind out. It’s knit with a one-round repeat, so it’s great for carrying along with you and pulling out whenever you have a few minutes to knit!
Designer: Martina Behm
Yarn weight: Fingering
Suggested yarn: Manos del Uruguay Fino
Time After Time Cowl
This cute design is made with a reversible slip-stitch rib pattern. The pattern includes two different styles: a long, infinity-style cowl, and a shorter, neck warmer cowl. Made with super bulky yarn, this one knits up quickly and is cozy and squishy, too!
Designer: Elizabeth Smith
Yarn weight: Super bulky
Suggested yarn: Hedgehog Fibres Super Bulky
Big Herringbone Cowl
Keep the icy winds out with this large, cozy, wrap-around cowl. It’s made with the traditional herringbone stitch which creates a drapey, beautiful, and cultured look. The finished size is approximately 58” in circumference by 14” high.
Designer: Purl Soho
Yarn weight: Worsted
Suggested yarn: Purl Soho Blue Sky’s Worsted
Apiarist Cowl
This textured, honeycomb fabric pattern is capped on both ends by a cozy ribbed cuff. It’s knit with DK and lace mohair strands held together to create a comfortable cowl that’s not too thick. This pattern is best for intermediates.
Designer: A Fiber Collective
Yarn weight: DK + Lace
Suggested yarn: Sweet Fiber Yarns Cashmere DK + Knit Picks Aloft Super Kid Mohair
Fields of Wheat pattern by Varant Ekmekjian
This textured fabric is reminiscent of wheat stalks standing tall, all in a row. It measures 7.5” tall by 22” around, and is a good choice for intermediate knitters.
Designer: Varant Ekmekjian
Yarn weight: Worsted
Suggested yarn: Cascade Yarns Cascade 220
Leaf Trellis Cowl
This cable knit pattern is fun to make and easy to memorize, making it a great knitting project for relaxing with your yarn and needles at the end of the day. It includes written instructions as well as a chart for the cable pattern. This pattern is ideal for intermediates.
Designer: A Fiber Collective
Yarn weight: DK
Suggested yarn: Brava Recycle
Little Creek Buff
This quick cowl is thin enough to wear under your sweatshirt or jacket without adding too much bulk. It’s made with a drop-stitch motif that creates an interesting, reversible fabric. The pattern is written for one size, but includes instructions for adapting it to be smaller or larger.
Designer: Jacqui Verbeek
Yarn weight: DK
Suggested yarn: Great Southern Yarn Merino Alpaca DK
Duotone Cowl
Combine your two favorite colors in this cozy, stockinette tube. It’s made with two-tone stripes, with the width of the stripes reversing halfway around the cowl. This easy pattern would make a beautiful gift!
Designer: Orange Flower Yarn
Yarn weight: DK
Suggested yarn: Brava Recycle
I'll Pack A Cowl for Rhinebeck
This unique project features beautiful colorwork displaying cozy animals (sheep and alpaca) all around. It features a large, simple chart that would be great for practicing colorwork. Choose your favorite winter colors for this snowy pattern.
Designer: Deb Jacullo
Yarn weight: Worsted
Suggested yarn: Berroco Vintage
Easy Peasy Cowl
This colorful pattern is a fun option for intermediate knitters who are practicing colorwork. Combine your favorite shades or use up some of your scrap yarns with this beautiful and intricate-looking cowl. It’s available in small or medium.
Designer: Karolina Adamczyk
Yarn weight: Aran
Suggested yarn: Garnstudio DROPS Nepal
Bertie Cowl
This slouchy cowl features an i-cord edge and is a cute way to spruce up your winter sweaters. It’s made using brioche knitting, which creates a squishy, textured fabric. The finished cowl measures 32” in circumference by 14” tall.
Designer: Tracey Cox
Yarn weight: DK
Suggested yarn: madelinetosh Farm Twist
Lexington Cowl
This wraparound cowl is made with sport-weight yarn that makes for a lighter option - great for spring or fall wearing. It’s made with the linen stitch and is ideal for advanced beginners. Wrap this tri-color shawl around your neck to stay warm on the way to the office or out to a nice dinner!
Designer: Michael Vloedman
Yarn weight: Sport
Suggested yarn: Blue Sky Fibers Metalico
Leaving Cowl
This lacy cowl features a beautiful leaf pattern all the way around that’s especially fitting for fall. This would be a great way to add color and life to a simple outfit. This textured pattern is best for intermediate knitters.
Designer: Maria Magnusson (Olsson)
Yarn weight: Sport
Suggested yarn: Garnstudio DROPS Alpaca
Spiral Cowl
Drape this light and lacy cowl over your shoulders for a fancy evening out, or dress it down with your favorite sweater and coat. The easy stitch pattern creates beautiful, diagonal lines throughout the scarf. It’s easy to adjust this pattern to make it smaller or larger.
Designer: Kim Hamlin
Yarn weight: Sport
Suggested yarn: Knitting Fever KFI Luxury Collection Luxury Silk Sport
Supplies
To make a knit cowl, you’ll need:
- Yarn. See my tips on choosing the best yarn for cowls right below this supplies list!
- Knitting needles. Circular and double-pointed needles (DPNs) are most popular for cowls. Check your pattern and/or yarn label to see what size you’ll need.
- Scissors
- Stitch markers
- Tapestry needle
- Measuring tape
What yarn is best for making cowls?
For maximum coziness, stick to yarns that are soft and warm. Merino and alpaca are great choices. Or go with acrylic yarn for a budget-friendly, easy-care option. Some of our favorite yarns for making cowls include Lion Brand Wool-Ease, Purl Soho Plenty, and Malabrigo Worsted.
Techniques to Know
The cowl patterns in this list range from beginner to intermediate skills. Make sure to read through your chosen pattern first to ensure you’re comfortable with the techniques required, which may include the following:
- Making a gauge swatch
- Casting on and binding off
- Basic Stitches: Knit (k) and Purl (p)
- Decreases: Knit two together (k2tog) and Slip, slip, knit (ssk)
- Increases: Make one (m1) Knit front and back (kfb)
- Stockinette stitch (knit a row, purl a row)
- Ribbing (for example, k2, p2 rib)
- Cable knitting
- Color changes
- Seaming
- Blocking
Review any unfamiliar skills before starting. And don’t be afraid to try something new – expanding your knitting skills is part of the fun!
Tips and Tricks
Here are some of my top tips for knitting successful cowls:
Check your gauge
Although cowls are usually less precise than, say, a sweater, it’s still important to make a gauge swatch before you get started. This way, you won’t end up with a cowl that’s too large or too small.
Customize your cowl
One benefit of knitted cowls is that they’re easy to customize! You can easily adjust the length and width by adding or subtracting stitches to make a cowl that fits you perfectly.
More Knitting Patterns
When you’re finished with your knitted cowl, check out some of these other free knitting patterns.
- 25 Free & Easy Sweater Knitting Patterns (Great for Beginners!)
- 25+ Free Scarf Knitting Patterns for Beginners
- 27 Free & Easy Knit Hat Patterns
- 25 Free & Easy Cardigan Knitting Patterns (Beginner-Friendly!)
- 25 Free Headband and Ear Warmer Knitting Patterns
- 30 Free Shawl Knitting Patterns
What’s Next?
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