Make Your Own Kind of Knit Wear

Melinda Measor, knitwear pattern designer and owner of rhysFlower Knits, shared this pattern for her Wisteria Lattice Cowl with Edify when we contacted her to talk about her approach to design in the October 2026 issue.

“This versatile cowl knitting pattern is worked seamlessly in the round from the bottom up,” Measor says, “creating a polished and comfortable accessory with a clean, continuous finish.” She says it’s designed for worsted weight yarn, resulting in a cowl with a ribbed edge, flowing into “a striking motif that adds texture and visual interest, and finishes with ribbing for a refined look.”

The pattern is versatile and her instructions allow for knitters to create “multiple sizes to ensure the perfect fit for every wearer,” she says. Written direction and advice are included with every step. If you try this pattern, be sure to send a picture of your cowl to [email protected]

Pattern by Melinda Measor

Quick overview

• Construction: Bottom-up, in the round
• Skill Level: Intermediate
• Sizes: 4 sizes
• Yarn: Worsted weight
• Techniques used: Working in the round, lacework

Size information

Size 1 [size 2, size 3, size 4]

Circumference

Inches: 18 [22, 24, 60], or centimetres: 45.5 [56, 61, 152.5]

For the non-knitters: use the pattern size (above) that corresponds to the desired circumference you want the finished product to be.

• use size 1 instructions for an 18 inch or 45.5 cm cowl
• use size 2 instructions for a 22 inch or 56 cm cowl
• use size 3 instructions for a 24 inch or 61 cm cowl
• use size 4 for a 60 inch or 152.5 cm ‘infinity’ cowl

Tip: Before starting your project, use a highlighter to mark all the numbers indicating your target size throughout the entire pattern. This prevents your eyes from wandering to the wrong size when you are in the middle of a row.

Length

All sizes: 16.75 in., or 42.5 cm

Gauge

Gauge is crucial in obtaining the correct fit. Changes in gauge will cause a size difference for your finished cowl and affect the yardage requirements for your project.

Pattern motif gauge (body of cowl):

20 stitches by 26 rounds on larger needles = 4 in., or 10 cm, after blocking.

Yarn requirements

Approx. 270 [329, 359, 898] yards, or 247 [301, 328, 821] metres worsted weight yarn

Suggested yarn

Cloudborn Fibres — Superwash Merino Worsted Twist
-100% Merino
-221 yd (202 m) per 3.5 oz (100 g) skein
-Colour: Lavender Heather

Suggested needles

Ribbing: US6 (4 mm) 16 [16, 24, 40] in., or 40 [40, 80, 100] cm circular needles, or two sizes smaller than needles used for gauge

Body: US8 (5 mm) 16 [16, 24, 40] in., or 40 [40, 80, 100] cm circular needles, or the size required to get gauge

Notions

Tapestry needle, scissors, tape measure, stitch markers (at least one)

Abbreviations

• *: repeat the instructions following the single asterisk as directed
• approx.: approximately
• BOR: beginning of round
• cm: centimetre(s)
• dec: decrease
• g: gram(s)
• in.: inch(es)
• inc: increase
• k: knit
• k2tog: insert the right needle into 2 stitches simultaneously and knit the 2 stitches together (1 st dec)
• m: metre(s)
• mm: millimetre(s)
• oz: ounce(s)
• p: purl
• rep: repeat
• ssk: slip 2 stitches, one at a time, knit-wise. Knit the slipped stitches together through the back loops (1 st dec)
• st(s): stitch(es)
• yd: yard(s)
• yo: wrap the working yarn over the right needle, from front to back, counter-clockwise (1 st inc)

Modifications

Want to change the yarn weight? Swatch the pattern motif using a needle size that works for your chosen yarn. Cast on a multiple of 10 stitches to achieve your desired circumference, then work the motif until your cowl reaches your preferred length.

Keep in mind that changing the yarn weight will affect your yardage requirements, and some adjustments may require additional calculations.

Pattern notes

• The cowl is worked in the round from the bottom up, unless otherwise stated.
• Sample cowl is a size 1.
• The pattern motif is worked throughout the body of the cowl.
• If desired, place stitch markers to indicate pattern repeats (every 10 stitches) for the body of the cowl. These markers will remain in place throughout the pattern — just ensure they are different from your BOR marker.
• If you find your bind-off edge flares, this is likely a tension issue. Try going down a needle size to keep it neat and tidy.

Resources by rhysFlower Knits

Here are some useful resources for knitting cowls.
Please see rhysFlower Knits’ pattern support page for help with freebie patterns.

Directions

Ribbing

Using the Old Norwegian Cast-on and your smaller needles, cast on 90 [110, 120, 300] stitches. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist. Place a stitch marker to denote the BOR.

Round 1: *P1, k1, p1, k1,  p1; rep from * across round.

Continue working Round 1 until the piece measures 1 in. or 2.5 cm, measured from the cast-on edge.

Body pattern motif

Switch to your larger needles.

Round 1: *P1, yo, ssk, k1, p2, k1, k2tog, yo, p1; rep from * across round.

Round 2: *P1, k3, p2, k3, p1; rep from * across round.

Round 3: *P1, k1, yo, ssk, p2, k2tog, yo, k1, p1; rep from * across round.

Round 4: Repeat Round 2.

Round 5: *P1, k2, yo, ssk, k2tog, yo, k2, p1; rep from * across round.

Round 6: *P1, k8, p1; rep from * across round.

Round 7: *P1, k2, k2tog, yo twice, ssk, k2, p1; rep from * across round.

Round 8: *P1, k4, p1, k3, p1; rep from * across round.

Round 9: *P1, k1, k2tog, yo, p2, yo, ssk, k1, p1; rep from * across round.

Round 10: Repeat Round 2.

Round 11: *P1, k2tog, yo, k1, p2, k1, yo, ssk, p1; rep from * across round.

Round 12: Repeat Round 2.

Round 13: *K2tog, yo, k2, p2, k2, yo, ssk; rep from * across round.

Round 14: *K4, p2, k4; rep from * across round. Remove BOR marker, yo, place new BOR marker. (1 st inc)

Round 15: *Yo, ssk, k2, p2, k2, k2tog, yo; rep from * to last 11 sts, yo, ssk, k2, p2, k2, k2tog, k1. (1 st dec)

Round 16: *P1, k3, p2, k4; rep from * to last 10 sts, p1, k3, p2, k3, p1.

Continue working Rounds 1-16 five more times, or until the piece measures 1 in. or 2.5 cm less than your desired cowl length, measured from the cast-on edge, ending on either Round 8 or 16 to finish the motif.

Ribbing

Switch to your smaller needles. Work the previous ribbing again, ensuring to work the same number of rounds that you did when getting started.

Binding off

Using a Stretchy Bind-off, bind off all your stitches. Cut the yarn, leaving a 6 in, or 15 cm tail. With your tapestry needle, weave in all your ends.

Finishing

Let your cowl soak in water with a gentle soap or wool wash for 20 minutes. Block the cowl to pattern measurements using either blocking wires or pins. Allow the cowl to air dry completely.