Super Chunky Cowl Tutorial

garter sm

Super chunky cowls and scarves are not only warm and luxurious, but very high fashion. And really fun to knit!

The yarn and needles I use in this video are from ColorwaysGallery on Etsy. Use the coupon code VERYPINK in the store, and you will get a 10% discount.

The cowl kit, including needles, with your choice of color, can be found here. Use the coupon code VERYPINK for a 10% discount.

One pound (38 yards/35m) of ColorwaysGallery yarn is enough for:
1 Stockinette Cowl and 1 Short V-Shaped Cowl (instructions below)
or
1 long Garter Stitch Cowl (instructions below)
or
1 Triangular Shawl (instructions below)

Stockinette Gray Cowl (pictured in video thumbnail) –
CO 3 stitches using the long-tail or knitted cast-on
Row 1: K 3
Row 2: P 3
Repeat these two rows until scarf is 76″ (193cm) long, bind-off, seam into a cowl if desired.
Note – you can see in the video and the photo that the stockinette curls around itself. This is normal, and the curling gives it sort of a tubular shape, which looks really cool.

Short V-Shaped Gray Cowl –
CO 3 stitches using the long-tail or knitted cast-on
Knit every row until scarf is 28″ (71cm) long
Seam into a V-shape, as demonstrated in the video.
ColorwaysGallery has a special kit for this cowl, which can be found here.

short cowl sm

Cream Garter Stitch Cowl (pictured at the top of this post) –
CO 3 stitches using the long-tail or knitted cast-on
Knit every row until scarf is 70″ (178cm) long (just use all of your yarn!)
Seam into a cowl, if desired.
Note – before taking the photo for this post, I shortened my cowl to a 56″ (142cm) scarf, then seamed it into a cowl again, for a tighter fit when it’s double-wrapped around my neck.

triangle sm

Triangular Shawl –
CO 2 stitches using the long-tail or knitted cast-on
Row 1: K1, YO, K to end of row
Repeat Row 1 until you have 22 stitches on the needle (almost all of your yarn), BO
You can wear this shawl by poking one of the ends through the yarn-over hole at the other side, as I’ve done in the photo.

In the video, I say that this isn’t a good project for brand-new beginning knitters. ColorwaysGallery assures me that they’ve seen lots of beginners use their big needles and yarn with great success. If you are a brand-new beginning knitter and you’d like to see my basic knitting videos, visit this playlist.

Information on things you’ll see in this video:
The sweater I’m wearing is store-bought, sorry. 🙂

My reading glasses are from Eye Bobs, style “Dot Com”.

The nail polish I’m wearing is by Julep, color “Lupita”.

15 comments on “Super Chunky Cowl Tutorial

  1. I had to laugh! I just started knitting and am joining my first knitting group tonight. Definitely bringing my laptop so we can watch this! Really wish I had those ENORMOUS needles to walk in with 🙂 (new girl joke !!)

  2. Oh My Goodness… Just ordered my kit and am so excited to try this “VERY LARGE PROJECT” You make it look like so much fun. Thanks for the video!!!

  3. Thanks for the tutorial 😀 I always did wonder how to work that rope of a yarn into a wearable. The color variations of the grey cowl is quite stunning!

    I have a question though–while it is very thick, there are large gaps through out, so… would that make it seem a bit ‘breezy’, yet bulky and cumbersome all at the same time? We have blizzard conditions right now here in Ohio and can’t imagine venturing out to the chicken coop wearing it. Maybe a quick trip to the grocery store, but so heavy to trudge though the aisles. I saw a similar pattern on ravelry for a hat using such bulky yarn and it looked quite silly–almost like a Dr Seuss character. LOL.

  4. Monica – I can attest to the fact that these cowls are really warm, but I have not worn one in blizzard conditions, so I don’t know how warm they would keep you in high winds.

    S t a c i

  5. No in this pattern, in almost all of my work. For example when I’m knitting scarf in knit stich with ordinary needles. I must knit and purl, so when I knit few rows, it looks wierd because some rows look like bumps. I don’t know why. I thought it was because of my style of knitting. I’m from Croatia, so I was knitting in european method (yarn was in my left hand).
    I’m sorry if I wrote something wrong, as i said I’m from Croatia and I’m still learning english.

    Dominik

  6. Dominik – knitting every row of a scarf creates garter stitch, which makes bumps (called ridges). Alternating knitting and purling makes stockinette stitch, which is what I think you’re trying to make.

    S t a c i

  7. I know, I’ve watched almost all of your videos. I don’t know how to explain what is happening to me, but when I knit, loops are so tight , and when I purl , it’s loose. Now I’ve started knitting like you and it is quite better, but it’s still bothering me.

    Dominik

  8. aim very new to knitting and love your tutorials! I can’t seem to find the answer to my question how to keep your ball of yard in a ball and not get tangled up ?

  9. Hi Stacey! I love it! Do you know how long the coupon code will work for? I’m thinking of getting a kit for my sister and don’t want to miss out on the deal!

    Thank you!

  10. Danelle – there is no end date on the coupon code, as far as I know. You can contact the etsy store directly, if you want to be sure.

    S t a c i

  11. The link to the kit doesn’t work, so I’m trying to work out what I need to buy from their page on Etsy. It looks like they’ve got 17″ (looks longer in the pic) and 24″ versions of this needle thickness:
    – US Size 120( 1.25 in. dia.) 32 mm…or
    .size 50 ( 1 in. dia..25mm

    Was trying to work out the length you were using, but I assume 17″ is plenty as it’s only 3 stitches across, right? Just get the 24″ if planning to make a rug later?

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