This free knit cowl pattern is a lightweight, practical project to add to your free scarf and cowl knitting patterns collection when you want something pretty, useful, and easy to wear.

If you have leftover fingering weight yarn sitting in your stash and you want a project that feels worth casting on, the Wheat Cowl is such a good answer. This free knit cowl pattern uses a beautiful lace stitch from the Wheat Collection, so it gives you something with texture and detail without turning into a huge project. It is also a great option if you want a handmade gift, a neck warmer, or a simple layering piece that can be worn several different ways.

The Wheat Cowl is one of those projects that makes leftover yarn feel useful again.

It is small enough to feel manageable, but still detailed enough to feel like you made something special.

This cowl can be worn around the neck, pulled up for extra coverage on windy days, or layered with a coat when you need a little more warmth. It is also a lovely way to keep using a stitch pattern you already love from the Wheat Collection.

What Materials Do You Need for This Free Knit Cowl Pattern?

For this free knit cowl pattern, I used KnitPicks Capretta, which is a soft fingering weight yarn with merino and cashmere. I used two leftover skeins from the Baby Wheat Cardigan, so this is a great project if you have extra yarn from another Wheat Collection pattern and want to put it to good use.

You will also need 2.5mm and 3mm 16-inch circular needles. The smaller needle is used for the ribbing, and the larger needle is used for the lace section so the stitch pattern has room to open up nicely.

I love that this cowl uses the same yarn and similar needles as other Wheat Collection designs because it makes it easy to jump from one project into the next. You do not have to overthink the supplies, and if you already knit one of the cardigans, you may already have what you need.

How Do You Knit This Free Knit Cowl Pattern?

This free knit cowl pattern is knit in the round, which means there is no seaming at the end. You cast on, join in the round, work the ribbing, move into the lace pattern, and then finish with another section of ribbing.

I used a tubular cast on and sewn bind off because I liked the way the edges matched, but you can use another stretchy cast on and bind off if you prefer. The most important thing is making sure the edges have enough stretch to fit comfortably over the head.

The lace section uses yarn overs, k2tog decreases, and ssk decreases to create the Wheat lace pattern. If you have already worked another Wheat Collection pattern, this stitch pattern will feel familiar, but even if this is your first one, it is still a very approachable lace project.

Because this cowl is worked in a repeated lace pattern, it is helpful to use a stitch marker to mark the beginning of the round. You may also want to check your stitch count every so often, especially if you are newer to lace knitting.

What Other Free Scarf and Cowl Knitting Patterns Should You Try Next?

Here are a few more patterns to check out after you make the Wheat Cowl:

• Peace Cowl
• Nicolas Cowl
• Leah’s First Scarf

The Peace Cowl and Nicolas Cowl are great options if you love neckwear patterns and want more projects that are easy to wear and fun to make. Leah’s First Scarf is another sweet project if you want a scarf-style pattern with a simple, beginner-friendly feel.

This free knit cowl pattern is a great reminder that a small project can still be beautiful and useful. Whether you are using leftover yarn, making a gift, or adding another handmade piece to your own wardrobe, the Wheat Cowl is a lovely project to keep in your knitting plans.

Materials and Info

Materials

2 skeins of Knitpicks capretta (230yds, 50g) or your favorite fingering (size 1) yarn.

Needle Size

1(US) 2.5mm 16in circular

2(US) 3mm 16in circular

Gauge (tension)

32 stitches x 41 rounds in 10x10cm in stockinette

Finished Measurement Laid Flat

28x42cms

METHOD

This cowl is knit in the round. I used a tubular cast on and sewn bind off so the edges matched but you can use any cast on and bind off you prefer. It just needs to be stretchy so it goes over the head easily.

Wheat Cowl Pattern

Cowl Instructions

Cast on 168sts using smaller circular needles.

Join in the round.

Place a marker to mark beginning of round.

I used a tubular cast on for the aesthetic, but you can use any cast on.

Work in k1p1 ribbing for 4cms.

Switching to larger sized circular needles, knit 1 round.

Work in lace chart until your work measures approximately 38cms from cast on edge, ending after completing a round 8 or 16 of the lace chart below.

Switch to smaller sized circular needles.

Work in k1p1 ribbing for 4cms. Your work should measure approximately 42cms from cast on edge but if it is a little bigger or smaller if you may needed to add or not work a few rounds to get to round 8 or 16 of the lace, that is okay. It does not need to be exact.

Bind off.

I used a sewn bind off to match my tubular cast on, but you can use any bind off.

Abbreviations

K – knit                                                  

P – purl

YO – yarn over

K2TOG -knit 2 stitches

SSK – slip, slip, knit the slipped sts together

I would love to know if you knit the Wheat Cowl or if you have made any of the other Wheat Collection patterns. Leave a comment and tell me what yarn you are using!

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