Cottino: Trailway Hat + Cowl Set
The Trailway Hat + Cowl Set is an exclusive pattern designed with Cottino yarn, my newest collaboration with Lion Brand. Learn more about it here.
A classic, unisex set for any age, this cuffed hat and snug fit cowl are the perfect cozy gift or personal project. Knit with a squishy rib pattern, the stitches are simple and meditative, making the project portable and easy to work on any time of day. Scroll down for the free pattern, purchase a printer-friendly PDF of the Trailway Hat + Cowl Set pattern, or purchase the kit with all the Cottino yarn you’ll need!
Something about me is that I always have a ribbed hat project on my needles. I love having a mindless project to grab at night to work on while I watch a show, especially if I’m in between other projects or my current main WIP is something that requires math and brain cells, which I have increasingly less of in the evenings these days. Hats are so useful and practical and while I personally think you can never have too many, they also make excellent gifts. 99% of the time it is a Mariner’s Cap or a Seafarer’s Cap, but I’ve been itching to mix it up with a new pattern, and thus the Trailway Hat + Cowl Set was born. This variation on a traditional rib makes the most beautifully squishy textured fabric, and I can’t get enough of it.
And what’s better than a hat pattern? A hat pattern that also comes with a cowl pattern! I’ve also been itching to knit a cowl in a finer weight yarn that is a little more snug around the neck for extra warmth - think more of a turtleneck style than an infinity scarf style. The second I started working with this stitch I knew it would be perfect for the job. I’m in love with the way this fabric cascades as the cowl is scrunched!
River has a habit of stealing alllll of my hats, so I opted to knit the samples for this set in his size and write the pattern for a wide variety to fit the whole fam from newborn through adult XL. As soon as my work for the Cottino launch dies down, this set is probably going to be the first thing I get on my needles so I can whip one up in my size!
This is a beginner level knitting pattern and the techniques involved are knitting and purling, k2tog and p2tog decreases, and working in the round.
MATERIALS
1 (1, 1, 2) (2, 2) skein(s) Lion Brand Cottino in Ranger (614-173AN)
(DK, weight 3; 296yds/270m per 3.5oz/100g skein)
Size US 6 (4mm) circular knitting needles, 16”/40cm long
Size US 6 (4mm) double pointed needles or long circulars for magic loop (newborn and baby sizes only)
Stitch marker
Tapestry needle
GAUGE
24 sts + 36 rounds = 4”/10cm in mistake rib
*Gauge was achieved by hand soaking and machine drying the swatch on the lowest tumble dry setting. See finishing instructions for more information.
FINISHED DIMENSIONS
Sizes: Newborn (Baby, Toddler, Child) (Adult, Adult XL)
Cowl:
Circumference: 13.25 (14.75, 16, 17.25) (18.75, 20)”
Length: 4 (5, 6.5, 8.5) (11, 12)”/10 (12.5, 16.5, 22) (28, 30.5)cm
Hat:
Circumference: 10 (12, 13.25, 14.75) (16.75, 18)”/25.5 (30.5, 34, 37.5) (42.5, 45.5)cm (stretches to fit)
Length (un-cuffed): 9 (9.75, 10.5, 11.5) (12.5, 13.5)”/23 (24.5, 26.5, 29) (32, 34.5)cm
ABBREVIATIONS
*All Two of Wands patterns are written in standard US terms.
CO – cast on
K – knit
K2tog – knit 2 together
P – purl
P2tog – purl 2 together
Rep – repeat
RS – right side
St(s) – stitch(es)
Notes: Cowl and hat are worked in the round from the bottom up. Smaller sizes may require double pointed needles. Pattern is written for 6 sizes: Newborn (Baby, Toddler, Child) (Adult, Adult XL).
COWL
CO 80 (88, 96, 104) (112, 120)”. Being careful not to twist sts, join for working in the rnd and place marker for beginning of rnd.
Rnd 1: *K 2, P 2, rep from * around.
Rnd 2: P 1, *K 2, P 2, rep from * to last 3 sts, K 2, P 1.
Rep rnds 1 and 2 until work measures 4 (5, 6.5, 8.5) (11, 12)”/10 (12.5, 16.5, 22) (28, 30.5)cm
Bind off in pattern.
Secure and weave in all ends.
HAT
CO 60 (72, 80, 88) (100, 108). Being careful not to twist sts, join for working in the rnd and place marker for beginning of rnd.
Rnd 1: *K 2, P 2, rep from * around.
Rnd 2: P 1, *K 2, P 2, rep from * to last 3 sts, K 2, P 1.
Rep rnds 1 and 2 until work measures 8.5 (9.25, 10, 11) (12, 13)”/21.5 (23.5, 25.5, 28) (30.5, 33)cm ending with a rnd 2.
Shape the crown:
Next rnd: *K 2, P2tog, rep from * around. (45 (54, 60, 66) (75, 81) sts)
Next rnd: *P 1, K 2, rep from * around.
Next rnd: *K 2, P 1, rep from * around.
Next rnd: *P 1, K 2, rep from * around.
Next rnd: *K2tog, P 1, rep from * around. (30 (36, 40, 44) (50, 54) sts)
Cut yarn, leaving a long tail for weaving. Thread the tail onto a tapestry needle and draw it through all remaining sts while removing the needles. Pull like a drawstring to close the hole, and secure with a knot on the interior of the hat.
Secure and weave in all ends.
FINISHING
Block/wash and dry the work in the same manner used to block and dry the swatch to ensure the finished dimensions match the gauge. I generally prefer to machine dry superwash merino as the fiber was developed for this type of care and it will stretch immensely when wet and be more cumbersome to lay flat to dry. Machine drying allows the fibers to bounce back and will give the fabric better stitch definition and squish. At the very least, I recommend machine drying for 10 or so minutes on the lowest tumble dry setting before laying flat to fully dry if machine drying for the full cycle is intimidating.
Purchase the printable, ad-free pattern here.
Purchase the kit from Lion Brand here.
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