![grey unbuttoned cowl worn with blue cardigan](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0271/6257/4915/files/free-lace-DK-cowl-knitting-pattern-woollen-wave-the-woolly-brew_8_1024x1024.jpg?v=1652096335)
![grey button cowl worn with orange jumper](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0271/6257/4915/files/free-lace-DK-cowl-knitting-pattern-woollen-wave-the-woolly-brew_6_1024x1024.jpg?v=1652103020)
![grey lace cowl worn with a purple cardigan](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0271/6257/4915/files/free-lace-DK-cowl-knitting-pattern-woollen-wave-the-woolly-brew_12_1024x1024.jpg?v=1652103060)
![grey lace cowl worn with a blue lace jumper](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0271/6257/4915/files/free-lace-DK-cowl-knitting-pattern-woollen-wave-the-woolly-brew_10_1024x1024.jpg?v=1652103101)
![grey lace cowl worn with green jumper](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0271/6257/4915/files/free-lace-DK-cowl-knitting-pattern-woollen-wave-the-woolly-brew_2_1024x1024.jpg?v=1652103157)
- K2tog: knit two stitches together. A 1 stitch right leaning decrease.
- SSK: slip the stitch knitwise, slip a second stitch knitwise, insert left needle into the front of the 2 slipped stitches, wrap the yarn around the right needle and pull loop through. A 1 stitch left leaning decrease.
- sl2, k1, p2sso: slip two stitches together as if to knit together, knit one stitch, then pass the two slipped stitches over this stitch. This is a 2 stitch decrease, sometimes called a Central Double Decrease because the decrease is... central.😆
![grey lace cowl with buttons on a dark wood table](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0271/6257/4915/files/free-lace-DK-cowl-knitting-pattern-woollen-wave-the-woolly-brew_4_1024x1024.jpg?v=1652096485)
- At Tin Can Knits (and some free lace patterns too).
- And the Anniken Allis website.
But our Horseshoe Lace Cowl is very straightforward to work and is worth a go if you've never knitted lace.
It's only 57 stitches wide and you are not adding any increases to change the shape - it stays a rectangle all the way up.
Our sample uses Gotland DK (out of stock) but you can use any DK, you need about 155m. You could try:
- 2 balls of Rowan Alpaca Classic which will give you even more halo fluffiness and the cowl will have more drape.
- 2 hanks of Socks Yeah DK. It is 75% Merino wool and has a strong smooth stitch definition that will really show off all the different types of decrease stitches.
- 1 hank of WYS Bluefaced Leicester DK. This will give a luxurious woolly feel.
![lace grey cowl](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0271/6257/4915/files/free-lace-DK-cowl-knitting-pattern-woollen-wave-the-woolly-brew_3_1024x1024.jpg?v=1652092288)
- Finer weight yarns like lace and 4ply would be good with 3.5mm needles
- Aran, which is thicker than DK, works well on 5 or 5.5mm needles
- Chunky, even thicker, would be good on 6 or 6.5mm
Horseshoe Lace Cowl knitting pattern available for download here.
Measures - 32cm tall and 30cm wide laid flat. Simple to modify size.
Yarn - we used 155m of DK Yarn
Needles - 4mm. Straight or circular.
You will also need a wool needle to weave in your ends.
6 buttons, 15-20mm. We used patterned shell buttons.
Techniques - cast on; work back and forth; knit; purl; yarn over; decreasing (K2tog, SSK and sl2, k1, p2sso); cast off. Abbreviations are explained in the pattern.