Needle Knit Sisal Cowl

By Kristen Mangus

I’ve been having so much fun working with new stitch patterns. I recently published a couple loom knit patterns using the Sisal Stitch. I never want to leave my needle knitters out in the cold so I converted the stitch and patterns. I’m excited to bring the needle knit Sisal Cowl pattern.

In case you missed it, the loom knit versions of the stitch and patterns can be found here:

Sisal Stitch

Loom Knit Sisal Cowl

Loom Knit Sisal Scarf

The needle knit Sisal Cowl is knit using my Sisal stitch pattern. It is a beautiful, rich-textured stitch that resembles the woven look of sisal. Sisal is a plant that both strong and pliable making it ideal for weaving. The Sisal stitch looks like a dense weave . It also has the added benefit of being unique and beautiful on both the front and back of the fabric.

The Sisal Stitch is easy to work on needles for the everyday knitter or ambitious beginner.  You will need to know how to purl, bind off in purl and thumb cast on for this pattern. If you need help scroll on down and watch the tutorial video. (I’ve also got a video especially for left-handed knitters to see the stitch pattern from their perspective.)

Needle Knit Sisal Cowl Pattern

An ad-free downloadable PDF of this pattern is available for purchase in my GoodKnit Kisses online store, Etsy or Ravelry at the links below:

MATERIALS

Materials list may contain affiliate links to products I use.

Yarn
Premier Everyday Bulky (100g / 3.5oz, 80 m / 87 yards) 2 balls.
Color Aqua used in sample.

Needles
US 10.5 (6.5 mm) needles. Knitters Pride Dreamz Interchangeable Needles used in sample.  If substituting yarn; use needles 2 sizes smaller than recommended on yarn label.

Notion(s)
Tapestry needle

ABBREVIATIONS

K = Knit
Knit BO = Knit Bind off – Knit 2 stitches, lift 1st stitch over 2nd to bind off.
Purl BO = Purl Bind off – Purl 2 stitches, lift 1st stitch over 2nd to bind off.
Rem = Remaining
Rep = Repeat
RS= Right Side
Sl 1 KW = slip 1 knitwise; slip st as if to knit.
Sl 1 PW = slip 1 purlwise; slip st as if to purl.
St(s) = Stitch(es)
WS= Wrong Side
Thumb CO = Thumb Cast On – also known as an ‘e-loop’ or ‘backward-loop’ cast on. A simple cast on which twists a yarnover in the opposite direction. Do not substitute for another cast on as it is needed to set up the next row sisal stitches.

GAUGE

6 sts x 5.25 rows in 2” (5 cm) in sisal stitch pattern

SKILL LEVEL

Easy+

MEASUREMENTS

6.25” x 30.5” (14.5 cm x 77.5 cm)

NOTES

Cowl is worked as a flat panel and seamed after bind off.

For a wider cowl cast on additional stitches.  Make sure you cast on an even number of stitches.

Seam the cast on and bind off edges using the mattress stitch.

The following tutorial videos will teach all the skills to knit the Sisal Cowl:
Sisal Stitch and Seaming tutorials. (Keep scrolling to see the videos below.)

INSTRUCTIONS

Cast on 20 sts.

Foundation row (WS): Sl 1 PW, P rem sts.

Row 1 (RS): Sl 1 KW, *Knit BO 1, Thumb CO 1 rep from * to last st.  K1. Do not overtighten.
Row 2 (WS): Sl 1 PW, *Purl BO 1, Thumb CO 1 rep from * to last st.  P1.
Rep Rows 1-2 until knitting measures 30” (76 cm); end after completing a Row 2.

Row 3 (RS): Sl 1 KW, K rem sts.

Bind off purlwise leaving a long tail (about 2-3 times the width of your cowl). Thread yarn tail onto tapestry needle and seam cast on and bind off edges together using the mattress stitch.  Weave in ends.

Sisal Stitch Tutorial Video

Sisal Stitch Left-handed Tutorial Video

Tutorial for Seaming used for this cowl. (Seaming is shown about the 22 minute mark.)

PIN The Video!