When I started watching Outlander on Starz I was like “OMFG ALL THE KNITTED THINGS.” If you show a knitter a bitchin’ 18th century cowl, she’s going to want to make it. And Claire’s cowl is gorgeous. I love how chunky and slumpy it is, the perfect accessory for her everyday dress.
I needed this cowl.
I needed it wear it when I am picking herbs in the garden with Geillis, staring wistfully at Jamie off the distance.
Or more accurately when I’m sitting under a vent constantly blowing cold air on me at work and typing with shivering fingers.
So I went to Ravelry, but didn’t find exactly the pattern I wanted. I had two weeks off and plenty of time to improvise. This is the pattern I came up with. It’s incredibly simple and can be easily adapted. My cowls knit up in about 2 hours sober, and significantly longer while taking Percocet.
Smart Bitches Outlandish Cowl
Ingredients:
I used one skein of Malabrigo Rasta yarn (90 yards). You can find some at Yarn.com or at JimmyBeansWool.com.
But any super bulky weight yarn should do. You could also use several strands of lighter weight yarns held together.
I used size 35 needles. Huge needles are important to get loose stitches. You can find these bad boys at most craft stores, like JoAnnFabrics or Amazon.
Pattern:
I cast on 19 stitches, although you can add more or less depending on how wide you want the cowl.
Knit in garter stitch (knit every row) until the skein is used up, leaving a good sized tail for seaming. My finished cowls were about 23” long.
Finishing:
I blocked the shit out of my cowls. I knit tightly so the cowls would have been too short had I not blocked.
If you are a really super new knitter and don’t know what blocking is, it’s when you wet the piece with cold water and pin it down to a piece of foam so that it stretches out while the cat tries to eat the pins and pull on the cowl and you swear at him and your husband comes downstairs to see what the fuck you are doing and then accidentally stab yourself with a pin.
Once dried, I seamed it by lining up the cast off ends unevenly so there was a little point at the top and bottom of the cowl.
But Elyse, you say, Claire’s cowl isn’t seamed that way.
I KNOW, GODAMNIT. I SAID I IMPROVISED.
I like doing cowls this way because it gives you a little more versatility in wearing it, but do whatever makes you happy. Unless what makes you happy is knitting tiny cowls for your penis and sending me pictures of it. Don’t do that.
Et voila. Your cowl is made. Rejoice and wear it while watching Jamie play shinty and drinking Colum’s Rennish.
Happy knitting!
ETA: By request, here is a PDF of the pattern with pictures of the blocking. Right-click and save-as and enjoy!
Any chance you have a store front on etsy I would buy one from you if I could I can’t knit but I want one. 🙂
@Muneca, just search outlander on Etsy. PAGES of stuff. Me, I’m heading to the yarn shop as Christmas is now covered for my Outlander fan friends. Thanks Elyse!
Holy buckets, that’s an awesome job! Seriously, if you can do that on Percocet, I think you’ve qualified for near superhero status (I can’t even crochet a non-crooked chain to save my life). I’m seriously complicating trying to learn now.
Elyse, I love that you were so excited you designed your own cowl! I have just enough super bulky to try my own.
A couple people asked about a crochet version. There is a blog Pollyfoofoo out on the internets where a woman with amazing hair has been posting her patterns inspired by the accessories on Outlander. She posted a crochet version of the cowl, a knit version, and a version of the shrug someone mentioned. She posted a pattern for the mitts, too.
Here’s a link: http://pollyfoofoo.blogspot.com/
Her patterns are listed on Ravelry, but you can just go to her blog as that is where you are directed anyway. I’m primarily a crocheter, but I’m getting out my knitting needles for this one!
They are going to love me at the church fair craft booth. Hand knitted cowl? $15. Claire’s Outlander Hand Knitted Cowl? $25.
Swear I’ve never knit a thing in my life but I actually made this today! Thank you very much for the inspiration – that yarn is gorgeous – and the instruction. It was way easier than I ever thought it would be and I’m now dying to make more. You’ve made a new knitting convert. 🙂
I’m going to try this ! It will be my 2nd knitting project. The first one was 15-20 years ago. But I’m being smart about it. I bought one skein of really nice (expensive) merino wool yarn that my mom will use to make me the cowl. I will use the $6 ball of pretty but cheaper yarn, so when I screw it up, I won’t feel bad. Will let you know how I make out. Very excited!!!!
That should be nice. I just finished a first one in extra fine Merino in shades of dusty blue and mauve, and it’s wonderfully soft against the neck. Now on to a teal/peacock version in baby alpaca.
If I ever l
Hilarious! Thank you for voicing my thoughts exactly upon seeing Claire’s cowls.
The ‘I can do that,’ reaction set in immediately and has been playing on my mind since.
I found a few simple patterns and I’m a gonna do them all!!!!!!!!! Thanks again!!!!!
The comment should have been: if I ever win the lotto I’m quitting my day job and just running an Outlander Etsy store
Thanks for the pattern. I am on my third one as they will make great Christmas presents. My wool store also thanks you!
I just finished my first and the fit is much looser than it looks in your picture. (I tested it out with Thick n Quick). Since I knit loose I didn’t block, so outb of curiosity, how long is the cowl after you’ve blocked it? I’d like my next one to be more snuggly.
Thanks for the pattern!
Best pattern write up ever.
Thanks for the pattern. Can’t wait to make it! Crack me up!
Just wanted to thank you soooooo much for the pattern. I have a family member in hospice right now and for the first time in my life can’t concentrate to read my lovely HEA books. I picked up my knitting needles when I saw your post and have not stop knitting these lovely cowls for my friends and family. I ended up using a smaller (19) needle to trap more of the warmth, as up here in Michigan, we need all the help we can get. Wish I knew how to upload some of my “Outlander”cowls to share with you.
Thanks Elyse!!!
Thank you so much for this pattern. Love outlander! Omg you are just too funny.
Here’s one of my cowls modeled by a friend:
Picture of my cowl
Wow so love this design some of claires cowls do have collars and angles of the sort… I’m knitting one unsure how to crochet one.. but bought a 15mm hook to do so.. but knitting using baw baw wool its quite thick and.using au9mm needles its quite tight but my 1st attempt.. just wanting to thankyou for your pattern xx
Love the cowl, but love your commentary even more…no pictures of penis cowls huh! LOL I have started crocheting again after 25+ years because of the outlander stuff, and want to learn to knit…so maybe this cowl is what I start with! Thanks
Elyse, I have a couple questions…First, was the 23” length before or after you blocked? If before, what size did you stretch it to? Second, what is the color of Malabrigo Rasta that you used? I have already bought a hank (868 Coronilla), and I’m knitting it, but wondering what color yours is? I love that color and would love to find that color…I’m currently knitting my first, but know I will be making more. Thanks!!
Hahaha! Someone who talks like me! My Mother always bitches about my swearing. And it’s not all prettied up. You put in the reality that a cat would…of course…have to decide that only while you have something you’re trying to block (?) that it needs to lay there. Exactly. Not on the sunny spot it usually sits, but ON the cowl. Because that is way more warm and comfy. And for some reason that pin looks tasty. It doesn’t look anything like food or a mouse or a shrew or a mole but it looks tasty. Sometimes I want to stick some pins in a board and put the pointy end up so maybe kitty would learn that they are owie. Alas, no I don’t because my kitty and I have the weirdest relationship ever. Don’t ask.