Geometric Shapes Beginner Colourwork Cowl

A simple, seamless cowl worked in the round that introduces stranded colourwork through five original geometric charts. Perfect for practicing even tension and reading charts while creating a cozy accessory. Choose two high-contrast worsted-weight colours and stack the motifs as written or rearrange them to suit your taste.

Materials

• Yarn: Worsted weight (category 4), approximately 180 yd (165 m) Colour A (main/background) and 160 yd (146 m) Colour B (contrast).
  Example: Cascade 220 or equivalent wool or wool-blend.
• Needles: US 7 (4.5 mm) 16" (40 cm) circular needle, or size needed to obtain gauge.
• Notions: Stitch marker, tapestry needle, scissors.

Gauge

20 sts and 24 rnds = 4" (10 cm) in stranded stockinette stitch in the round, blocked.
Swatch mandatory — colourwork gauge is often tighter than single-colour stockinette. Adjust needle size if needed.

Size

One size: 24" (61 cm) circumference × 10" (25.5 cm) tall after blocking.
(To adjust circumference, cast on any multiple of 24 sts and keep the same chart sequence.)

Abbreviations

• CO: cast on
• k: knit
• rnd(s): round(s)
• st(s): stitch(es)
• St st: stockinette stitch (knit every round)
• A: Colour A
• B: Colour B
• pm: place marker
• sm: slip marker

Pattern Notes

• Worked entirely in the round; read every chart row from right to left.
• Charts are shown with A = empty square (background), B = filled/X square (motif).
• Carry the unused colour loosely across the back. Catch floats every 4–5 stitches to avoid snags.
• For true beginners: keep both yarns in the left hand (or one in each hand) and maintain gentle, even tension—fabric should still stretch.
• Weave in ends as you go when changing colours between bands if desired.
• All charts are original geometric designs and free of copyright restrictions for personal or commercial use.

Instructions

Cast-On and Setup

With A and US 7 (4.5 mm) circular needle, CO 120 sts using a stretchy method (long-tail or German twisted).
Pm and join to work in the round, being careful not to twist. (120 sts)

Knit 4 rnds in A for lower border.

Colourwork Body

Work the five chart bands in order as follows. Each chart is repeated around the entire round. Between charts, work 2 rnds plain in A (these create clean dividers and add height).

Band 1 – Checkerboard (Chart 1)
Work Chart 1 (8-st repeat) 15 times around.
Repeat Chart 1 Rows 1–8 once (8 rnds).
(120 sts maintained)

Divider: With A only, k 2 rnds.

Band 2 – Diamond Lattice (Chart 2)
Work Chart 2 (12-st repeat) 10 times around.
Repeat Chart 2 Rows 1–12 once (12 rnds).
(120 sts)

Divider: With A only, k 2 rnds.

Band 3 – Standing Triangles (Chart 3)
Work Chart 3 (8-st repeat) 15 times around.
Repeat Chart 3 Rows 1–8 once (8 rnds).
(120 sts)

Divider: With A only, k 2 rnds.

Band 4 – Zigzag (Chart 4)
Work Chart 4 (12-st repeat) 10 times around.
Repeat Chart 4 Rows 1–8 once (8 rnds).
(120 sts)

Divider: With A only, k 2 rnds.

Band 5 – Stepped Squares (Chart 5)
Work Chart 5 (8-st repeat) 15 times around.
Repeat Chart 5 Rows 1–8 once (8 rnds).
(120 sts)

Top Border and Bind-Off

With A only, knit 4 rnds.
Bind off loosely knitwise (use a larger needle or sewn bind-off if needed for stretch).

Stitch-count check: 120 sts cast on, no shaping, 120 sts bound off ✓
Height check: 4 border + 8+2 + 12+2 + 8+2 + 8+2 + 8 + 4 border = 60 rnds
60 rnds ÷ 24 rnds per 4" = 10" (25.5 cm) ✓

Finishing

Weave in all remaining ends on the wrong side.
Soak in lukewarm water with wool wash, gently squeeze out water, and lay flat to dry, patting into a smooth tube. Do not stretch aggressively—colourwork fabric blooms nicely with light blocking.
Optional: single-crochet or blanket-stitch the cast-on and bind-off edges for a polished look.

Charts

(All charts use A = · (dot/empty) and B = X. Work right to left on every round. Repeats are marked.)

Chart 1 – Checkerboard (8-st × 8-rnd repeat)

Rnd 8: · X · X · X · X
Rnd 7: X · X · X · X ·
Rnd 6: · X · X · X · X
Rnd 5: X · X · X · X ·
Rnd 4: · X · X · X · X
Rnd 3: X · X · X · X ·
Rnd 2: · X · X · X · X
Rnd 1: X · X · X · X ·

(Repeat these 8 sts around)

Chart 2 – Diamond Lattice (12-st × 12-rnd repeat)

Rnd 12: · · · · · X · · · · · ·
Rnd 11: · · · · X X X · · · · ·
Rnd 10: · · · X · X · X · · · ·
Rnd  9: · · X · · X · · X · · ·
Rnd  8: · X · · · X · · · X · ·
Rnd  7: X · · · · X · · · · X ·
Rnd  6: · X · · · X · · · X · ·
Rnd  5: · · X · · X · · X · · ·
Rnd  4: · · · X · X · X · · · ·
Rnd  3: · · · · X X X · · · · ·
Rnd  2: · · · · · X · · · · · ·
Rnd  1: · · · · · · · · · · · ·

(Repeat these 12 sts around; Rnd 1 is solid A for clean start)

Chart 3 – Standing Triangles (8-st × 8-rnd repeat)

Rnd 8: X X X X X X X X
Rnd 7: · X X X X X X ·
Rnd 6: · · X X X X · ·
Rnd 5: · · · X X · · ·
Rnd 4: · · · · · · · ·
Rnd 3: · · · X X · · ·
Rnd 2: · · X X X X · ·
Rnd 1: · X X X X X X ·

(Repeat these 8 sts around)

Chart 4 – Zigzag (12-st × 8-rnd repeat)

Rnd 8: X · · · · · · · · · · X
Rnd 7: · X · · · · · · · · X ·
Rnd 6: · · X · · · · · · X · ·
Rnd 5: · · · X · · · · X · · ·
Rnd 4: · · · · X · · X · · · ·
Rnd 3: · · · · · X X · · · · ·
Rnd 2: · · · · X · · X · · · ·
Rnd 1: · · · X · · · · X · · ·

(Repeat these 12 sts around)

Chart 5 – Stepped Squares (8-st × 8-rnd repeat)

Rnd 8: X X · · X X · ·
Rnd 7: X X · · X X · ·
Rnd 6: · · X X · · X X
Rnd 5: · · X X · · X X
Rnd 4: X X · · X X · ·
Rnd 3: X X · · X X · ·
Rnd 2: · · X X · · X X
Rnd 1: · · X X · · X X

(Repeat these 8 sts around)

Beginner Tips for Success

• Make a small swatch of Chart 1 first to practice catching floats and reading the chart.
• If floats feel tight, spread the stitches on the right needle before knitting the next stitch.
• Colour dominance: holding B (motif) below A generally makes the pattern pop more—experiment on your swatch.
• These five charts can also be used individually for hats, mittens, or pillow panels; simply cast on a suitable multiple of 8 or 12 sts.

Enjoy your geometric colourwork adventure!