Knitting patterns for cowls that look good inside and outside. Many of the patterns are free. Updated 3/14/23
To get the knitting patterns, scroll down the page to the individual pattern you want and click on the link to that pattern.
These patterns are not my designs but links to other designers who have generously shared their patterns. If you have questions about how to knit a specific pattern, please contact the designer directly.
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Free Patterns
Procragratification Cowl
Easy cowl knit in a 2 round repeat reversible fisherman's rib variation. Rated easy by Ravelrers. Super Bulky weight yarn. Designed by Denise Twum.
Shandon Cowl
Easy cowl featuring a chevron texture created with a staggered rib reversible pattern that is quick to knit and fun to wear. Rated easy by Ravelrers. Aran weight yarn. Designed by Beata Jezek for Hedgehog Fibres.
Casu Cowl
Cowl knit flat and grafted. It is reversible (though not identical on both sides). Worsted weight yarn. Designed by Galia Lael.
Undulation Cowl
This reversible cowl uses slipped stitches to mimic cables on a 2 color garter stitch. Aran weight yarn. Designed by Mary W Martin for Knitty.
Country Cowl
Two-sided cowl that's reversible. It has a buttoned closure, so it can be buttoned and worn as a cowl, twisted and then buttoned for a moebius cowl, or left unbuttoned and worn as a scarf. Fingering weight yarn. Designed by Deborah Tomasello.
Beachcomber's Cowl
Easy striped cowl knit with 2 ribbed patterns each in a one round repeat. Looks great on both sides. Rated easy by Ravelrers. DK weight yarn. Designed by Melissa Thomson.
Continuous Crystals Cowl
Reversible cowl knit with textured, repeating diamond pattern that looks nearly identical on the front and reverse. Uses only knit and purl stitches. Sport weight yarn. Designed by Emma Kerian.
Bulking Up Cowl
Reversible cowl knit with 3 reversible, 2 color patterns for a fun, quick project. Use all patterns or just one! Great stashbuster! Super Bulky weight yarn. Designed by Susan Barstein.
Antke Cowl, S10753
Reversible cowl knit with with 8 row jacquard stripes. Knit in a tube so it's reversible and the floats are hidden. Great stashbuster! Aran weight yarn. Designed by Schachenmayr Design Team.
Awash Cowl
Easy reversible cowl knit with a one round repeat linen stitch in solid and 2 color stripes for a gradient effect. Rated easy by Ravelrers. Great stashbuster! Worsted weight yarn. Designed by Emily McNeil.
Madeleva Cowl
Reversible moebius style cowl knit in a tube so all the floats are hidden on the inside and it is very easy to style. DK weight yarn. Designed by Crystal Hiatt. Pictured project by designer and ViaMolevana
Snowfire Cowl
Reversible cowl knit in brioche flame-like motif. Fingering weight yarn. Designed by Jennifer Freienmuth for Dove Call Knits.
Erin Cowl
Reversible cowl knit half with an 8 row repeat geometric colorwork pattern and half with a solid design and the folded and grafted. Designed by Valentina Georgieva.
Reversible 8 Row Repeat Cable Braided Cowl
Infinity scarf cowl (shown wrapped double) knit with an 8 row repeat reversible ribbed cable. Designed by Shannon Dunbabin.
- Get the free knitting pattern
- See the Ravelry page
- Get the recommended Cascade Yarns ® Llamerino yarn at Amazon
- See more Infinity Scarf Knitting Patterns
Cowl for Every Season
Reversible cowl knit as a 4 row repeat in 2 versions for DK or Aran weight yarn. Designed by maanel.
Reversible Cabled Neck Warmer
One skein cowl knit in reversible seed stitch and cable. Uses just one skein 110 - 112 yards (101 - 102 m) of Super Bulky weight yarn. Designed by Claudette Brady.
More Free Patterns
Canaletto Cowl
Reversible cowl knit with a 4 row repeat design of bands of seed stitch and eyelets intersected by stocking stitch. 2 sizes small 19.5 inches, large 44 inches. Aran weight yarn. Designed by Megan Goodacre.
Candygram Cowl
This cowl features a clever but easy 4 round repeat, worked in 2 colors in slipped stitches, resulting in a reversible cowl with a different pattern on each side. The key is the slipped stitches, no stranded knitting required, it’s so easy! Rated easy by Ravelrers. Worsted weight yarn. Designed by Tanis Lavallee.
South Beach Cowl
Reversible cowl knit with 2 colors of gradient yarn in a 4 row repeat of brioche tuck. Designed by Nancy Marchant. Sport weight yarn.
Jeansy Cowl
Reversible cowl knit in the round with a textured zigzag chevron stitch that's perfect for color-change cake or ombre yarn, as well as solid colors. 16 row repeat. Rated easy by Ravelrers. Long enough to be worn as a hood as well as a cowl. Fully reversible. Designed by Maria Socha. Aran weight yarn.
Easy Layer Cake Loop
Reversible infinity scarf cowl knit in the round with 3 different textures including a 2 row repeat cartridge rib, a knotted eyelet lace section, and a welted rib section. Perfect for color-change cake or ombre yarn, as well as solid colors. Size is easily customizable so you can create a neckwarmer, shoulder cozy, scarf, even poncho. Rated easy by Ravelrers. Worsted or sport weight yarn. Designed by steepndeep's Designs. Pictured projects by LaurenW13 and mtorresusa
Easy Broken Rib Cowl
Reversible infinity scarf cowl knit in the round with a 2 row repeat broken rib stitch that's perfect for color-change cake or ombre yarn, as well as solid colors. Rated easy by Ravelrers. You can use it with any yarn, any gauge. Designed by Wendy D. Johnson.
Quick Slip Cowl
Reversible cowl in linen stitch gives you a different look depending on which side is visible. Quick knit in super bulky yarn. Designed by Andra Asars. Pictured project by villarreal1997.
Pembroke Street Cowl
Stunning reversible cowl knit in 2 colors. Great for learning or practicing stranded knitting. Knit in light colors for spring and summer! DK, Worsted, or Fingering weight yarn. Designed by Holli Adams Samet.
Houndstooth and Stripe Cowl
Reversible cowl knit with one half an easy 4 row stripe pattern and the other half a fair isle houndstooth pattern, then folded in half and seamed. Designed by Susan Gressman. Sport weight yarn.
Hawthorne Street Cowl
Reversible cowl knit in stripes of varying widths separated with three simple rows of colorwork to transition from one color to the next. Designed for 7 colors (or more), it’s a great use for leftover yarn. DK yarn. Designed by Holli Adams Samet
- Get the free knitting pattern
- Get the recommended HiKoo Llamor yarn on Amazon
- See Colorful Cowl Knitting Patterns
Choux Cowl
Reversible infinity scarf cowl knit with a slipped stitch plaid pattern. Scarf is knit in the round to hide colorwork reverse. If you'd rather have a scarf than a cowl, just don't join. Designed by Rachel Brockman for Universal Yarn. DK weight yarn.
Gingham Neck Warmer in Double Knit
Reversible cowl worked in double knit plaid. Designed by Gabriella Kartz. Pictured project by CallieBknits
Wishing Cowl
This fully reversible infinity scarf features a wishbone cable pattern that looks the same on both sides. Designed by Universal Yarn Design Team
Brioche Cable Cowl
This reversible cowl features a brilliant contrast between variegated yarn and a neutral black or gray. Worsted yarn. Designed by Vanessa Ewing for Plymouth yarn. This pattern was featured in Season 8 of Knit and Crochet Now! and is free with registration at Annie’s
- Get the free knitting pattern with free registration at Annie’s
- Get the Knit and Crochet Now video tutorial for $3.99 (includes instruction for 2 patterns and other techniques)
- Get the recommended Plymouth Yarn Gina yarn at Amazon
Stockholm Infinity Scarf
This cowl features a completely reversible stitch pattern with a 4 row repeat that is easy to memorize. Designed by knittedblissJC
Tilting Block Cowl
Versatile reversible infinity scarf can be worn over the shoulders or wrapped around the neck. Knit in a 16 stitch 16 round repeat lace pattern. Aran weight yarn. Designed by Plymouth Yarn Design Studio. Rated easy by Ravelrers.
Sweet Honeycomb Cowl
Reversible cowl or infinity scarf in 2 sizes knit in slip stitch colorful honeycomb pattern in a doubled fabric. Great for stashbusting or mini skeins! Designed by Joni Coniglio. Sport weight yarn.
Patterns for Purchase
Flicker and Fade Cowl
Easy cowl knit in the round with 2 different size options (short or long) and in 4 colors to createa beautiful ombre affect. Knit in linen stitch pattern that looks great, though different, on either side. Rated easy by Ravelrers. Great for stashbusting or mini skeins. Bulky weight yarn. Designed by Elizabeth Smith.
- See more pics and get the knitting pattern at Lovecrafts
- Get the Malabrigo Chunky yarn used in the pictured project (Colorways used Sunset #96, Rhodesian #123, C: Sealing Wax #102, Geranio #44)
Avery Cowl
Seamless infinity scarf with a reversible knit/purl pattern that can be worn doubled up as a cowl or in a long loose loop. Rated easy by Ravelrers. Aran weight yarn. Designed by Melissa LaBarre.
Slanted Gansey Cowl
This reversible infinity scarf cowl worked flat on the bias then seamed. Knit with sport-, DK- or worsted-weight yarn. Designed by Carol Sunday
True North Cowl
Reversible buffalo plaid infinity scarf cowl with gray accent. Super Bulky weight yarn. Designed by MbyMKnitwear.
Volcano Cowl
A snuggly, reversible, shaped, convertible cowl-hood knit in twisted rib. Worsted or Sport weight yarn. Designed by RubySubmarine
Railroadster Cowl
This one-skein knit is quick, easy, reversible and knit flat and grafted or seamed. 2 sizes: 24 (32) inches. Uses one skein (150 - 215 yards / 137 - 197 m) of Worsted weight yarn. Rated easy by Ravelrers. Designed by Meaghan Schmaltz.
Light of the Universe Infinity Scarf
This reversible infinity scarf cowl has lace that looks great on both sides – the same with the stitches reversed. Knit with fingering weight yarn. Designed by Katrin Klaffenböck who recommends using gradient yarn. Available in English and German
- See more pics and get the knitting pattern on Etsy
- Get the recommended Wollelfe Merino-Twin yarn used in this project on Etsy
Erline Cowl
Reversible cowl with layers of leafy lace with a pleasing flare and flair. DK weight yarn. Designed by Åsa Tricosa
Forest Canopy Cowl
Quick easy cowl features a reversible, deep textured stitch pattern that folds, drapes, and wraps perfectly around you. Suitable for beginners, it’s knit in super bulky yarn.
Reversible Houndstooth Cowl
This reversible cowl is knit in the round in two pieces and then knit together to create a double-thick fabric that gives you extra warmth and wind protection, trapping warmed air in between its layers. Designed by Joleen Kraft.
