Knitting patterns for close-fitting cowls or gaiters. Great for keeping warm and covering up masks. Many of the patterns are free. Updated 2/3/23.
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.
All links on this site are for informational purposes, but please note that some links are to affiliate sellers that pay me a small commission on purchases.
Free Patterns
Carved Diamond Cowl
Cozy cowl knit with a twisted stitch diamond pattern. Uses one skein 250 - 300 yards (229 - 274 m) of Sport weight yarn. Designed by Gretchen Tracy of Balls to the Walls Knits.
Grand Ridge Cowl
Textured lace cowl designed to show off a three-color gradient with 5 row Garter Stripe, 4 row Punchwork Lace, and 8 row Zigzag Lace. Designed by Galt House of Yarn. Fingering weight yarn.
Slippy Cowl
2 color cozy cowl knit with easy slipped stitch colorwork. Rated easy by Ravelrers. Designed by Annie Modesitt. Worsted weight yarn.
Cheating at Checkers
Easy cowl knit with slip stitch colorwork so you only knit with one color at a time. Knit with an 8 round repeat. Rated easy by Ravelrers. Designed by Susan Ashcroft. DK weight yarn.
Cabled Moss Stitch Cowl
Cozy cabled cowl knit with a 12 round repeat. Knit with 2 strands of worsted weight held together. Designed by Churchmouse Yarns and Teas. Pictured project by designer and PHurson
Nora Cowl
Cozy cabled cowl knit with sections of stagged rope cables that twine together and apart. Worsted weight yarn. Designed by Alexandra Davidoff
More Free Patterns
Spikelets Cowl
Cozy cowl knit cables and ribbing. Uses less than one skein 153 - 186 yards (140 - 170 m) of Worsted weight yarn. Designed by Victoria Groger
Fields of Wheat Cowl
Cozy cowl knit with an 8 row repeat of a wheat stitch. Uses one skein 200 - 220 yards (183 - 201 m) of Worsted weight yarn. Designed by Varant Ekmekjian
Like Honey Cowl
Stunning cowl knit with an 8 row repeat of Honeycomb cables and smocking. Uses one skein (240 - 260 yards / 219 - 238 m) of DK weight yarn. Length and width customizable. Written instructions. Designed by Liz Abinante.
Confirmation Cowl
Lace cowl knit in the round. Uses one skein (123 yards) of Worsted weight yarn. Written instructions. Designed by Shannon Dunbabin for Cascade Yarns.
- Get the free knitting pattern on the Internet archive
- Get the recommended Cascade Yarns ® Spuntaneous Worsted
- See more of Shannon's FREE knitting patterns
Geometric Reflections Cowl
Dramatic cowl featuring a fair isle stranded geometric design bordered by corrugated ribbing. Designed by Michael Harrigan for Cascade Yarns. Fingering weight yarn. This looks like it would be a great stashbuster.
Cozy Lace Cowl
Knit flat in a 2 row repeat lace pattern with seed stitch borders and seamed. Rated easy enough for beginner knitters by Red Heart. Aran weight yarn. Designed by Kia Love for Red Heart.
Slip It Cowl
Knitters reported that it took them two hours to finish the cowl and the designer Jenny F says “a few hours”. A great way to show off multi colored super bulky yarn! And it’s reversible!
Patterns for Purchase
24 Hour Cowl
No longer free! Easy cowl knit with a 6 row repeat with one skein of bulky yarn. Takes less than 24 hours to knit. Great showcase for self-striping or gradient yarn. Designed by Kim Hamlin. Uses 120 yards (110 m) Bulky weight yarn. Pictured projects by designer and Verloop
Knitwords Cowl
Make a statement about your love of knitting with this cowl with the words Knit, Purl, and Yarn in stranded colorwork. 2 sizes: 8.25” tall X 28"(39") length. Available as part of an ebook with 8 other Knitwords patterns. Worsted weight yarn. Designed by irocknits.
Woodwrae Cowl
This cowl features an all-over repeating key (angular spriral) cable pattern, ideal as an introduction to Celtic-style cable knitting. The size of this cowl can easily be adjusted by varying the number of horizontal and vertical repeats of the cable chart. Fingering weight yarn. Designed by Lucy Hague.
Stag Button Cowl
Cabled neckwarmer knit flat and buttoned. Quick knit in super bulky yarn. Designed by Tin Can Knits.
Rivulet Cowl
Quick easy cowl knit in the round. Suitable for beginners, it’s knit in super bulky yarn. Designed by Louise Zass-Bangham.
Adventure Cowl
Quick knit in chunky yarn by MadeByDevrie. I really love the color combinations!
