Section Cut Cowl

Many of my explorations in knitwear design are rooted in my architectural experience. Among other interests, I continue to be inspired by analog line drawings. In college and graduate school, my design studio instructors often created open-ended assignments, allowing students to create and explore with simple lines in graphite. From time to time during critiques, instructors would analyze and rotate our drawings upside down to allow us to view our own work with new eyes.

In the moment, it was easy to be frustrated, thinking the instructor didn’t understand the idea behind the work, but through the years I realized this reinterpretation of the work simply allowed for a fresh perspective. In fact, years later, I found myself using this same strategy with my own design students! Years later still, I find myself creating knitting patterns that can be appreciated from many angles and worn in many ways.

SECTION CUT COWL is another design in my knitwear portfolio that has no clear front, back, top, or bottom. This versatile design uses 2 colors of fingering weight yarn in garter stitch with stockinette welts on both sides of the fabric. Welt sizes change with each pattern repeat with an intuitive rhythm that is fun to create. The final piece is part whimsy and part sophistication, depending on how you look at it. The pattern is written for 2 cowl sizes: one close-fitting, and one with slightly more drape, as shown in the sample. The sample version is shown in 2 colors, but the welts could easily highlight multiple colors of yarn for a different look.

I’ve always loved section drawings: they are vertical cuts through buildings showing the inner relationship of spaces. I love that the architect chooses where to make the cut in order to reveal the space inside. In the same way, the wearer of this cowl gets to decide how to style it. Creating this knitting accessory inspired by section cuts makes me very happy. I hope you have fun knitting and styling your own SECTION CUT COWL.