Tossing on a hand knit like the Chunky Twist Cowl is one of my fave ways to stay warm and stylish. Made with a super bulky wool yarn and shaped with a twist, the cowl can be styled in different ways. Here are just 4 simple looks – but I’m sure there are many more ideas out there!
Classic
Wear the cowl without any additional twists or manipulations. Just adjust the twist to either lie flat (as pictured) or be dimensional (to look like a scoop).
Shawl Collar
Starting from the flat classic style, fold down the edges along the neckline to form a soft shawl collar effect. I love how this cowl style looks with my pink shawl collar jacket — creates a double-collar effect that I think looks pretty cool!
Double Twist
Add an extra twist and tuck to the cowl for a more tailored look.
Double Wrap
Wrap the loop twice around the neck and shape for an ultrawarm and compact neckwarmer.
Details for the Chunky Twist Cowl
The Chunky Twist Cowl is hand knit using Woolfolk Yarn’s Fleck Bulky yarn, a beautiful 90% merino wool + 10% donagal yarn that results in a surprisingly light and lofty fabric with a wonderful squishy texture. For this version, I chose the FKB1 colorway, which is a cream color with subtle black flecks. This yarn comes in seven additional colorways, each with different-colored flecks that add dimension to the finished fabric.
If you are interested in ordering your own custom-knit Chunky Twist Cowl, send me a note via my Contact Page or Subscribe at the link in the footer!
Cowls: from medieval monasteries to Parisian fashion houses
According to Merriam-Webster, a cowl is (1) a hood or long-hooded cloak or (2) a draped neckline. The cowl as a hooded cloak is most often associated with monks and medieval times, but they are still worn today by various religious orders.
Image from here.
The cowl as a draped neckline was created in the 1920s by French designer Madeleine Vionnet, who drew inspiration from Ancient Greece to develop this elegant style.
Image from here.
Modern knit cowls as versatile accessories
Modern knit cowl styles range from the monastic to the couture. They are generally knitted loops of varying lengths and widths that are worn around the neck. Wider-width cowls can drape over the head like a hood for warmth while narrower cowls can be wrapped to create an elegantly draped neckline.
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