Sherbourne Hat and Cowl

Sherbourne Hat and Cowl by Tess Young

Project Overview

The Sherbourne Hat and Cowl is a set of two coordinated knitted accessories inspired by Elizabethan collar design. Named after Sherbourne New Castle in Dorset—a historic estate built by Sir Walter Raleigh and later redesigned by Capability Brown in the 18th century—this collection combines historical elegance with modern knitting techniques. Both pieces are knitted seamlessly in the round and feature tucks and pleats that create warmth and structure without adding unnecessary bulk.

What Is Being Made

• Hat: A seamless, round-knitted hat that uses tucks and pleats for shaping and warmth
• Cowl: A statement cowl piece inspired by Elizabethan collars, also worked seamlessly in the round with structural tucks and pleats

Knitting Techniques and Construction

Both the hat and cowl are constructed using seamless in-the-round knitting, which eliminates the need for seaming and creates a continuous, polished finish. The designs incorporate tucks and pleats as structural elements. These techniques serve a dual purpose: they add visual interest and textural depth while providing warmth and structure without creating bulk—an important consideration when working with luxury yarn blends. The seamless construction method requires circular needles or double-pointed needles (dpns) and allows for precise gauge control throughout the project.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch used throughout both pieces is stocking stitch (stockinette stitch), which creates a smooth, classic fabric ideal for showcasing the sheen and drape of the silk-blend yarns. The tucks and pleats are created through strategic increases, decreases, and directional changes within the stocking stitch fabric, allowing the designer to manipulate the fabric without introducing complex stitch patterns.

Yarn and Materials

The Sherbourne Hat and Cowl pattern is designed to work with DK weight yarn, offering flexibility in fiber choice. Two yarn options are provided:

• Manos del Uruguay Silk Blend: 30% silk and 70% merino extrafine wool, with 300 yards (270 meters) per 100-gram skein. The pattern requires 2 skeins total (1 for the hat, 1 for the cowl), shown in colorway 7325
• Malabrigo Silky Merino: 51% silk and 49% merino composition, with 150 yards (137 meters) per 50-gram skein. This option requires 4 skeins total (2 for the hat, 2 for the cowl)

Both yarn options feature silk content, which adds lustrous sheen, drape, and breathability to the finished accessories. The merino wool component provides elasticity, warmth, and durability. The gauge is 22 stitches and 30 rows over 10 centimeters (4 inches) in stocking stitch using 3.75mm needles.

Needles and Notions

• 3.75mm (US 5) short circular needle or double-pointed needles (dpns) for main construction
• 3.5mm (US 4) needle(s) for ribbing or edging
• Waste yarn for provisional cast-on or stitch holders
• Tapestry needle for weaving in ends
• Stitch marker for tracking rounds

Difficulty Level

The Sherbourne Hat and Cowl is rated as an intermediate knitting project. While the primary stitch (stocking stitch) is fundamental, the seamless in-the-round construction and the manipulation of tucks and pleats require solid knitting skills and the ability to read patterns and adjust shaping. Knitters should be comfortable working with circular needles or dpns and have experience with increases and decreases before attempting this design.