Note: making modifications may change the yardage needed for your pattern.

At Pacific Knit Co., we believe that knitters should feel empowered to modify their projects in any way that feels right for them. We love the freedom that Doodles offer, but know that some knitters are more comfortable with more guidance.

Modifications covered in this post:

• Adjusting the height of your cowl
• Adjusting the circumference of your cowl
  
• Adding a twist to your cowl

Quick note before we get too far: While these modifications can be used for almost any simple infinity cowl pattern, the instructions given here refer most directly to the construction of Pacific Knit Co.'s Base Doodle Infinity Cowl.

Remember: When making modifications, ensure that your new stitch count remains divisible by 24 or 12. See note at the end about rounding to the nearest multiple of 24 or 12 or read about Doodle Repeats. 

Want to learn general tips for substituting yarn weight? Read our full post about Changing Yarn Weight & Gauge.

Helpful calculations for making modifications

Adjusting the Height of an Infinity Cowl

The finished height of an infinity cowl is determined by the number of cast-on stitches as this will determine how big around it is. More stitches means taller cowl. Fewer stitches means shorter cowl.

For infinity cowls, the finished height is actually the circumference while knitting, because the finished cowl will be turned on its side once it's finished and grafted together. And because the cowl is double thick, the finished height is equal to half the total circumference while knitting.

To calculate stitch count for desired circumference (2x finished height):

• STEP 1: Find your [sts per inch]

• STEP 2: To find out how many stitches to cast on for your desired height, use the following:

  • [desired height x 2] x [sts per inch] = NUMBER OF CAST-ON STS

• For example, if I want my cowl to be 12 inches tall, at 6 sts per inch:

• [12 inches x 2] x [6 sts per inch] = cast on 144 sts

Check your Stitch Repeat: 

If you are using Doodle Charts to knit in colorwork, ensure that your new stitch count remains divisible by 24 or 12. See note at the end about rounding to the nearest multiple of 24 or 12 or read about Doodle Repeats.

Adjusting the Circumference of an Infinity Cowl

The circumference of an infinity cowl is very flexible, because it is simply determined by how many rounds you knit. To adjust the finished circumference, cast on as-written, and then just knit for as long (or as short) as you like!

If you are knitting plain, this can be as easy as just measuring/trying on your project as you go. If you are knitting colorwork, and want to know a more exact round count so you can plan out your charts, keep reading:

To calculate round count for desired dimension:

• STEP 1: Find your [rnds per inch]

• STEP 2: To find out how many rounds you need to knit for the desired finished circumference, use the following:

  • [desired circumference in inches] x [rnds per inch] = NUMBER OF ROUNDS

• For example, if I want a 30 inch around cowl, and my swatch is 6 rnds per inch:

• [30 in] x [6 rnds per in] = knit 180 rounds

Calculate your Doodle Rounds: 

If you change how long you want to knit your project, you can still figure out how many Doodle Rounds to plan for when designing your Doodle Master Chart. Check out Doodle Math: Row Gauge & Chart Height for more information.

Adding a Twist to an Infinity Cowl

If you want to add a twist to your Infinity Cowl, this is done when you are ready to graft your stitches together. Knit the cowl per the pattern instructions, block it and weave in your ends, and then add the twist!

The easiest way to add the twist is to essentially rotate one end of the cowl 180 degrees.

To do that, you just need to adjust where your needles are before you actually begin grafting the ends together. Once both ends of the cowl are back on the needles and you're almost ready to graft - simply slip half your stitches on the cast-on end from the left to the right needle.

This will allow you to start grafting the beginning of one round to the middle of the other, creating the 180 degree twist. 

Read more about Grafting Live Stitches or How to Graft an Infinity Cowl. 

Other Modification Options

Many cowl patterns accommodate a lot of mix-and-match options. You can add texture, or stripes, or even shaping. You can twist the cowl before seaming for a different look. And of course, our Infinity Cowl pattern is perfect for adding colorwork!

There really are almost endless options to make your knitting project your own. Don't be afraid to play around with different techniques and modifications to create something truly unique!

Checking Stitch Counts for Doodle Repeat Sizing

While you can definitely knit our Base Doodle Patterns in plain stockinette, if you are using Doodle Charts to knit in colorwork, you'll want to ensure that your new stitch count remains divisible by 24 or 12.

For example, if I wanted a cowl that was 7.5 inches tall at pattern gauge:

• [7.5 inches x 2] x [6 sts per inch] = cast on 90 sts

In this example, 90 is NOT divisible by 12 or 24.

To make the stitch count work for Doodle Charts, we can either go down to 84 stitches (divisible by 12) or go up to 96 (divisible by 24).

Bonus step: Recheck your sizing. If you adjusted your size to accommodate 12 or 24st repeats, re-check your sizing by using the inverse of formula above:

• [cast on st count] / [sts per inch] / 2 = [finished height]

• For example, if we chose to round down to 84 sts:

• [84 sts] / [6 sts per inch] = 14 in / 2 = 7 in finished height

If that size works for you, then you're all set! Cast on the new amount and work the pattern as written. If that's not quite right, go ahead and repeat the math with the next closest option divisible by 12 or 24.

Happy Doodling!

Want more info? The complete PDF pattern for our Doodle Infinity Cowl (including detailed techniques, modification options and blank colorwork charts) is available on our website and on Ravelry.

Want to add colorwork? Take a look at our full library of Doodle Colorwork Charts (dozens of themes to choose from as either digital downloads or physical card decks).

Blog co-written by Jamie Lomax and Grey Lundy.