Umami Cowl

Umami Cowl by Anne Blayney

What is Being Made

The Umami Cowl is a knitted neck cowl designed by Anne Blayney. This downloadable knitting pattern creates a finished garment that combines visual and textural interest through the interplay of two different yarn types and stitch patterns. The design draws inspiration from the Japanese concept of umami—the pleasant savory taste that represents a fifth primary taste category alongside sweet, salty, sour, and bitter—translating this culinary philosophy into fiber arts through distinctive texture contrast.

Techniques and Construction

The Umami Cowl employs a unique two-yarn construction technique that showcases the contrast between feltable and non-feltable yarns. The pattern uses a simple but effective combination of garter stitch and stockinette stitch, two fundamental knitting textures that play off each other visually and tactilely. Basic shaping is achieved through increases and decreases, fundamental knitting techniques that allow the cowl to be properly sized and shaped for wear around the neck.

A distinctive feature of this design is its intentional use of felting as a finishing technique. After the cowl is knitted, it is placed in the wash where the feltable yarn undergoes the felting process, creating a transformed fabric with a distinctive character and texture. This wet finishing gives the completed cowl its unique "flavour," adding depth and dimension to the final garment.

Stitches Used

• Garter stitch
• Stockinette stitch
• Basic increases
• Basic decreases

Materials

This pattern is designed to be worked with sport weight yarn. The design specifically calls for two different yarns: one that is feltable and one that is not feltable. This dual-yarn approach creates the textural contrast central to the design's aesthetic. The pattern recommends yarn from Waterloo Wools, an independent business located in Waterloo, Ontario, which specializes in hand-dyed yarns and spinning fibers created in small quantities.

Difficulty Level

Rated as intermediate difficulty, the Umami Cowl is suitable for knitters with basic skills who are ready to expand their technique repertoire. While the individual stitches and techniques are fundamental, the combination of working with two yarns simultaneously and understanding the felting process requires some experience beyond absolute beginner level.