When the Roots Run Deep

When the Roots Run Deep Cowl by Samantha MacKay Designs

Project Overview

When the Roots Run Deep is an intermediate-level knitted cowl designed by Samantha MacKay. This downloadable PDF pattern creates a sophisticated neck accessory featuring a dynamic geometric design that shifts and evolves as you work in the round.

What is Being Made

This pattern produces a cowl—a tubular neckwear piece worked seamlessly in the round. The finished cowl is designed to be worn close to the neck, providing warmth and visual interest through its carefully constructed stitch pattern.

Techniques and Stitches Used

The cowl showcases an alternating parallelograms pattern that creates the visual depth referenced in the design name. The pattern is worked using fundamental knitting techniques including:

• Knit stitches (K) and purl stitches (P) worked in alternating blocks to create the geometric design
• Slipped stitch technique (referenced as "slipped grass st"), which adds subtle texture and helps define the pattern edges
• Circular knitting worked in continuous rounds, eliminating the need for seaming
• Chart-based pattern reading, as the design includes a stitch chart for the 12-round repeat

The pattern repeat cycles through 12 rounds, with the knit and purl blocks systematically shifting position in each round to create the parallelogram effect. This shifting creates a sense of movement and depth, making the cowl visually dynamic from every angle.

Materials Required

The pattern calls for the following materials:

• Yarn: 2 skeins of DK weight yarn (#3). The sample shown is worked in Purl Soho Mulberry Merino in Black Green (solid colorway)
• Needles: 4mm circular needles, 16 inches in length, suitable for working small circumferences in the round
• Notions: Stitch marker for tracking round beginnings and a tapestry needle for weaving in ends

Yarn Weight Options

While the pattern is shown in DK weight, it is designed to accommodate multiple yarn weights. The pattern is suitable for DK, sport, and worsted weight yarns, allowing knitters to choose based on their preferred drape, warmth level, and finished dimensions. Yardage and needle size adjustments would be necessary when substituting yarn weights.

Difficulty Level

Rated as intermediate, this pattern is appropriate for knitters with solid foundational skills. The combination of chart reading, maintaining stitch definition across color changes created by knit and purl blocks, and working seamlessly in the round requires comfort with these core techniques. The geometric pattern demands attention to stitch placement, but the 12-round repeat becomes intuitive with practice.

Design Details

The alternating parallelograms pattern creates a three-dimensional visual effect that appears to shift and flow around the cowl. The interplay of knit and purl stitches creates natural texture variation, with the slipped stitch technique enhancing the definition between pattern sections. This creates a cowl that is as interesting to knit as it is to wear.