Longbeard Cowl

“Not the beard!”

- Gimli, Fellowship of the Ring, movie version

The greatest pride of the Dwarves of Middle Earth was the length and comeliness of their beards. Particularly amongst Durin’s folk, decorating, braiding, and caring for their beards was as important as oiling and sharpening their axes.

The Longbeard Cowl is a luxurious neck piece that features a contrasting front placket that protects the beard (and upper chest) from the elements under a travelling cloak or open collar jacket. Decorated with intricate stylized motifs representing mining picks, the cowl is worked flat in a two colour double knitted fabric with a marled border, then seamed. The finished piece is totally reversible.

Materials Needed:

- @250 yards of fingering weight yarn each in two solid contrasting colours

- 2.75mm (US 2) needles or size needed for gauge

- large eyed blunt needle for seaming and weaving in ends

Gauge: 30 sts x 36 rows over 4” (10cm)

Gauge should be measured in unblocked double knit fabric.

Finished Size:

The finished cowl as written will be 7” tall, with a neck opening of 21” at the top, and a bottom circumference of @35”

The circumference of the cowl may be increased by adding row repeats to the main section, 18 rows (2”) at a time. Each increase of rows will require an additional 18 yards of yarn in both colours.

Instruction Format:

This pattern is charted only. There are no written instructions.