Bonjour Hi Cowl. Photos © Espace Tricot
Bonjour Hi by Melissa Clulow of Espace Tricot
is a stylish knitted cowl and shoulder warmer featuring a cozy funnel
neck and a generously shaped yoke that sits comfortably over the shoulders.
The design is worked seamlessly from the top down using
a fingering-weight yarn held together with laceweight mohair. The result
is a lightweight but wonderfully warm accessory that falls somewhere
between a traditional cowl and a small capelet.
Bonjour Hi Cowl Pattern Details
- Designer: Melissa Clulow / Espace Tricot
- Published: September 2019
- Craft: Knitting
- Category: Cowl / shoulder warmer
- Pattern status: Currently available as part of the 10 Circular Yokes from Espace Tricot collection
- Sizes: Four
- Finished bottom circumference: 45.5 (48, 53, 59) inches / 115.5 (122, 135, 149.5) cm
- Yarn: Fingering or light-fingering yarn held together with laceweight mohair
- Total listed yardage: 645–951 yards (590–870 m)
- Needles: US 7 (4.5 mm) and US 8 (5 mm)
- Gauge: 19 stitches × 24 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in blocked stockinette with both yarns held together
- Construction: Top down, one piece and seamless
- Worked: In the round
- Neck: Funnel neck with ribbing
- Languages: English and French
Part Cowl, Part Shoulder Warmer
Bonjour Hi is more substantial than a standard close-fitting cowl.
Its tall funnel neck keeps the neck warm, while the
lower portion expands generously across the shoulders.
This creates the cozy effect of a miniature capelet without requiring
you to knit an entire poncho or sweater.
It can be worn over a shirt, sweater or coat as an extra layer when you
want warmth around both the neck and upper body.
Seamless Top-Down Construction
The cowl begins at the neck and is
worked from the top down in the round.
After establishing the funnel neck, increases are distributed through
the yoke so that the fabric gradually expands toward the shoulders.
Because the entire accessory is worked as one piece, there are
no seams to sew when the knitting is complete.
A Circular-Yoke Inspired Cowl
The shaping is similar in concept to the upper portion of a top-down
circular-yoke sweater.
Instead of continuing into a full sweater body and sleeves, the design
ends after it has expanded sufficiently to cover the shoulders.
This makes Bonjour Hi an interesting smaller project for knitters who
want to experience circular-yoke shaping without committing to an
entire garment.
Four Finished Circumferences
The pattern includes four sizes with finished bottom circumferences of:
- 45.5 inches / 115.5 cm
- 48 inches / 122 cm
- 53 inches / 135 cm
- 59 inches / 149.5 cm
These measurements refer to the wide lower edge that sits around the
shoulders rather than the circumference of the neck.
Two Yarns Held Together
One of the defining features of Bonjour Hi is its yarn combination.
A fingering or light-fingering yarn is held together
with a strand of laceweight mohair-silk yarn
throughout the project.
The two strands behave as a single yarn while knitting, combining the
structure and color of the fingering yarn with the soft halo of mohair.
The Original Yarn Combination
The original version was made using:
- Malabrigo Mechita – fingering-weight merino
- Isager Silk Mohair – laceweight mohair and silk
More recent Espace Tricot versions also reference combinations such as
Espace Tricot Grace with
Bon Tricot Bliss Mohair.
The important principle is the same: the two strands are
held together throughout.
Choosing Substitute Yarns
You do not need to use the exact original yarns, but try to preserve
the relationship between the two strands.
A smooth fingering-weight wool or wool blend paired with a laceweight
mohair-silk yarn can produce a fabric similar in character to the
original.
This construction also creates many opportunities for color play. Two
closely related colors can create subtle depth, while contrasting
strands can produce a more visible marled effect.
Gauge
The specified blocked gauge is:
19 stitches × 24 rows = 4 inches (10 cm)
in stockinette with both yarns held together
Because mohair can change significantly after washing and blocking,
measuring a blocked swatch is particularly useful for this project.
Needles
The pattern lists:
- US 8 (5 mm)
- US 7 (4.5 mm)
Circular needles are used because the cowl is knitted in the round.
As always, use the needle size that allows you to achieve the required
gauge rather than relying only on the suggested size.
The Funnel Neck
Bonjour Hi begins with a tall
ribbed funnel neck.
Unlike a loose traditional cowl that may fall away from the neck, the
funnel shape is intended to provide a closer, warmer layer around the
neckline.
The ribbing also gives the neck enough elasticity to remain comfortable
while retaining its shape.
Generous Yoke Increases
Below the neck, increases are added across the yoke to create the
shoulder-warming shape.
These increases are what transform the project from a simple tube into
the distinctive flared silhouette shown in the finished design.
As the circumference grows, the fabric settles naturally over the
shoulders.
Adjusting the Length
The designer notes that the
length of Bonjour Hi can be customized.
This gives you some flexibility if you prefer more or less coverage
over the shoulders.
Remember that adding extra length will increase the amount of yarn
required, particularly because two strands are being used together
throughout.
Skills Used in Bonjour Hi
Useful techniques for this project include:
- Knitting and purling
- Ribbing
- Knitting in the round
- Holding two strands of yarn together
- Working top down
- Yoke increases
- Stockinette stitch
- Changing needle sizes
- Binding off
- Blocking mohair-blend fabric
Is Bonjour Hi Beginner Friendly?
The construction is relatively approachable because the accessory is
seamless and does not require sleeves, heel turns, complicated seaming
or intricate cable work.
A knitter who is already comfortable knitting and purling in the round
can use the project to practice top-down shaping and working with two
yarns held together.
Mohair can be less forgiving when stitches need to be undone, so newer
knitters may want to work carefully and check their progress regularly.
A Lightweight but Warm Layer
Pairing fine wool with mohair allows Bonjour Hi to provide warmth
without the heavy feel of a bulky cowl.
The funnel neck protects the neck while the wide lower section adds an
extra layer across the shoulders, making the design especially useful
during transitional weather or under a winter coat.
A Unisex Cowl Pattern
Bonjour Hi is categorized as a
unisex adult accessory.
Yarn and color choices can dramatically change its character, from a
soft luxurious accessory in delicate neutrals to a more rustic or
understated winter layer.
The Little Sister to Getting Warmer
Espace Tricot describes Bonjour Hi as the
little sister to its Getting Warmer cowl.
Both designs explore the idea of extending a cowl over the shoulders,
but Bonjour Hi uses finer yarns and a mohair combination for a lighter,
softer fabric.
Why Knit the Bonjour Hi Cowl?
Bonjour Hi offers more coverage than an ordinary cowl while remaining
far quicker and simpler than knitting a full sweater.
Its combination of a funnel neck, circular-yoke shaping and
fingering-plus-mohair fabric creates a polished accessory from
relatively straightforward knitting techniques.
With four finished circumferences and an adjustable length, there is
also useful flexibility for choosing how generously the finished cowl
sits over the shoulders.
Get the Bonjour Hi Knitting Pattern
Bonjour Hi by Melissa Clulow / Espace Tricot is
currently listed as part of the
10 Circular Yokes from Espace Tricot pattern
collection.
View the Bonjour Hi Knitting Pattern →
This design was previously distributed as a free pattern, but its
current availability has changed. Pattern availability and pricing
on external websites may change over time.
