Autopilot Cowl. Photo © Dominique Trad
Autopilot Cowl by Dominique Trad is a free, relaxing cowl knitting pattern built around an easy 2-row repeat. Worked seamlessly in the round with worsted-weight yarn, it's designed for the kind of knitting you can enjoy while traveling, watching TV or chatting at knit night.
The combination of simple eyelets and mesh creates an attractive textured fabric without a complicated stitch sequence. Better still, the designer provides guidance for adjusting both the width and circumference, so you can customize the finished cowl to suit your preferred fit.
Autopilot Cowl Pattern Details
- Designer: Dominique Trad
- Published: February 2015
- Craft: Knitting
- Category: Cowl / infinity-style neckwear
- Pattern availability: Free download
- Yarn weight: Worsted / 10 ply
- Suggested yarn: Malabrigo Rios
- Yardage: Approximately 328–437 yards (300–400 m)
- Needles: 6 mm (US 10) and 5.5 mm (US 9)
- Construction: Bottom up, worked in the round
- Finishing: Seamless, one-piece construction
- Stitch pattern: Easy 2-row repeat with eyelets and mesh
- Size: One size with instructions for customization
- Language: English
An Easy 2-Row Repeat Cowl
The main attraction of Autopilot is its wonderfully repetitive stitch pattern. The cowl uses a 2-row repeat, creating an attractive open texture without requiring you to keep track of a long sequence of rows.
That's exactly where the name comes from. Dominique Trad designed the project for relaxed knitting: something that lets you enjoy beautiful yarn while your hands settle into a comfortable rhythm.
It can be an especially appealing project for knitting while commuting, traveling, watching television or spending time with other knitters.
Worked Seamlessly in the Round
Autopilot is worked in the round from the bottom up. The cowl is knitted as one continuous piece, so there is no long seam to sew after the knitting is finished.
Working in the round also makes the repeating stitch pattern particularly satisfying once you become familiar with it: simply continue around the cowl while the textured mesh fabric develops on your needles.
Eyelets and Mesh Texture
Although the pattern is intentionally simple, the finished fabric has plenty of visual interest.
Eyelets create an airy mesh-like texture that works especially well with soft worsted-weight yarn. The repeated openings also help the fabric drape rather than becoming too dense around the neck.
This makes Autopilot a good example of how a very short stitch repeat can produce a finished accessory that looks much more intricate than the knitting experience suggests.
Yarn for the Autopilot Cowl
The original pattern is designed for worsted-weight / 10-ply yarn and suggests Malabrigo Rios.
Rios is a worsted-weight merino yarn, and its hand-dyed colorways can work beautifully with the simple textured structure of this cowl.
The pattern calls for approximately 328–437 yards (300–400 metres), depending on how you customize the project.
Can You Use a Different Yarn?
Yes. One of the useful features of Autopilot is its flexibility. Dominique Trad designed the original version for worsted-weight yarn, but notes that the cowl can be made with other yarn weights as well.
Changing yarn weight will affect the finished fabric, dimensions and needle requirements, so treat the original worsted version as your reference point and adjust accordingly.
This flexibility can also make the pattern useful when you have a special yarn in your stash and want a straightforward project that allows the yarn itself to be the focus.
Needles
The original worsted-weight version uses:
- 6 mm (US 10) needles
- 5.5 mm (US 9) needles
Because the cowl is worked in the round, use circular needles with a cable length appropriate for your chosen circumference.
An Adjustable Cowl Knitting Pattern
Although the pattern is written with one basic size, the designer provides the information needed to customize both the width and circumference.
This means you are not limited to reproducing the sample exactly. You can adjust the dimensions depending on how you want to wear your finished cowl and how much yarn you have available.
A longer circumference can create a generously draped cowl that can be wrapped around the neck, while a shorter version can be worn closer to the neck.
Great for Hand-Dyed and Variegated Yarn
A simple repeating pattern can be an excellent partner for colorful yarn because the stitch pattern doesn't compete with the yarn.
Autopilot works beautifully in solid colors, but it can also showcase tonal, hand-dyed or variegated worsted yarns. The eyelets and mesh add texture while allowing color changes to remain visible.
Skills Used in the Autopilot Cowl
The pattern is straightforward, but you should be comfortable with a few basic techniques before beginning.
Useful skills include:
- Knitting in the round
- Knit and purl stitches
- Yarn overs
- Simple decreases
- Following a 2-row repeat
- Working eyelets and mesh
- Binding off loosely
Don't Forget a Stretchy Bind-Off
The designer specifically recommends using a stretchy bind-off or binding off loosely.
This is worth paying attention to. A bind-off that is significantly tighter than the knitted fabric can restrict the edge and affect how comfortably the cowl sits or wraps around the neck.
Why Knit the Autopilot Cowl?
Autopilot is a particularly appealing pattern when you want knitting that feels relaxing without producing a completely plain accessory.
The 2-row repeat is easy to settle into, while the eyelet texture, seamless construction and customizable dimensions keep the finished cowl interesting.
It can also be a useful project between more complicated sweaters, shawls or lace patterns when you want something you don't need to concentrate on constantly.
A Popular Free Cowl Pattern
Autopilot has become a well-established free knitting pattern since its publication in 2015, with knitters creating it in many different yarns, colors and dimensions.
Its combination of a memorable 2-row repeat and flexible sizing makes it particularly easy to personalize while retaining the character of Dominique Trad's original design.
Get the Free Autopilot Cowl Knitting Pattern
The complete Autopilot Cowl by Dominique Trad is currently available as a free downloadable knitting pattern from the designer's Ravelry page.
Get the Free Autopilot Cowl Knitting Pattern
Pattern availability was checked when this article was updated. Availability on external websites may change over time.
