Cowl #3 - Free Pattern

It was a struggle to decide what to write for my first blog post. Should I just write an intro to myself? Should I divulge my future plans? Should I share cat memes?

In the end, I decided to share this pattern. It's one that I wrote a while ago, and I feel like it's a good first blog post. It's a nice, simple pattern that will let you use up scraps or that special skein, giving you a lovely squishy texture. It is also very easy to adapt both the height and the width.

The name may seem odd as there is no cowl #1 or #2. It came about because my youngest son was obsessed with a certain song called Song #3 by a band called Stone Sour. He played it loudly and on repeat, which I didn't mind; it's a great song. As a result it was all that was stuck in my head as I tried to come up with a name, so here we are, cowl #3 and I hope you enjoy making it.

This cowl is a simple construction with a 2-row repeat after the initial setup. You can easily change the size and colours. For my 2-colour version, I used 75g of acrylic yarn in total, but your mileage may vary as different yarns have different yardages. Thankfully, this project lends itself well to stopping a little early if you need to or carrying on to use up the whole skein of precious yarn you've been saving.

I'm giving instructions in US terms for DK weight yarn and 2 colour stripes. If you change your yarn weight, make sure you change your hook size to give a fabric that you like. Using a larger hook will give more drape; using a smaller hook will give more structure. I have also used a foundation DC as my base. I find this looks neater and gives more stretch, helping to eliminate the issue you can sometimes get where the top is wider than the bottom. If you plan to use just 1 colour, then omit the C1/C2 parts, and if you plan to use multiple colours, then add them at the start of the row as you like.

I also have a video tutorial that includes the FDC, as well as the stitch repeat.

Video Tutorial

Materials:

4mm Hook (or size that will give the fabric that you like)

Approx 75g of DK weight yarn (for the shorter version)

Scissors

Darning needle

Abbreviations

C1 - colour 1

C2 - colour 2

Ch - Chain

FDC - Foundation double crochet

HDC - half double crochet

FPDC - Front post double crochet

DC - Double crochet

SS - slip stitch

Notes

The ch1 and ch2 at the start of the rows do not count.

Leave a long enough tail at the start to sew up the gap at the end as well as weave in.

On row 1, you will always end on an HDC; your stitch count never changes.

When striping, you will carry the colours up on the inside. Make sure you don't pull too tight, or it will bunch up and pucker.

Start Crocheting Here!

Foundation row -

C1- 90 FDC ( or any multiple of 2), join with a SS to make a circle, making sure it's not twisted.

Row 1 -

With C1, ch1, (FPDC, HDC) around until the end. SS into the top of the first DC using C2 to join.

Row 2 -

With C2, ch2, DC around, then join with a SS

Repeat rows 1 and 2 until the desired height is reached. End on Row 1.

Finishing Row-

You should have just done a Row 1 and should still have C1 on your hook. Keeping with C1, ch1, and HDC around to give a nice clean edge.

And that's it, you are done! Weave your ends in, and you have a super squishy textured cowl to snuggle up in.