Saturday, September 27, 2014

New Crochet Mobius Cowl Scarf: Scalloped Star Stitch Rib

Cowl crochet fever is back again

A larger Starlooper Mobius Cowl warms the shoulders
A larger Starlooper Mobius Cowl warms the shoulders. 
(The contrasting stripes were experiments that I decided
to leave in and see how they'd drape different ways.)


Starlooper Crochet Star Stitch Scarf with fewer rows makes a nice overlapping neckwarmer
Fewer rows of this Starlooper: a
neckwarmer that overlaps in the front.
When I added a mobius twist to the Starlooper loop scarf, it multiplied the fun ways it drapes around the neck and shoulders. I created a whole "menu" of NINE looks or wearing options.

I love how this cobalt blue merino wool yarn photographed! The star stitches are lovely no matter what but this soft Z-twisted merino yarn adds to the texture. 


Two more photos: the first shows the same Starlooper star stitch pattern in a color-shading yarn.
Starlooper Crochet Star Stitch Mobius Cowl in a long striping color shading yarn
Starlooper star stitch pattern in a color-shading
yarn by Marks & Kattens.

  This last photo shows a strand of two different colors held together.
Starlooper Crochet Star Stitch Mobius Cowl with two strands of yarn held together
Starlooper star stitch pattern crocheted double-stranded.

Friday, April 19, 2013

Adapting a Scarf Pattern into a Cowl Pattern


When I am working on a new design, I always keep my mind open to ways I could adapt the pattern to give it maximum versatility. I think the Ruffles Scarf pattern I designed for Interweave Crochet's Fall issue, is one of my most versatile patterns to date. When I sent the finished sample to Interweave, I included photos of a dozen ways the scarf could be worn. It really looks very different depending on the way it is wrapped! 

Later, I got the idea to shorten the scarf to make it into a cowl, and I just had to make one! I love how the cowl turned out, and that it looks different enough from the scarf, but still has the same flavor. Chances are if you like the scarf pattern, you will like this too!

I have given instructions on my blog as to the alterations that need to be made to the original scarf pattern to make a cowl, and another version that includes some surface crochet embellishment.

I am now curious about how other scarf patterns might transform into cowls!

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Wintergreen Cowl CAL

Ellen Gormley's Go Crochet Ravelry group is doing a CAL of the Wintergreen Cowl. It officially starts in March but some have already jumped ahead.  Here's the link to the thread to join us!


The pattern is available either a la carte here.
or as part of "The Snowflake Story" ebook... here.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Introducing the Natalie Cowl

Photo by Harper Point for Interweave Crochet

It is great to be posting on the Crochet Cowls blog again! I designed the Natalie Cowl for Interweave Crochet's latest Accessories issue, and I am thrilled to be able to share it with you. It is crocheted in 3 pieces, and then the 3 pieces are crocheted together simultaneously. It helps you to place the motif perfectly and securely. It looks a little different depending on how it is worn. In the above photo from the magazine, the lower band has been pulled down flat. You can also let it roll over more, as in the photo I took before sending the cowl sample to Interweave.

If you would like to read more about my design process for this cowl, I have done a blog post on my own blog as well. I would love to have you visit me there!





Friday, October 12, 2012

I Love Yarn Day!

Celebrate 'I Love Yarn Day' with me!  Here's a FREE Cowl pattern. Well, find the pattern at ILoveYarnDay.org


Monday, August 13, 2012

Bruges Lace Cowl!

Hi, Ellen Gormley here! In my new book, Learn Bruges Lace, there is one cowl shown 2 ways!  One is Red Heart Shimmer and the other is Universal Swiss Mohair. The exact same symbol diagrams and written instructions, with very different results! 


The book is 8 projects, 56 pages for $9.95 from Annie's Catalog. It also includes 2 scarves, 3 hats, 1 blanket, 1 bracelet and 19 pages of practice swatches/exercises to learn this fun and easy technique!

Read more about it on my blog www.GoCrochet.com


Sunday, February 5, 2012

Wintergreen Cowl

Designed by Ellen Gormley, and made in the Bruges Lace style, the easy "Wintergreen cowl" is made in the Fiber Company's Luxurious "Road to China" yarn. It is a Baby Alpaca, Silk, Camel, Cashmere blend. The project is one of 4 accessory projects in a new Interweave e-book "A Snowflake Story".  I hope you like it!


Saturday, January 7, 2012

A New Year, A New Crochet Cowl Free Pattern

Ravelry Project Page
Everyone, especially beginning crocheters, should know about Judi's Building Block Cowl. It's a lovely and warm new crochet cowl scarf designed by crochet teacher Judith Weingarden. As she explains below, she had crochet beginners in mind as she designed this mobius cowl. 
Ravelry Project Page


It's an instantly downloadable crochet pattern at her new Crocheted Jewels website. You can also see it in different yarns in Ravelry and its photo set.


Here's what Judi told me the other day about her mobius cowl design: 


     Because many of my students are beginners, I wanted a cowl pattern that would use only single crochet and chain stitches. I teach crocheting at 2 locations in Avon, CT - Michaels and Yarnover.
Ravelry Project Page

     The pattern is a mobius, and can be worked up quickly.


     I am offering it as a free download on my new website, and thought this crochet cowl design blog would be another great place to offer it. I am thrilled to be dipping my hook into the world of design! I love teaching and crocheting, and am really excited to be combining the two!  



Thanks Judi for letting us know about your new free crochet pattern!
Here is the direct download link to the pattern.


Saturday, December 3, 2011

Two New Slip Stitch Cowl Crochet Patterns

Thaxton Hooded Cowl in thermal Slip Stitch Crochet
The roasty-toastiest cowl I've ever crocheted is also my first cape-like hooded crochet cowl (“snood” is the current trendy definition). 

The Thaxton Hooded Cowl design came to mind after a bitter cold front last winter made my favorite Orbit Cowl feel like mere springtime lace


The Thaxton downloadable crochet pattern includes two ways to seam it, and two sizes for using less yarn if desired. 
Thaxton seamed 2nd way: tall cowl quadruple-rolled

Thaxton is so warm because it's: 
  • densely ribbed, and 
  • stretchy-snug, and 
  • half alpaca fiber. The alpaca content of the yarn I used piles on even more warmth, much like angora would. (Alpaca and angora are both warmer than wool.) 
Isn't the raspberry color delicious?


Undaria as 2-skein long twirl scarf
My other new cowl pattern, Undaria FlutterScarf, is a one-skein neck warmer, or a two-skein scarf if you prefer a standard-length long twirler. Scroll down for more views of this versatile flutter-drape!


Draping Undaria 1-skein
Wondering where the name Undaria comes from? Well, it's botanical. 


One of many ways to drape
a 1-skein Undaria
With the gentle sea-green color shifts of this Mini-Mochi yarn I kept thinking of the soft ripples of Wakame seaweed in miso soup. Undaria is the botanical name for a type of seaweed. I also like that “Undaria” sounds similar to “undulating”.

See all of my Slip Stitch Crochet designs. Slip stitches are so fun to design with!

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Ten Crochet Cowls for Men!

Photo ©Patrick Hassel-Zein
Run right over to CrochetBlogger's Crochet Concupiscence blog post for a great photo series of ten men in manly crochet cowls


To whet your appetite, an eleventh is pictured at left: Robin's Hood, a hooded Tunisian crochet design by Patrick Hassel-Zein. 


Patrick is a 2011 nominee for the Crochet Liberation Front's Flamie Awards for Best New Crochet Designer and Best Crochet Designer of Mens Wear. 


Robin's Hood is part of a Tunisian crochet pattern book in English here, in Icelandic here, and in Swedish here.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

A Crochet Cowl to Offer Comfort

Drew Emborsky designed a new crochet cowl wrap! The pattern is now available as part of The Crochet Dude's brand-new book, Hug It Out: Nine Crochet Designs to Offer Comfort. (see book cover below.)


I know from previous cowl blog posts that a soft, generous-size mobius is a very popular cowl style. It can be worn several ways with effortless grace to warm the neck, shoulders, and more. Its comfort adds easy style.


 See Hug it Out at Amazon.com
I asked Drew to tell me more about his new cowl design. 
He wrote, 
"I created this cowl because of all the great ways it can be worn. Especially for someone with mobility issues, it's nice to be able to wrap the shoulders without the bulkiness of a shawl, have a fluffy scarf just by pulling it up around the neck, then going right to a hoodie if the need arises - all without having to swing a crocheted garment around themselves. And even with all that function, I hope it makes her feel pretty too!!"

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

The Perfect Stitch for Fall Crochet Cowls!

- - Free Crochet Pattern Alert! see below - -

Slip Tectonics Cowl combines two kinds of slip stitches so that it
is self-shaping. This gives it easy-chic looks and comfort.
Thaxton Hood Cowl


I'm in love with my new cowls made with the super stretchy, warm, soft, snug, and stylish crochet slip stitch ribbing. Especially in short row wedges! So, I've created a free crochet pattern called "Slip Slope Scarf" to help introduce this technique, see below.

Short rows and slipped stitches are both much more common in knitting than crochet. Together they make magic for crochet cowls.
Slip Slope Scarf (free pattern)
Pattern includes guidelines for making a

 loop scarf & moebius-style infinity scarf

In crochet, combining slip stitches and short rows is rare. When I do see crochet short rows, it's more often for "soakers" (diaper covers) in regular crochet, and for Tunisian crochet. 


The few short-rowed slip stitch designs I've found so far have been for hats--and I can see why! What a fabulous fabric for toasty hats that keep ears covered!
Side view of the self-shaping  
Slip Tectonics Cowl  

(For some examples of these non-cowl short row designs, see my Crochet Inspirations Newsletter Issue #29.)
Slip Slope Scarf
as scarf


Personally I prefer to wear cowls as hat-like hoods when I need them. Also, right now I'm loving the new textures and color patterning I can do with crochet slip stitch rib short rows worked flat, rather than in the round as hats usually are. That's where I'm at in my crochetin' journey.


Below is a photo from my free online tutorial. It shows the slip stitch short rows in progress. 

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

I just found a new cowl! Click here to go see it. Really. You'll love it!

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Fast, FREE Crochet Cowl Pattern, for a Limited Time?

© DRG
I stumbled on this free downloadable pdf just now, and am announcing it here a.s.a.p. because I don't know how long it's available at the link below!


Beginner's Luck by Allison Weldon is a new crochet cowl that you could whip up in an hour or less, even if you're a new crocheter! It's the Featured Pattern of the new December 2011 issue of Crochet World magazine. 


In Ravelry.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

New Crochet Cowls for Fall

Here are two very new crochet designs for cowls that I'm seeing around the 'net. They're just right for early Fall:
Red Circle © Bernadette Ambergen


Doesn't Bernadette Ambergen's Red Circle look like fun to crochet and to wear? Her downloadable pattern PDF is available for $5 in her Etsy shop, Berniolies Designs


Tuni Trio Cowl © Caron International
Cari Clement designed Tuni Trio Cowl, an easy Tunisian crochet cowl. Its fun colorwork method looks stylish for Fall. Not only that, it's a free crochet pattern


I've done this three-color Tunisian crochet method, and it's addictive. This is a great time to get hooked on it if you haven't tried it yet.
Happy crocheting everyone!

Saturday, August 27, 2011

From Both Sides Now Infinity Scarf (Cowl)

http://www.caron.com/projects/ss_chunky/ssc_both_sides_now_scarf.html
Follow the link for my latest Cowl-ly design. I designed this to be pretty on both sides, so no matter how you wear it, it looks great! Be sure and check out all the different ways that it has been styled, and happy hooking!

Sunday, July 17, 2011

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/misty-blues-lace-cowl
Have you seen the Autumn issue of Crochet! Magazine? Follow the link to see my Misty Blues Lace Cowl. Get yours now! 

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Jean Leinhauser in Loving Memory

It has been a long while since I wrote a blog post, life has a habit of getting in the way. Some things that we think are very important, take over and we let them consume us. Yesterday, I opened my email to the sad news that Jean Leinhauser had unexpectedly passed away. So many emotions flashed through my mind. I could not believe this news, it was not registering in my brain. This cannot be true, didn't I just get an email from Jean 2 days ago? When Jean's great friend and business partner, Rita Weiss confirmed Jean's death, I was devastated.

I cannot remember the year that I actually met Jean, but I remember the meeting. I introduced myself, so happy to finally meet her, and she took my hand and said "Margaret, I know who you are". I was so blown away by this that I was speechless. A few years ago, Jean and Rita presented me with a sparkly, rhinestone pin that says "Old Broads Rule" and officially inducted me into the OBC (Old broads club). It has been a running joke and great fun at conferences when we wear our pins.

Jean was to be honored next month at the Crochet Conference in Minnesota for being voted in as the first member of the Crochet Hall of Fame. Her lifelong achievements in designing and publishing are so numerous that it would take a book to list all her books. Now in addition to honoring Jean, we will be remembering her and all the great things that she accomplished.

Jean was a legend in the world of crochet and she will be sorely missed. So many wonderful things have been written about Jean, she touched so many lives, I for one will feel her presence every time I attend a conference. I know that she will be with us and making sure that I am wearing my pin, and encouraging all the OBIT's (Old Broad's in Training) to keep on trying for excellence in their work, and to keep on submitting their designs.

Margaret

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

New Lacy Crochet Cowl for Spring

Trellis: Tonal DK-weight yarn version
I've got crochet lace cowl scarves & wraps on the brain. I can't think of anything more beautiful to drape around one's head, shoulders (or dare I say décolletage) at this time of year! And they're so easy to crochet.

I just added a new downloadable Doris Chan crochet pattern to the DesigningVashti.com crochet site. Trellis has turned out to be one of those make-it-now-and-get-addicted-to-making-more lace patterns. That's what happened to Doris, according to the story she blogged about it. So, the pattern PDF includes THREE shapes of Trellis to crochet, and in a whole range of yarn types. 

I like what Doris said about using color-changing yarn for this design: "Inexplicably, Trellis is also happy in tonal shaded yarns and in long-repeat colorways, which hardly ever happens with crocheted lace." 

It's true, all bets are off if the stitches are lacy, so it's one of those pleasant discoveries about a design


Trellis: Color-Changing Worsted Wt. Version

I love self published crochet patterns! Not only does the designer choose the yarn, s/he is also free to play with other yarns for the same design, and then share the results! 

One of the highs of independent crochet designing for me is discovering how a design turns out to have special versatility and hidden strengths. 

Indie crochet designers are free to "run with it," and explore intriguing parts of a design. How are related variations (in yarns and shapes) not going to happen? Why shouldn't a designer include them in the pattern PDF and share the excitement? So I love to see it happen for Doris too.

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Easy Style: Crochet "Brioche" Stitch Cowl (free pattern)


Sometimes a crochet stitch pattern like this one is just so perfect, and a cowl is the perfect way to show it off. 


Cami has a blog called Art, Like Bread. I love this from her blog: 
In the Winter 2011 issue of the free online magazine, Tangled, editor and professional designer Tracy St. John offers a crochet cowl pattern called Radicowl
It features a reversible crochet "brioche stitch" pattern that is one is one of my personal favorites. Not only is it fast and easy, it's super fun to see what happens when you change colors! 
I agree with Tracy, it has the charm of knit brioche with all the added benefits of being crocheted
I've met new crochetin' friends in Twitter, and Cami (aka Caissa McClinton) is one of them. Check out her completed Radicowl: 
"The world is beautiful and art, like bread is for everyone."
You can also see her portfolio and website here: http://artlikebread.com/home.html . If you're in Ravelry (it's free to join) clicking here will take you to Cami's project page for the Radicowl.