The Cowl for Skerin Four Ways

Susan Kerin writes, 
"I wanted to design a Christmas gift, decided on a crocheted scarf.  Began experimenting with colors and textures of my yarn remnants and worked various prototypes that could be easily written as a pattern. Result was the Cowl for Skerin Four Ways."

The pattern also calls for four buttons, which is a fun exercise in itself to go through the button box and pick out the “just” right accent of color/textures of buttons to put the cherry on top of this delicious yummy item.  Susan said the response to this scarf was "absolutely overwhelming"!

Cowl For Skerin Four Ways Crochet Pattern

All kinds of texture goin’ on in a soft and warm cowl; completed in multiple textures and yarn weights and lots of fun choosing the just-right buttons to set it off!  Makes up really fast; excitement builds as each new color and texture are added.  Work seems to go faster and faster as each row is completed … and you can’t wait to see what the next completed row brings!  Skill Level:  Easy.  Of yarn weights in yarn standards categories 4, 5, and 6. Finished size:  approx. 32”x6”.

©2014 Susan D.Kerin, http://skerinknittingandcrochet.com/product/cowl-of-skerin-four-ways-crochet/

Lacy Star Stitch Crochet Cowl: Spiraling Starwirbel

Starwirbel Cowl-Capelet

Crocheting star stitches that look this lacy has been a fun discovery! Earlier this year I was preparing to teach a new crochet class on star stitches. This is when I learned about the incredible lace textures star stitches can have. 

The Starwirbel Cowl came together quickly as a design for several reasons. With a big crochet hook, each star gets you where you want to go faster.

You can use all different kinds of yarn. (Link goes to the Starwirble projects page in Ravelry. Also see its crochet along here.) 

I used a yarn that has bitsy sequins here and there, with some mohair and silk. I couldn't put it down!

It's crocheted in the round with no turning—that means it's a spiral. I love how you can really build up speed and momentum when crocheting in a spiral.

I named it "Starwirbel" for this reason. the "wirbel" part is a German word for whirl. That's what the spiraling construction felt like to me while crocheting it. 

Before I found the term "wirbel" I was thinking of names like "Star Whirl" or "Star Funnel." I think "Starwirbel" is more distinctive and memorable. Also, I love that several German crocheters have purchased this pattern.


This pattern is not free and I really appreciate each and every purchase of it. Starwirbel comes with a great photo tutorial. It also benefits from all the information I gleaned from the (frankly outrageous) amount of research I did on star stitches for my star stitch classes!

Variations on the En Fleur Cowl for Crochet! Magazine

The En Fleur Cowl is my latest cowl design, and it is also the first time I have designed a project for Crochet! magazine! The bold floral motif inspired this cowl, and in addition to designing the magazine version, I wanted to find more ways to use/ alter the motif pattern.

First, I decided to try making the motifs in 2 colors with a lazy daisy embroidery embellishment in the center. It gives it quite a different look:

Then, I decided to try crocheting the motifs in pearl cotton thread to create a statement necklace:

You can find instructions for how to alter the pattern in the magazine to make this necklace, on my blog.

The stylists for the Crochet! magazine photo shoot came up with the idea to wear the cowl as a headband. I love the versatility of that. you could easily wear it as a cowl or a headband on the same day, depending on the weather or your mood!

These are just a few ways you can have fun with a simple motif pattern- whether you change the colors, yarn, or the way you wear it, you can get a lot of mileage out of a pattern!

New Crochet Mobius Cowl Scarf: Scalloped Star Stitch Rib

Cowl crochet fever is back again! 

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.)

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 star stitch pattern in a color-shading
yarn by Marks & Kattens.

  This last photo shows a strand of two different colors held together.

Starlooper star stitch pattern crocheted double-stranded.

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!

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.

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!

I Love Yarn Day!

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

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

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!

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.

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!

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.

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!!"

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. 

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

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.

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!

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!

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!