Crocheted and Knitted Cowls are big and chunky and warm and totally IN this winter. Why not make your own with our free crocheted cowl pattern? This particular crocheted cowl is worked in a flat rectangle then whip stitched together, but you can easily work it in the round.
Materials
- Size P crochet hook (11.5mm)
- Super Bulky Yarn. I used Lionbrand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick in a heather gray, but any bulky yarn will work.
Special Stitches
FCH – Foundation Chain (or single crochet): Chain 2. Insert hook in the first of two chains. Yarn over, draw through loop (chain stitch just created). Yarn over, pull through two loops on hook. (Single crochet created). You now have two fch completed. *Insert hook in upper loop of stitch just created. Yarn over, draw through loop. Yarn over, pull through two loops on hook.* Three fch completed. Repeat from * to *across for desired number of chain stitches.
HHDC – Herringbone Half Double Crochet. Yarn over, insert hook in next stitch. Yarn over, pull through two loops on hook. (This will be a little awkward, but it’s correct. You might have to use your left thumb and forefinger to really hold the stitches so you can pull through both of them.) Yarn over, pull through two loops on hook.
Directions
FCH 45. (If you can’t quite get the foundation chain, don’t panic! You can do a regular chain 45 and still be fine. A FCH just creates a stretchier base which will be better for your cowl, but either works!)
Round 1: Chain 2 (counts as first HHDC now and throughout). HHDC in each stitch across. (45 HHDC)
Round 2: Chain 2, turn. HHDC in the BACK LOOP ONLY of each stitch across. (45 HHDC)
Repeat Round 2 nine more times or until yarn ends.
Fasten off, leaving a 12″ tail to sew ends together. Match short ends of rectangle and whip stitch together. Weave in ends.
You’re finished! I’d love to see your new project and so would the world. Show off your new crochet cowl in JJCrochet’s Customer Gallery or post your project on Ravelry.
Hi!
This is gorgeous. Any idea how much yarn it takes to complete one cowl?
Thanks so much for the lovely site, patterns, and everything!
Hi Alysha! I’m glad you like this cowl – it’s the perfect evening project as it works up very quickly. It took exactly one skein of the Lionbrand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick–about 110 yards– to crochet this cowl. You can substitute 110 yards of any bulky weight yarn and you’ll get a beautiful cowl. Good luck – let me know if you have any other questions!
I love this! I made one in just a short time! I also learned two new stitches. Thank you so much for sharing it with us. I think I will have to have one in multiple colors! So soft and works up quickly!
Thanks so much for the pattern! I made this with a super-bulky yarn and gave the rectangle a twist before stitching the edges together. This made it like an infinity scarf and it lays nicely in a cowl in the front. I’ve gotten a lot of compliments on it! I send them all your link in case they want to make one of their own.
Keep up the good work!
Thank you, I love this pattern! I just have a question (I’m new to crochet)…I can’t figure out round 2, where it says ‘back loop only’…what does that mean? I’m sorry if this is basic, I’ve been trying & trying to get it right, so I finally decided to ask
Thank you again!!!
Never mind, I figured it out! I love this!
I’m glad you figured it out, Tiffany! It’s just a different way of crocheting and will give you those little “ridges” in your cowl. Enjoy!
Do you have a video where it shows the herringbone half double crochet? I am just a bit confused! My email address is [email protected]. I have been looking at youtube but all I find is the herringbone stitch, not a herringbone half double crochet. Is this the same thing? I went out and bought 3 of the lion brand yarns in different colors – i am excited about getting started (I have to hide my yarn from my boyfriend and brother – they think I have an obsession). Thank you so much in advance.
I don’t currently have a video, Tanya, but I’ll put it on my “list of videos to make”. It’s such a simple stitch that once you’ve seen it a few times you’ll know exactly what to do. It’s not the same as the herringbone stitch (I watched a video on Youtube and there’s an extra step in that stitch, but it’s similar.) I’ll keep you posted if I make a video! Oh and P.S. My family has banned me from buying any more yarn so I know the feeling, ha. We can’t help it!
Thanks. I got the pattern easily.exciting that I learned another crochet stitch. I did not get bulky yarn.
Just a bit confused. did you say ‘Repeat round two, nine more times.Or repeat ’round twenty-nine times’
What is the ideal length of the rectangular piece? My piece measures 9 and a half inches by 3 and a half inch.
Jayna, thank you. I am going to attempt this today. I went out and purchased a bunch of skeins (as I hide them away so I don’t get yelled at for being a “yarn hoarder”). But your patterns are so great and it seems you are wonderful – you should offer classes or make videos as a side job! It seems people from around the country love your work! You are very talented.
Hi Mariola – I wrote out the word “nine” and updated the pattern to avoid any confusion, but you should repeat Round 2 nine times. I’m afraid if you repeated the round for 29 times, you’d end up with a small afghan instead of a cowl, ha. Good luck crocheting your cowl!
OMG I love this! About to start round 4. Thank you for sharing it!
Is it okay to sell items from this pattern?
I read and re read the HHDC stitch 20 times and had my mom the crochet professional read it and we have determined it is a double crochet?? Unless something is missing….in American terminology it’s a double crochet DC
hope that clears it up for some…. This works up so quick and I love the back loop texture 
thanks!
Hi Rachel, thanks for your comment! Sorry for the confusion, but the HHDC is *close* to a double crochet, just a little different.
A typical American DC would be:
Yarn over, insert hook in next stitch. Yarn over, pull through ONE LOOP on hook. Yarn over, pull through two loops on hook. YARN OVER, PULL THROUGH TWO LOOPS ON HOOK.
However, the HHDC is:
Yarn over, insert hook in next stitch. Yarn over, pull through TWO LOOPS on hook. Yarn over, pull through two loops on hook.
It’s slightly different so I’ve capitalized the parts from each stitch that makes the HHDC unique. Let me know if that helps. It’s a tricky stitch since it’s so close to a DC that it can be confusing. I just might have to make a video one of these days.
Hope that helps!
DOUBLE CROCHET:
Yarn over hook.
Pull yarn through stitch.
Yarn over hook.
Pull yarn through 2 loops on hook.
Yarn over hook.
Pull yarn through last 2 loops on hook (one double crochet made.
Sorry but its the SAME..
Hi Susan,
You’re correct in your description of a double crochet, but that is not the pattern for a HHDC. I’ve taken the instructions you wrote for a double crochet and added the part in caps where the HHDC is different. You don’t work another yarn over after pulling the yarn through the stitch the first time.
Yarn over hook.
Pull yarn through stitch.
[DO NOT YARN OVER HOOK] Yarn over hook.
Pull yarn through 2 loops on hook.
Yarn over hook.
Pull yarn through last 2 loops on hook (one double crochet made).
Here’s a video I made showing the HHDC. Maybe try watching a visual representation of the instructions and see if that helps. http://youtu.be/gbHZRDfkVMI Let me know if you’re still having trouble!
Hi,
So I’ve finished the width of the cowl that I would like but I have one question before I finish it. I did the foundation chain to start and it has somewhat of a scalloped look which I love. Is there any way to get that on the other side as well? It’s just not completely symmetrical. Do you have any suggestions?
Thanks for the great, easy pattern! I twisted mine before stitching the ends together to add an extra detail. I also discovered it’s the perfect diameter for a headband too! It was such a quick scarf, I’m making more for the rest of my gifts this year
I am almost done making one of these right now, and it is turning out beautifully! The HHDC used is not the same as a DC.
Double Crochet
1. Yarn over hook (YOH) and insert hook into work.
2. YOH and draw thru work only.
3. YOH and draw thru the first 2 loops only.
4. YOH and draw thru the last 2 loops on hook. 1DC made.
Thanks so much for the pattern!
Hi – I’ve made a couple of these so far, and taught my daughter how as well. Thank you for posting such a fun pattern! I’m about to start my 3rd and am just trying to figure out how to get it going in the round like you mentioned. Any suggestions?
Hi I just made this with a Mobius twist – it looks great and is super warm!! LOVE IT. It took a couple of hours to complete. This would be a great gift.
jayna,
I love this pattern, thank you. I would like to know what the finished product measures to approximately. I feel like my cowl is not long enough. what are the finished measurements?
thanks
Amber
I just started this last night had finished it up this morning, I made mine three colors(green white and purple) because I had just made a huge afghan a few weeks ago with the thick and quick I had left over yarn. I had a lot of trouble trying to read the HHDC instructions but the video definitely helped a lot(though the instructions still seem to be written wrong for my understanding of the stitch).
Thank you so much for the pattern!
Glad to hear you were able to repurpose some left over yarn, Jessica – I’m sure your hat turned out great! If you’d like to share your hat with the world, you can send in a pic here: http://www.jjcrochet.com/blog/customer-gallery/flaunt-it/
Hey there! So I have made this twice now, and really love it. I do have one problem I was wondering if you can help with. I am fairly new to crochet, and it seems like my foundation chain and or chain is always a little tighter than the rest of my work. For example both my scarves came out with looking a little curled.? Luckily it’s not too noticeable with something like this, but anyway do have any tips for this problem? Thanks!
Hm, that’s odd, Niki. The point of using a foundation chain is so the side with the chain is loser, not tighter. Maybe your gauge is a bit too tight for the first row? I think using a super large crochet hook (3 sizes up) to work the foundation chain, then switching back down to the hok called for in the pattern might help make your foundation chain looser.
hi, JJCrochet! Thank you for teaching me how to make a foundation row. I also had to loosen the tension just a little to get it right, You have the best instructions ever and I made one with a heather and white variegated, worsted weight held double stranded. No one can teach as well as you@