I think cowls are the greatest thing. They basically style themselves, and they don’t fall off. That’s a win for me!
The Cabin Fever Cowl is the match to the Cabin Fever Slouch. It’s chunky, oversized, and stylish. And it’s easy! There’s nothing groundbreaking about the design of this set; it’s just a simple stitch paired with a beautiful yarn in rich fall colors. And it’s beautiful.
I loved it so much, I made a second one!
About the Yarn
For this pattern set, I used a yarn that I acquired during our family vacation to the Great Smoky Mountains this summer. I have always wanted to visit an A.C. Moore store, but I live several hours from the nearest one… so when our road trip took us right through Cincinnati, we made a quick stop – literally, I basically ran to the yarn aisle and went straight for Stitch Studio By Nicole’s Earthtone, grabbed a bunch of them, and hurried up to checkout. (When you have a travel-weary toddler waiting for you in the van, you don’t get to take your time!)
I’ve seen several of you using Earthtone for my patterns throughout the years, and always wanted to get my hands on some. I absolutely love it. It’s soft and the colors are rich and beautiful and the tweediness adds so much character. A good tweed gives acrylic projects a much more natural look, and it’s also very forgiving. I can hardly even tell where my seam is from the outside!
VIDEO TUTORIAL
I’ve put together a step-by-step video tutorial for you visual learners! The instructions for the pattern are written right on the screen, so you can follow along visually while also developing your pattern-reading skills. It’s a feature I’ve gotten lots of compliments for on my videos, so it’s definitely worth the extra effort it takes to include it!
Prefer a PDF?
This pattern and the matching slouchy beanie are also available as ad-free, printable PDFs! And if you love PDFs, you might want to check out my All Access Pass. It’s an awesome deal! (Or, scroll down for the free version!)
CABIN FEVER COWL
Difficulty: Easy
Finished Size: 35″ around x 14″ tall
Hook: H (5.0mm)
Yarn: Approx. 550 yards of #4 aran weight. You will need about 410 yards of COLOR A and 140 yards of COLOR B. Yarn used in sample photos is Stitch Studio By Nicole’s Earthtone, found at A.C. Moore stores. (Don’t live near an A.C. Moore? Other similar yarns include Vanna’s Choice by Lion Brand or Rustic Romantic by Hobby Lobby.)
Gauge: Done in 3rd loops, 15 HDC x 13 rows = 4″ square.
You’ll also need: Yarn needle
Terms and Abbreviations:
ST/STS (stitch/stitches)
SL ST (slip stitch)
CH (chain)
HDC (half double crochet)
FHDC (foundation half double crochet – see “Special Stitches”)
3rd LOOP (work stitch into 3rd loop only – see “Special Stitches”)
Special Stitches:
Foundation Half Double Crochet (FHDC)
This is the recommended way of beginning the pattern and is better shown than explained, so check out the video tutorial if you aren’t familiar with the technique. There is also an optional classic chain start noted in the pattern, if you would like to do that instead.
3rd Loop Only
Half double crochet stitches have a 3rd loop that we utilize in this pattern. When working in turned rounds, as in this pattern, the 3rd loop can be found just below the front loop on the side of the work that is facing you. When instructed to work in “3rd loop only”, insert your hook into this special loop. This creates a delicate braided look on the opposite side of the pattern.
Notes:
(1) This pattern is written in American Standard Terms.
(2) CH1s at the beginning of rows do not count as a stitch in the final stitch count.
(3) When instructed to “join”, always join with a slip stitch to the first stitch of the round.
(4) Instead of fastening off at each color change, you will be carrying your yarn up the seam on the inside of the cowl. Instructions for how to do this are written into the pattern.
INSTRUCTIONS
Round 1: With COLOR A, FHDC 130. (Alternate start: CH131, HDC in 2nd CH from hook and in each remaining CH.) Join, being careful to not twist the round. There will be a gap where the bottom edge of your first and last stitches do not touch; we’ll fix that later. (130)
Rounds 2-22: CH1, turn. HDC in 3rd loops around. Join. (130)
Round 23: Attach COLOR B (do not fasten off COLOR A). CH1, turn. HDC in 3rd loops around. Join, making sure working tail from COLOR A is in front of the join stitch. (130)
Round 24: Switch to COLOR A (do not fasten off COLOR B). CH1, turn. HDC in 3rd loops around. Join, making sure working tail from COLOR B is behind the join stitch. (130)
From this point on, every time you join, be sure that the yarn is always carried up on the same side of the fabric.
Rounds 25-44: Repeat Rounds 23-24. (Note that when you repeat Round 23, you are no longer attaching COLOR B as it is already attached; you are just switching back to it.)
Fasten off. Use your starting tail to stitch the gap at the beginning closed, then weave in all ends.
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Done! If you’re sharing on social media, be sure to hashtag #cabinfevercowl and tag me @yarnandchai.design. Hope you enjoyed it!
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