Thank you to Lion Brand Yarn for supplying the yarn for this sample!
I know, I know. This one looks familiar. I already used this stitch on a cowl, so what am I doing releasing the same pattern again?
But it’s not the same pattern!
I’ve said it many times — when I find a stitch I love, I get really fixated on it. This has been one of those stitches. So far I’ve made that other cowl, boot cuffs, and a gorgeous rustic-modern blanket.
So for this cowl, I decided that I really wanted it in a color-blocked style. I had my eye on some yarn from Lion Brand’s LB Collection, called 100% Superwash Merino, that I wanted to use. The problem with that other cowl is that I worked it in vertical rows instead of horizontal, so I couldn’t have achieved the color-blocked look with that pattern. So, I decided to write up a similar-but-different pattern, working it in horizontal rows this time. I love how it turned out!
About the Yarn
I don’t wear a lot of bright colors; I’m most comfortable in blacks and grays. (I’m not a sad person, I promise. I just find gray very cozy.) But I have been trying to inject a little color into my wardrobe lately, and my favorite color to pair with classic gray is deep purple. 100% Superwash Merino Yarn from the LB Collection is a really pretty lightweight (#3) yarn that has a nice array of colors to choose from. I chose Wisteria, Charcoal, and Purple for my cowl. The yarn itself was a pleasure to work with. There was virtually no splitting (yay!) and it showed of the stitches really nicely. LB Collection Yarn is only available online at lionbrand.com, their studio in NYC, their outlet in New Jersey, or in the Lion Design catalog. (In other words, you won’t find it at the big craft stores or in your local yarn shop.)
If you’re thinking about using 100% Superwash Merino from Lion Brand in your own cowl, here are a few color schemes I put together that you might like:
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COMFY SQUARES COLOR BLOCK COWL
Level: Easy
Size: Cowl measures 28″ wide by 14.5″ tall before seaming.*
*It should probably be noted here that while most of my patterns are modeled on real people, this one is staged on a standard sized jewelry bust that you find at craft stores, which is only about 10″ wide at the shoulders. Keep this in mind when you decide whether or not to adjust the pattern, because if you want it to look as full on you as it does in the photo, you’ll want to increase your starting chain (just keep it an odd number). The good news is, if you use the recommended yarn, you’ll have plenty of yarn in your skeins to do it.
Hook: H (5.00mm)
Yarn: LB Collection 100% Superwash Merino (#3 light yarn) in 3 colors. You will need 170 yards each of the bottom two colors, and 205 yards of the top color (it uses more because of the ribbing at the top).
You’ll also need: Yarn needle
Gauge: A row of 18SC = about 4″ in length.
Abbreviations Used:
ST (stitch)
SL ST (slip stitch)
SK (skip)
CH (chain)
SC (single crochet)
HDC (half double crochet)
SC+HDC (this just means to put a single crochet and a half double crochet in the same stitch)
FPDC (front post double crochet)
BPDC (back post double crochet)
Notes:
(1) This pattern is written in American Standard Terms.
(2) Starting CHs do not count as stitches.
(3) To adjust the width of your cowl, add or subtract from your starting CH (just begin with an odd number of CHs). To adjust the length of your blanket, add or subtract an even number of rows to/from each color block.
(4) Cowl is worked from the bottom up, so keep this in mind when choosing the order of colors you work with.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
To begin:
With first color, CH125.
Row 1: SC in 2nd CH from hook. SC across. (124)
Rows 2-21: CH1, turn. HDC in 1st ST. (SK next ST, SC+HDC in next ST) across until 1 ST remains. SC in remaining ST. (124)
Row 22: CH1, turn. SC in each ST across. (124)
Helpful tip: The SCs in Rows 22 & 23 help us to create a nice straight line where color blocks come together. If we didn’t add it, the color changes would have a more jagged edge.
Switch to a new color; fasten off previous color, leaving a long tail for seaming.
Row 23: CH1, turn. SC in each ST across. (124)
Rows 24-43: CH1, turn. HDC in 1st ST. (SK next ST, SC+HDC in next ST) across until 1 ST remains. SC in remaining ST. (124)
Row 44: CH1, turn. SC in each ST across. (124)
Switch to a new color; fasten off previous color, leaving a long tail for seaming.
Row 45: CH1, turn. SC in each ST across. (124)
Rows 46-59: CH1, turn. HDC in 1st ST. (SK next ST, SC+HDC in next ST) across until 1 ST remains. SC in remaining ST. (124)
Row 60: CH1, turn. SC in each ST across. (124)
Row 61: CH1, turn. HDC in each ST across. (124)
Rows 62-67: CH1, turn. FPDC in first ST, BPDC in next ST. (FPDC in next ST, BPDC in next ST) across.
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for seaming.
Leaving your 3 long tails alone (there should be one of each color), weave in all other tails to get them out of the way.
Seaming
Lay your cowl flat, then bring the sides together and match up the color blocks. Use a yarn needle to sew each color block closed with its matching yarn tail. Weave in all ends.
Hi!
I’m just wondering if it’s possible to work this in a round? I’m pretty new to crochet, and don’t think I’d do a good job sewing…lol.
Thank you 🙂
You could join at the end of each row. 🙂
Love this pattern, made in cotton as a Xmas present and it’s turned out just lovely, might have to make another one for myself! 🙂
oi, querida
pode me explicar como fazer ponto baixo – pb – em cada ponto transversalmente? Muito grata.
Desculpe, eu não falo português, então não entendo sua pergunta. (Via Google Translate)
Thank you for the beautiful pattern, I have just finished mine?!
I love this cowl pattern, thank you for posting it! I made it the first time in charcoal, heather gray, and mustard. It turned out gorgeous! . I decided to try the second one in the round, and it worked beautifully. The only thing to remember when the round is joined, is to use a slip stitch, then chain one, and then reverse direction and go back the way you just came from. The half double crochet goes in the first stitch, then continue the pattern in the chain space. It works, and is a great alternative for those who prefer making their cowls continuous intstead of joining.
Thank you for the tips Donna. I found that doing it that way, my seam was not as nice as when I seamed at the end. But everyone has their ways of doing things 🙂
Love this pattern!! Can I ask if you know the measurements of each color section? I’m using Hobby Lobby’s I Love This Yarn (#4) so I’m trying to adjust the size. I absolutely love your boot cuff pattern as well! ?
Between 4.75-5″ tall apiece. I evenly distributed the colors 🙂
Thank you so much! I just adore your patterns! I’ve made a few items from your patterns and have them for sale in my Etsy shop if you’d like to see them!
http://Www.shabbychicvalley.etsy.com
Thank you very much again!!
Very nice! You have a very lovely Etsy shop. I really love the bracelets! <3
Thank you so much for your kind words! I appreciate it very much ?
Hey. I just want to thank you for sharing so many beautiful patterns. It’s of my absolute favourites. I am a beginner and your patterns are really easy to follow and the outcome is gorgeous. Many thanks again. Take care.
Hello, I seem to be having a hard time figuring out this pattern. On row 2, am I supposed to go into the stitch “space” between the two sc+hdc stitches from row 1 or are the sc+hdc stitches supposed to be stacked right on top of each other? My work doesn’t seem to be shaping up like your pictures. I’m trying different yarns to see if that’s the problem, but I wanted to check with you.
You want to go into the sc stitch. I always got confused on that too. So you want to do the sc+hdc in the sc stitch, then skip the hdc and do another sc+hdc into the sc. Does that make sense? I think once you start getting the hang of it, you’ll start seeing the similar pattern like in the pictures.
I just wanted to let you know how much I love this. It’s ridiculously soft. I’m making mine in a deep pink-pale pink-cream sort of ombre color combo, and I adore it so much. Keep being you and coming up with really cool stuff!
Thank you for your very sweet words!
Is there another yarn that you would suggest if the recommended yarn is not a possibility? I would like to make this cowl but am not sure what would be most comparable to the superwash merino without the price tag.
I’m not sure what to recommend that would be comparable to the feel of the merino, but any #3 light yarn should work. You could try I Love This Yarn Sport for a more inexpensive option.
This is one of the prettiest cowls that I have even seen. I too thought, at first, it was three stacked upon each other. I then read the directions. It is genius!! I can not wear wool, but I am willing to try the Caron Simply Soft, which has a nice sheen to it. Love it.
Keep doing what you are doing, you are very talented.
Thank you for the pattern.
hi
I watched a member of our local WI crocheting your call the midwife baby blanket and knew that i had to give a go … its beauitfully crafted thank you
regards fiona
Hi, love this cowl but I’m a beginner. Is there a video that you could post of this pattern? Please ?
Not at this time 🙂
Beautiful! I’m into crocheting cowls now and sam anxious to try this one. Thanks for the pattern! I too will be using non-wool yarn.
This scarf is so pretty I’m going to try it with Caron soft yarn and hope it comes out so nice thank you for sharing! Do you by chance have this in a print friendly version?
You can use the “print” button located just above where the pattern begins, or you can purchase an inexpensive ad-free version in my Etsy shop (link located just below the pattern title).