Autumn Winds Cowl: free crochet pattern

I am very happy and excited to introduce my new free pattern of Autumn Winds Cowl. It consists of 8 granny squares joined together and assembled with lace stripes of different colors. You can adjust cowl size according to your taste. But please, note that you may need more (or less) yarn than stated in the pattern. I tried to write easy-to-follow  instructions and also made a detailed photo-tutorial to help you read them through. And I am also very proud to introduce my first crochet chart. It took me almost forever to create it… But I managed to do that. :)  

Important notes

I suggest that you join new yarn by simply pulling it in indicated stitch and making one or two chain stitches (which will count as the 1st sc or dc accordingly). Most of the rounds are finished in a usual way with a slip stitch. But some of them are finished with a "needle join", which will help to make joining sections invisible! You can read detailed information about these two aspects HERE. If you are not sure how to find front and back loops of the stitches, please, read THIS post.

You will need:

• Yarn in 4 colors. I used yarn Merino Soft* by Scheepjes (50g/1.76 oz., 105 m/115 yds.) Yarn weight: DK. Texture: 8 ply (11 wpi). 

I used 5 skeins in total:

Shade 624 – one skein

Shade 625 – one skein

Shade 607 – one skein
Shade 609 – two skeins

But if you decide to make a larger cowl, you will definitely need more yarn. You can purchase Merino Soft yarn via Deramores*and Wool Warehouse*(ship internationally), Paradise Fibers* (US) or in you local stores (NL).

• Crochet hook 4 mm (G) or size needed to obtain acceptable gauge. 
• Scissors, tapestry needle to weave in ends.

Size

The size of the finished square depends on the yarn and hook you use. My square is approx. 10 cm (4 inches) large. And the finished cowl is 34 cm x 44 cm (13 ½ x 17 ½ inches)

You can see more pictures of the finished cowl HERE. And my review on Merino soft yarn can be found HERE. 

Stitch guide and Abbreviations

US standard abbreviations are used in this pattern. But if you are used to other terms, please check this Crochet Translation Project which might be helpful in translation to your language.

rnd - round
st(s) - stitch(es)
ch - chain
sp(s) - space(s)
yo - yarn over
lp(s) - loop(s)
BL - back loop(s)
NJ - needle join
sk - skip st(s)
*…* *crochet following directions* as many times as indicated
sl st (slip stitch) – insert hook in indicated st, yo, draw yarn up and pull 2nd lp through the 1st lp on hook.
sc (single crochet) – insert hook in indicated stitch, yo, draw up a lp, yo and pull through both lps on hook.
dc (double crochet) – yo, insert hook in indicated st, yo, draw up a lp, *yo, pull through 2 lps* twice.
4-dc-cluster – *yo, insert hook in indicated st, yo, draw up a lp, yo, pull through 2 lps* 4 times in same st, yo, pull through all 5 lps on hook.

Copyright LillaBjornCrochet 2015. All rights reserved. This pattern is for unlimited personal use only. Do not reproduce or sell the pattern. The pattern may not be copied in any way (print or digitally), in part or in full. Items may be sold that are made from this pattern as long as the designer is credited. Shop owners, if you wish to make a kit with yarn using this pattern, please request permission and copyright details from me before offering any kits for sale. Please, read Copyright page for more information.

Color Key: C1 – 609 (Rembrandt), C2 – 624 (Renoir), C3 – 607 (Braque), C4 – 625 (Kandinsky).

Instructions

Add this Pattern to your Ravelry Queue

1. Granny square

Note: I used a symbol of 3-dc-cluster to define 4-dc-cluster in this chart because there was no 4-dc-cluster available in the software. And I didn't find a way to add a new stitch to the program I used.


Rnd 1. Start with yarn C1.

Make magic ring, ch2 (counts as 1st dc) and 11 dc in magic ring; NJ in the 1st dc of the rnd after ch2. (= 12 dc)

Rnd 2. Change to yarn C2. Attach yarn in any st of rnd 1.

Note: the 1st 4-dc-cluster in the beginning of this rnd will be ch2+3-dc-cluster.

*1 4-dc-cluster in next st, ch3, 1 sc in next st, ch3* 6 times, join with a sl st in the 1st 4-dc-cluster. Fasten off. (= 6 4-dc-clusters + 12 ch3-sps)

Rnd 3. Change to yarn C3. Attach yarn in any 4-dc-cluster of rnd 2.

Note: 1st sc of the rnd is ch1, so you will make ch4 in the beginning of this rnd.

*1 sc in 4-dc-cluster, ch3, 1 dc in next sc, ch3* 6 times, join with a sl st in the same 4-dc-cluster where you attached the yarn, don’t fasten off. (= 6 dc’s + 12 ch3-sps)

Rnd 4. Continue with yarn C3.

*ch4, 1 4-dc-cluster in next dc, ch4, 1 sc in next sc* 6 times, the last sc of the rnd will be a sl st. Fasten off. (= 6 4-dc-clusters + 12 ch4-sps)

Rnd 5. Change to yarn C4. Attach yarn in any 4-dc-cluster of rnd 4.

Note: 1st sc of the rnd is ch1, so you will make ch6 in the beginning of this rnd.

*1 sc in 4-dc-cluster, ch5, 1 dc in next sc, ch5* 6 times, join with a sl st in same 4-dc-cluster where you attached the yarn, don’t fasten off. (= 6 dc + 6 sc + 12 ch5-sps)

Rnd 6. Continue with yarn C4.

Note: you will get 4 corners after this rnd formed by 2dc, ch2, 2 dc. Two corners will be made in sc’s of rnd 5, and two – in dc’s of rnd 5.

*1 sc in sc/dc of rnd 5 (1st sc of this rnd will be ch1), 4 sc in next ch5-sp, 1 sc in next dc/sc of rnd 5, (1 sc, ch2) in next ch5-sp, (2 dc, ch2, 2 dc) in next sc/dc, (ch2, 1 sc) in next ch5-sp* 4 times, NJ in the 1st sc of the rnd after ch1. (= 8 sc and 2 ch2-spaces on each side of the square, and (2 dc, ch2-sp, 2 dc) in each of four corners).

Rnd 7. Change to yarn C1. Attach yarn in 1st dc after any ch2-sp in the corner.

*1 dc in each of next 2 dc (1st dc of the rnd will be ch2), 2 dc in next ch2-sp, 1 dc in each of next 8 sc, 2 dc in next ch2-sp, 1 dc in each of next 2 dc, (2 dc, ch2, 2 dc) in next ch2-sp* 4 times, NJ in 1st dc of the rnd after ch2. (= 80 dc + 4 ch2-sps)

Congratulations! Your first granny square for Autumn Winds Cowl is finished. Make 7 more grannies with different color way. After finishing, block them to fix their shape. I was a bit in a hurry to finish my cowl, so I blocked it when it was ready, but it was too late to give it a perfect shape. So, please, consider blocking as soon as possible.

2. Joining granny squares

There are lots of ways to join granny squares. You can use your favorite for this cowl. I decided to join mine with a “flat zip” method. Please, check this POST for details. I used yarn C3 to join the squares.

Whatever method you prefer, you should join 2 rows (each consisting of 4 squares) together.Weave all yarn tails in.

Now crochet around your large rectangle with sc. Attach yarn color C3 in any st on the right side of large rectangle (I did this round in back loops only), make ch1 which counts as 1st sc and continue crocheting with sc. Make 1 sc in ch (BL) before every joining row, 1 sc in joining row and 1 sc in ch (BL) after joining row; and (1 sc, ch2, 1 sc) in ch2-sp in every corner of your large rectangle. NJ in the 1st sc of the rnd after ch1. (= 91 sc on each long side, 45 sc on each short side and 4 ch2-sps in the corners)

3. Assemble the Cowl

Now you will crochet in back and forth on long side of your rectangle.

Row 1. Start with yarn C2. Attach yarn in ch2-sp in the corner of rectangle (on right side) and make ch1.

[*ch3, sk 3 sts, 1 sc in next sc* 5 times, ch3, sk 2 sts, 1 sc in next sc] 4 times. The last sc of this row is made in ch2-sp in another corner of large rectangle. Don’t fasten off. (= 25 sc + 24 ch3-sps) Turn.

Row 2. ch3, *3 dc in next ch3-sp, ch1* 23 times, 4 dc in last ch3-sp. Each ch3-sp of row 1 will be covered with 3 dc.

Repeat rows 1-2 as many times as needed for cowl width. If you want to change the color – fasten off in the end of rnd 2 and attach new yarn in the same way as you did for row 1 (always on the right side and in the 1st dc of the previous row). I made 14 rows on one side of rectangle and 45 rows on the other. When you are satisfied with the width of your cowl, finish crocheting on one of the sides after repeating row 1 and don’t fasten off.

Here is my color way:

One side of rectangle:

Rows 1-4 – C2
Rows 5-6 – C4
Rows 7-10 – C3
Rows 11-12 – C1
Rows 13-14 – C2

Another side of rectangle:

Rows 1-2 – C2
Rows 3-6 – C1
Rows 7-10 – C4
Rows 11-12 – C3
Rows 13-16 – C2
Rows 17-18 – C3
Rows 19-20 – C1
Rows 21-22 – C4
Rows 23-45 – C1 (don’t fasten off)

Now you will join two sides of your cowl together. Fold you cowl facing wrong sides together. The side with unbroken yarn will be behind (Side 1), and the side you finished before will be in front (Side 2). You will make 3 dc in each ch3-sp on Side 1, and 1 sc in each ch1-sp on Side 2 of the cowl. Please, see a photo-tutorial below.

To begin joining, make ch3 and 1 sc in 1st dc on Side 2 (you should insert the hook from back to front. It will help to make the join without a visible rib – see pictures below). Now make *3 dc in next ch3-sp on Side 1 working on its wrong side and 1 sc in ch1-sp on Side 2. Repeat from * till you come to the end of the row. Finish this row with 1 sc in ch3-sp in the end of the row on Side 2. Don’t fasten yarn off.

Now you will crochet around the upper side of your cowl on its wrong side.

*ch3, 1 sc in the same sp where 3 dc’s where made, placing sc after these dc’s. Repeat from * till you come to the corner of large rectangle made of granny squares. (I made 7 repeats)

ch3, sk ch2-sp and 2 sc on rectangle’s short side, 1 sc in next sc, *ch3, sk 3 sts, 1 sc* 5 times (the last sc of this repeat will be made in joining row), ch3, sk 2 sts, 1 sc, *ch3, sk 3 sts, 1 sc* 5 times (the last sc of this repeat will be made in a sp after the corner of rectangle).

*ch3, 1 sc in the same sp where 3 dc’s where made, placing sc after these dc’s. Repeat from * till you come to the beginning of the rnd. I made 23 repeats with the last sc of this rnd made in the same sp in the beginning of this rnd. Don’t fasten off. Turn. Crochet on the right side of the cowl.

*3 dc (1st dc of this rnd will be ch3) in next ch3-sp, ch1* repeat for every ch3-sp. I made 42 repeats. Finish with a sl st in ch3-sp in the beginning of the rnd. Fasten off. Weave yarn tail in.

Crochet in the same way around the bottom side of your cowl. I used yarn C3.

And now Ta-dah! Your Autumn Winds Cowl is finished! I hope you like it :)

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