The Last Cowl

Ok. So I know I have been a BIT obsessed with cowls and scarves and wraps and all things shawl-y recently, but I PROMISE this is the last scarf pattern for a while, especially as Spring is supposedly just around the corner.

But as we are due some verrrry cold weather here in the UK, I couldn't resist making a gorgeously soft and cosy cowl with some super-chunky and super-gorgeous yarn. And it will be my last one for now. 

I promise.

This is the stuff:

Isn't is lush?
Bet you wish you had squish-o-vision ...

It's called Naturalia by Borgo de Pazzi and you can find it at Woolly Mahoosive. (AND you can receive 10% off this yarn with the code Annaboos)

And so I made a loooooong cowl. The sort you can wrap around twice for extra-cosiness.

The pattern is extremely difficult * very easy and very quick.

*I'd love to actually write that on one of my patterns, but no. Simple all the way

You need 1 x 200g / 120m hank of Naturalia by Borgo De Pazzi (or similar)
and a 15mm hook

UK Pattern: (US below)

ch 13
Row 1: 1tr in 4th ch from hook and each st, turn. (11 sts)
Rows 2 - 3: 3ch (counts as tr throughout), 1tr in each st, turn.
Row 4: 3ch, 4tr, 1ch, sk st, 5tr, turn.
Row 5: 3ch, 2tr, 1ch, sk st, 1tr, 1tr in 1ch-sp, 1tr, 1ch, sk st, 3tr, turn.
Row 6: 4ch (counts as 1tr + 1ch), sk st, 1tr, 1tr in 1ch-sp, 3tr, 1tr in 1ch-sp, 1tr, 1ch, sk st, 1tr, turn.
Row 7: Repeat row 5
Rows 8 - 36: repeat rows 4-7
Rows 37 - 38: Repeat rows 2-3
Do not fasten off - slip stitch the top and bottom edges together.

Fasten off and weave in ends.

US Pattern:

ch 13
Row 1: 1dc in 4th ch from hook and each st, turn. (11 sts)
Rows 2 - 3: 3ch (counts as dc throughout), 1dc in each st, turn.
Row 4: 3ch, 4dc, 1ch, sk st, 5dc, turn.
Row 5: 3ch, 2dc, 1ch, sk st, 1dc, 1dc in 1ch-sp, 1dc, 1ch, sk st, 3dc, turn.
Row 6: 4ch (counts as 1dc + 1ch), sk st, 1dc, 1dc in 1ch-sp, 3dc, 1dc in 1ch-sp, 1dc, 1ch, sk st, 1dc, turn.
Row 7: Repeat row 5
Rows 8 - 36: repeat rows 4-7
Rows 37 - 38: Repeat rows 2-3
Do not fasten off - slip stitch the top and bottom edges together.

Fasten off and weave in ends.

So there you are.
I intend to wear this for the entirety of next week, whilst the Siberian winter takes it grip.

Keep cosy!

Sarah xxxx

Season of Gold: A cowl pattern

I absolutley do not need any more scarves, cowls or wraps.

I have loads, I really do.

But when I found this GORGEOUS yarn in a local yarn shop, I fell in love and knew I wanted to wear it around my neck. 
  

You see, it's baby llama and it truly is the most beautifully soft yarn I have ever squidged in my entire life. 

And it's the most perfect Autumnal gold colour, too.

AND it was on sale....

...So I grabbed the last three skeins and ran out of the shop (after paying, obvs), laughing with glee.

I knew exactly what I wanted and found my crochet hook.

And I'm not taking it off.
Ever.

If you'd like to make one (to add to your 'I-do-not-need-any-more-scarves pile'), then here's the pattern (UK first, US below). 

You can use any yarn in any weight with any hook - just make sure you go up a hook size or two to create a lovely, soft drape; simply adjust the foundation chain to suit, making sure it's an even number and you're good to go ...

Enjoy!

Sarah xx

I used:

3 x 50g / 100m balls of Mirasol Llama Una in Mustard (shade 8204)

5mm hook.

Yarn alternative:

Any dk or aran yarn and hook to match

UK Pattern

ch 88, sl st into 1^st ch to join round.

Row 1: 1ch (doesn’t count as a stitch here and throughout), (1htr, 1tr) in next st, sk 1 st, *(1dc, 1tr) in next st, sk 1 st; repeat from * around, 1dc in last st. Sl st into 1ch to join round, turn.

Row 2: 1ch, (1htr , 1tr ) in 3^rd st from hook,  sk 1 st, *(1dc, 1tr) in next st, sk 1 st; repeat from*, 1dc in last st. Sl st into 1ch to join round, turn.

Rows 3 – until yarn runs out: Repeat row 2

Fasten off and weave in ends.

US Pattern

ch 88, sl st into 1^st ch to join round.

Row 1: 1ch (doesn’t count as a stitch here and throughout), (1hdc, 1dc) in next st, sk 1 st, *(1sc, 1dc) in next st, sk 1 st; repeat from * around, 1sc in last st. Sl st into 1ch to join round, turn.

Row 2: 1ch, (1hdc, 1dc ) in 3^rd st from hook,  sk 1 st, *(1sc, 1dc) in next st, sk 1 st; repeat from*, 1sc in last st. Sl st into 1ch to join round, turn.

Rows 3 – until yarn runs out: Repeat row 2

Fasten off and weave in ends.

*******

Thick, Quick Reversible Cowl

Oh yes, indeedy.

The front

This pattern features two of my favourite words when it comes to crochet projects. I may add reversible to that list, too after making this.

I've been trying out lots of things with this lovely, squishy yarn lately. This project just happened to be a happy accident.

The reverse side with ridges

It couldn't be simpler. 

I used about 3 balls of Drops Polaris in white and a 15mm hook. You could use any hook and yarn you fancy. If you have thinner yarn, then simply increase the number of chains in your foundation row (your cowl should measure around 12 inches/30cms wide) and add more rows until the desired height is reached.

Chain 37. Join with a sl st to the first ch.

Round 1: ch3, 1 treble stitch (US double crochet) in each stitch around. Join with a sl st to the top of the ch3.

Rounds 2 - 9: ch2, 1 front post treble stitch (US FP dc) in each stitch around. Join with a sl st to the top of the ch2.

Never made a front post stitch before? Don't worry. It's super-easy.

Yarn over hook, as you would for a normal UK treble (US dc)

Rather than working into the top of the stitch, insert your hook around the post of the stitch below, from the front to the back and to the front again.

Now finish off your stitch as usual (yarn over, pull a loop through, yarn over, pull yarn through all loops).

 

Enjoy making and don't forget to share your makes with me- I love to see what you do. You can find me at all the regular social media haunts. Just tap on the links to the side of the page.

Have a great weekend,

Sarah xx

Granny stripe cowl

So here's what I was making with that lovely yarn from Black Sheep Wools - a cosy cowl.

Recently, much of what I have made has been posted off in brown boxes, ready for the book, or a magazine commission. 

But not this.

This one's for me.

It can be worn short, or long, too.

Ideal for these chilly mornings we've been having.

Fancy making one?

[This pattern is written in UK terms. US equivalents are given below]

UK double crochet = US single crochet
UK treble crochet = US double crochet

Abbreviations:
ch = chain
sl st = slip stitch
dc = double crochet
tr = treble crochet
sts = stitches
sk sts = skip stitches

Granny Stripe Cowl

Finished size: 68cm (26 3/4 in) x 25cm (9 3/4 in) approx

You will need:

4 mm (US 6/G) hook
1 x 50g ball each of Rico Baby Classic dk in Smokey Rose (39) [A], Smoke Blue (42) [B], Dusky Pink (40) [C], Steel Grey (44) [D]
Tapestry needle

Pattern

Foundation chain: using colour A, ch 288. Sl st into first ch to join round.

Round 1: ch 1, dc 288 (beginning in same st as the ch). Sl st to first dc to join round.

Round 2: (ch 3 (counts as tr), 2tr) in same st, ch 1, *sk 3 sts, 3tr in next st, ch 1* repeat around. Sl st into top of ch-3 to join round, sl st to first ch-1 space. Fasten off yarn and attach new colour.

Round 3: using colour C, (ch 3 (counts as tr), 2tr) in first ch-1 space, *ch 1, 3tr in next ch-1 space* repeat around. Sl st into top of ch-3 to join round, sl st to first ch-1 space. Fasten off yarn and attach new colour.

Rounds 4-30: repeat round 3.

I used the colours in the following order: D, C, D, B, D, C, B, A, C, A, C, B, A, B, D, B, C, A, C, D, A, B, D, A, C, B, D

Round 31: ch 1, dc around. Sl st to join round.
Fasten off.
Weave in ends

And that, as they say, is that.
A nice easy project, too.

Enjoy making!

Sarah x

The Ultimate Cowl/Snood Pattern

I think I made my first cowls/snoods about a year ago. See here. They are just brilliant. A scarf without the ends. You know- those ends that get caught in doors/ disappear up sleeves/ get pulled by toddlers.


They were an easy project using some chunky acrylic and an 8mm hook. If memory serves me correctly I even made one in the Noro I found in that amazing charity shop stash.

Well, they were ok.

But all of them had one problem: too clunky (that's a technical crochet term, right?)

You know what I mean - crochet produces quite a dense stitch and these snood/cowls could almost stand up on their own.

Warm? Yes. The most comfortable? Not really. The Noro one was duly frogged for this reason.

So I tried different stitches and patterns until I found one which produced a nicer open texture, based on a V stitch. But still, it was too clunky.

Then it struck me. A larger hook was needed. A big hook would work more air into the pattern.

How big? I hear you ask.

MAAAAAAASIVE. Is my answer.

And so, ladies and gents, may I present The Ultimate Snood Pattern.

I use US crochet terms, so my Double Crochet (dc) here is the same as a UK Treble stitch. We will work from the bottom of the snood upwards in rows*. You'll need a tapestry (blunt) needle to hide any ends and to sew the piece together.

* NB Pattern Update: scroll to the bottom for a version worked in the round, rather than rows- it saves on having to sew up them sides...

1. You need some super-chunky yarn (about 100g) - anything that recommends you use a 8-10mm hook (try Sirdar Indie or Big Softie) and a 15mm hook (I bought mine online) don't worry, it's made of plastic, so is light to manoeuvre and you soon get used to it.
2. Chain 42. Now I use the chainless foundation stitch as I think it gives a good structure to the bottom of the snood, but a simple chain will do. Your chain needs to measure just over 22 inches/ 57cms and its total number should be a multiple of 3.
3. [We are going to work in rows, turning at the end of each.] Chain 3 (counts as a dc) Turn. Make a dc in the 6th stitch from the hook. Chain 1. Dc in the same stitch. Skip 2 stitches, (dc, chain-1, dc) in the next stitch. Repeat along the row. Make a dc in the top of the 3rd chain from the previous row.
4. Chain 3. Turn. (dc, chain-1, dc) in the chain-1 space from the previous row (the V) Repeat along the row. Make a dc in the 3rd chain from the previous row.

Repeat 4 until your snood reaches the desired height- anything from 33 - 40 cms seems good to me, or until you run out of yarn
Fold the two edges together and stitch up!

(Technically, this pattern shouldn't work as you begin with more stitches in the first row, but somehow, it does)

That's it. It really is very easy and super-quick, too.

***Pattern Update: To make the cowl in the round (kindly provided by the lovely Victoria from Yarnroundhook )

Work chainless foundation as original pattern. Join with a slip stitch to form a circle, being careful not to twist the chains.

Round 1: ch 4 (counts as 1dc, 1ch), 1dc in same space as joining sl st, * miss 2 stitches, (1dc, 1ch, 1dc) in next ch, repeat from * , join with sl st to 3rd chain at beginning of round. **do not turn work**

Round 2: sl st into 1ch space in centre of first 'V', ch 4 (counts as 1dc, 1ch), 1dc in same space, *(1dc, 1ch, 1dc) in next 1ch space, repeat from * to end of round, join with sl st to 3rd chain of starting ch. ** do not turn work**

Repeat round 2 until cowl is desired height

Sew in ends.

And on a complete tangent, I met up with the lush Gem from Treasures From the Cherry Tree this week. We had a spot of coffee and a charity shop dash! And we both did rather well, I must say. Look at what I found for £1:

Is it ever too early for a cocktail, I ask you?

Have a great week.

Xx

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My new WIP and some Pea Green

Just a couple of things to share.
Firstly, some quick pics of my current crochet project in progress. (I am loving this one)
The gorgeous Blooming Flower Cushion from Lucy at Attic24.



Lovely from the back too.



And a finished project, too.
A little pea green .... er.. what shall I call it? infinity scarf? cowl? loop scarf?
(you get the idea)



Not a mighty achievement, really. It was actually pretty quick to hook up, it's just one of those kind of projects which is always side-stepped for something new.

I used one skein of King Cole Bamboo.
(you know me by now- it was £1 in the bargain bucket and the only one of its colour)
But actually, I'm pretty pleased -



I used the magic chainless foundation stitch (my goodness, Miss Molly, it's marvellous) until I reached about 50 inches/ 127cms and then joined with a slip stitch to make a loop. I then alternated rows of double crochet US (treble UK) and half double US (half treble UK).
It ended up about 5 inches/ 13cms wide.

Actually, it could do with being a teeny bit wider, but I love it. And it's all mine.
Perfect for this slightly Autumnal change in the weather, methinks.

Happy weekend to you all.
Xx