Mountains Cowl Free Crochet Pattern
I feel absolutely crazy releasing this pattern in the middle of Summer! I was intending to have it ready in the beginning of the year but stuff happened and now it’s August! I really love this pattern and loved making every one of these cowls so I don’t want to make everyone wait til Winter for it. Besides, it’s Winter somewhere right now, right? :P
The Mountains Cowl is a zig zag patterned cowl that can be made in three sizes: a large hood cowl, a small cowl, and an infinity scarf. The large cowl hood is long enough to be worn over your head as a hood while still keeping your neck cozy! The small cowl is meant to fit slightly loose around your neck. And the infinity scarf is meant to wrap twice around your neck and also be slightly loose. You can make it with a multi-colored yarn and it will naturally show the zig zag pattern in some places or you can use multiple colors and change each round for a more obvious zig zag pattern.
Finished Sizes
Large Cowl Hood: Approximately 19 inches tall (not including fringe) & 30 inches around
Small Cowl: Approximately 12 inches tall (not including fringe) & 27 inches around
Infinity Scarf: Approximately 6 inches tall & 58 inches around
Difficulty Level: Advanced Beginner
You are welcome and encouraged to sell any items you make using this pattern! All I ask in return is that when selling online, please credit Julie King / Gleeful Things & provide a link to www.gleefulthings.com.
You may NOT sell the pattern, distribute it in any form, repost it online, or alter it to claim it as your own (this includes charts & translations to other languages). Copyright © 2014 Julie King / Gleeful Things. All Rights Reserved.
● Size I (5.5mm) crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge
● Yarn needle for finishing
● Worsted weight yarn. Yardage depends on size (these estimates include enough to make fringe):
Large Cowl Hood: approximately 450 yards
Small Cowl: approximately 260 yards
Infinity Scarf: approximately 270 yards
Yarn used in examples:
Large Cowl Hood: Red Heart Boutique Unforgettable in Polo & Petunia
Bernat Vickie Howell Sheep(ish) in Espresso(ish), Taupe(ish), Robin Egg(ish)
Small Cowl: Red Heart Soft Yarn in Wine and Chocolate
Infinity Scarf: Bernat Vickie Howell Sheep(ish) in Grey(ish) and Gun Metal(ish)
● Invisible Join -An invisible join will be used at the end of a color, when you’re about to start a new one. Here is a video tutorial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsHggQGFq3A
● Fringe – Here is a tutorial on how to quickly cut a lot of fringe at once & here is a tutorial on how to attach fringe.
dc – double crochet
ch – chain
sl st – slip stitch
rep – repeat
rnd – round
ea – each
sp – space
FO – finish off
CA, CB, CC – Color A, B,C
This pattern is worked in joined rounds. Join at the end of each round as the pattern says. If you’re using more than one color, refer to the color changes below each pattern for instructions on when to change color and when to FO colors.
Gauge is not critical since the cowl is not meant to fit snugly, however if your gauge is different than mine, your cowl will be larger or smaller than mine.
Gauge : [1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc] 4 times = 3 1/2 inches. Each dc = 1 inch tall.
If you use this free pattern, please consider supporting me by purchasing a pattern from my shop. Your support will help ensure that I’m able to continue making new patterns to share. Thanks for considering! :)
ch 120. sl st to join.
rnd 1: ch 4 (counts as 1 dc & 1 ch). 1 dc in same ch. [skip 2 ch. 1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc in same ch.] rep around. sl st to join. (80 dc)
rnd 2: sl st into next ch sp. ch 4 (counts as 1 dc & 1 ch). 1 dc in same ch. [in next ch sp: 1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc.] rep around. sl st to join. (80 dc)
rnds 3-30: rep rnd 2
At the end of rnd 30, invisible join rather than sl st and FO.
Large Cowl Color Changes (for the version shown in the photo below)
Dark Brown -CA, Taupe – CB, Blue – CC
beginning ch & rnd 1: CA
rnd 2: CB
rnd 3: CA
rnd 4: CB
rnd 5: CA
rnd 6: CB
rnd 7: CA
rnd 8: CB
rnd 9: CA. At the end of this rnd, invisible join rather than sl st and FO CA.
rnd 10: CB
rnd 11: CC
rnd 12: CB
rnd 13: CC
rnd 14: CB
rnd 15: CC
rnd 16: CB
rnd 17: CC
rnd 18: CB
rnd 19: CC
rnd 20: CB. At the end of this rnd, invisible join rather than sl st and FO CB.
rnd 21: CC
rnd 22: CA
rnd 23: CC
rnd 24: CA
rnd 25: CC
rnd 26: CA
rnd 27: CC
rnd 28: CA
rnd 29: CC. At the end of this rnd, invisible join rather than sl st and FO CC.
rnd 30: CA. At the end of this rnd, invisible join rather than sl st and FO CA.
(shown below)
ch 96. sl st to join.
rnd 1: ch 4 (counts as 1 dc & 1 ch). 1 dc in same ch. [skip 2 ch. 1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc in same ch.] rep around. sl st to join. (64 dc)
rnd 2: sl st into next ch sp. ch 4 (counts as 1 dc & 1 ch). 1 dc in same ch. [in next ch sp: 1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc.] rep around. sl st to join. (64 dc)
rnds 3-19: rep rnd 2
At the end of rnd 19, invisible join rather than sl st and FO.
Small Cowl Color Changes
Color A – Brown, Color B- Red
beginning ch & rnd 1: CA
rnd 2: CB
rnd 3: CA
rnd 4: CB
rnd 5: CA
rnd 6: CB
rnd 7: CA
rnd 8: CB
rnd 9: CA
rnd 10: CB
rnd 11: CA
rnd 12: CB
rnd 13: CA
rnd 14: CB
rnd 15: CA
rnd 16: CB
rnd 17: CA
rnd 18: CB. At the end of this rnd, invisible join rather than sl st and FO CB.
rnd 19: CA. At the end of this rnd, invisible join rather than sl st and FO CA.
(shown below)
ch 192. sl st to join.
rnd 1: ch 4 (counts as 1 dc & 1 ch). 1 dc in same ch. [skip 2 ch. 1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc in same ch.] rep around. sl st to join. (128 dc)
rnd 2: sl st into next ch sp. ch 4 (counts as 1 dc & 1 ch). 1 dc in same ch. [in next ch sp: 1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc.] rep around. sl st to join. (128 dc)
rnds 3-10: rep rnd 2
At the end of rnd 10, invisible join rather than sl st and FO.
Infinity Scarf Color Changes
Color A – Dark Gray, Color B- Light Gray
beginning ch & rnd 1: CA
rnd 2: CA
rnd 3: CB
rnd 4: CA
rnd 5: CB
rnd 6: CB
rnd 7: CA
rnd 8: CB. At the end of this rnd, invisible join rather than sl st and FO CB.
rnd 9: CA.
rnd 10: CA. At the end of this rnd, invisible join rather than sl st and FO CA.
If you like this pattern, you might also like my Pinecone Cowl! It can also be made in three sizes and the pattern is only $4 (or save $2 by also buying the Pinecone Slouchy Hat for a total of $6). Click here to get the combo deal.
You are awesome!!! Love this pattern. THANK YOU!!!!
I have looked at your lovely cowl and have been wanting to make it for myself. Last night we went to dinner in the freezing cold and very windy night. I’m starting mine today. Thank you for your wonderful talent in creating the beautiful classy cowl.
I feel crazy for looking at this pattern in the summer…but heck, I wanna be ready! Fall will be here in CT before you know it, and this is gorgeous (all of them). Thank you! Off to look at your shop!
Love this, can’t wait to start one of my own. Hi ho, Hi, ho it’s off to the yarn store I go. Thank you for sharing
I am making this and I just wanted to clarify. When we get to round 2, after we complete the initial ch 4, dc in the same sp. You say in the next ch space. Well are we going into the immediate ch 1 sp or the 2nd ch 1 sp which is part of our V? In looking back at your finished scarves I believe it’s in the second ch 1 space that is part of the V so that all of our V’s line up in the end? Just wanted to clarify.
Thanks so much and once again am a huge fan of your work!!
Trish from Restlessfingers
It would be the ch sp right after the dc you joined to. Every ch sp will have a V in it. I hope that helps! :)
Hi Julie, I totally love this pattern and as a Christmas giveaway I will be creating this pattern and of course giving you total credit for de design. I recommended other friends to check your patters, which are really cool. Check me out @ johana crochet creations on FB. Happy Holidays!
I love, love, love this pattern!!! I can’t wait to make one for myself!!! Thanks for sharing!!!
Love your patterns soooo much! Wish you had a printer friendly option so I could save patterns for later without wasting paper! Looking forward to seeing more from you now that I have subscribed.
Thank you for this wonderful cowl pattern! It’s winter here in Australia, so I’m making some in our football team colours! Gonna be smashing!
AWESOME!!! Now I know where I put my thick leftover yarns :). Thank you for this pattern <3
I love this pattern, can’t wait to make it! The invisible join I learned here is responsible for my hats having clean, nice looking edges, so thanks for that. I am still pretty new to crochet and I was hoping you could briefly explain how to start the next row, after doing the invisible join to end a color? Thanks!
Hi Julie!
I’m in the middle of crocheting this beautiful cowl, and I wanted to ask about the type of yarn I am using: have you ever used the Loops & Threads Country Loom yarn? I am realizing it’s a little thicker than the yarn you use in the pattern – how do you think it will turn out? I love how the cowl you are wearing falls around your neck, and I’m wondering if the cowl I am making will be too stiff.
Thank you!!
Hannah
Hi Hannah! I have used Country Loom before. It’s quite a bit thicker than what I used but as long as you’re using a larger hook (I’d probably try a K hook), it should still have a nice drape to it. And it’ll be super cozy too! :)
Absolutely gorgeous!
Quick question on the infinity scarf – does the 192 ch allow for this to be looped around the neck and still get a good hang to it? Or would we need to chain a few more for that?
Thanks in advance! Cant wait to make this!
Hi! The last photo (the gray scarf) shows how the infinity scarf fits, wrapped twice around my neck. I thought it was a good fit but you can easily chain more if you want yours looser :)
I really want to make the cowl in the colors shown but it looks like the polo color is no longer available. How much of the polo color is used and what other color could be substituted for it?
Thanks
hmmm… I just did a search for Polo and it looks like it’s temporarily out of stock, along with some of the other colors too. I’m sure it’ll be back soon! :) I don’t know of any other yarns that look like it but you can substitute any worsted weight yarn. The large cowl takes almost two full skeins of Unforgettable.
Can you please tell us what the color changes you used on the large cowl using the petunia & polo colors?
There are no color changes on those. Using a multicolored yarn will create the color changes naturally :)
I was wondering that too. Did you hold the two colors together?
This is absolutely beautiful! :D Thanks for sharing your pattern!
Oh nevermind! I realized you just did one scarf in each color. For some reason, I read that to mean that you used both colors for the first one pictured.
Just wondering if the first row ch 4, 1 dc counts in the 80 dc count? I ended up with 81
Thanks for the quick response. I was also wondering about the colors in the other two large cowls. The opening photo ( light color – Unforgettable Polo?) and the third and fourth photos ( dark color – Unforgettable Petunia?).
Thank You so much.
yep! Those are the two I used :)
I love this! I’m making one right now to give to my cousin and I’m loving how it’s working up. Just a question about the fringe – did you put it all the way around? Or just on the part that hangs down in the front?
I put it all the way around. It’s up to you though! :)
Oh I just love this pattern!!!! I have made the bigger cowl, the medium cowl and the infinity is my work-in-progress. It is sooooo easy and can work up rather quickly. Though I now make sure to check each round to make sure I actually did a V-stitch and not just a dc. hahahahaha Thank you sooo much for this pattern!!! The bigger cowl, the first one I made, is going to a friend who is battling breast cancer. The others, eh, who knows. ;-)
Hi, Love your patterns. Do you have a pattern for the flower head band you are wearing in the photos? My niece wants a “flower crown like the hippies wore”. I love the one you are wearing Thanks
Hi! The headband is based on my Poppy Barefoot Sandals http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/poppy-barefoot-sandals, but I haven’t written a pattern out specifically for the headband part yet :(
I thought so after looking through your patterns ;)
Your Cowls are Beautiful !! I would like to try to make One. Thank You for Sharing your Pattern :)
Any chance for a video demo? I’m a newbie and still not good at reading patterns and making sense of it. :)
I do plan on making a video but I’m not sure how long it will be before I’m able to do it :(
Thank you! Pictures or anything would help, when you can. I’m having a hard time figuring out the first row or two. The stitch placement seems confusing, and my first row just really doesn’t seem right by the way it looks.
Thank you!
My daughter loves the multi-colored large cowl at top of page. My mom wants to make it for her for christmas. We just want to be sure about the colors. Is this one done using the Red Heart Unforgetable : Polo and Petunia. Looking at the pictures of skeins of yarn its just hard to see all the colors
The first one is done with Polo. The purple one a couple photos down in Petunia.
I would like to get feeds from you. Thanks Sherry
I am also having trouble understanding the first row. Ch space is the same as sc space? Wording it as ch space is why its so confusing i think. A video woukd be very helpful. Thanks for sharing though
There are no sc’s used in this pattern. It’s all double crochets and chains. ch sp refers to the ch between the two double crochets.
I definitely plan on making a video tutorial for this, just not sure how soon.
Super!
Thank you for this pattern. For such a simple pattern, I think this is one of my favorite projects. I’m probably going to end up making one if every Unforgettable colorway. Fantastic work!
Thanks for sharing your free pattern. I will add it to my scarf pattern collection and give you credit when I make it. I mostly make scarves for charity donations or for gifts. (Once in a while for myself, too.)
Love this pattern, thank you! I finished round 8 of the infinity cowl and think 9 and 10 should be color A, based off the photo. The color changing pattern goes from 8 to 18 and 19. I’m a little confused :-( Any advise would help :-)
Sorry, I meant Infinity Scarf.
You’re correct, that was a typo. I’ll fix it right now. Sorry for the confusion!
Love this pattern! Thank you for sharing! Quick question. I like the length and spacing of your fringe. Are these 6″ long and then folded in half or a little longer? And are these attached in every ch 1 space or every other? I started putting mine in every space and it seemed too crowded. Maybe I was using too many strings per fringe – it is hard to tell what you used…is it 3 or 4? Thanks so much! This was so easy and comes out so beautiful!
i made the mountain cowl using artyarns ensemble glitter light….and OMG….the yarn calls for a US6 or G hook, i used an H hook and i crochet loosely….the yarn was a birthday present from hubby and it was like crocheting air….i added crystals around the face, and on the fringe…i did chains for the fringes….LOVE this!!!! such an easy pattern and absolutely striking!!!!! thank you julie!!!!!
I bought the same brand and type of yarn, from following your link, and my gauge is half what it’s supposed to be, but if I use a hook a couple sizes bigger, won’t it make it a lot looser? my yarn looks a lot thinner than yous :/ I’ll try it with a K hook and see what happens…
I love this pattern it is really nice and easy to make ands it is perfect for a summer project becous it is not bulkie and you can worked on it for Christmas present of just get ready for your self for winter.it is perfect project to keep on had so when I am waiting for my sun to get dun with therapy I have a simple easy to travelroject
Hi Julie,
I have been trying to save this set of patterns to my desktop so I can print them out I like to crochet while travelling but need to take the pattern with me. Everytime I try to save it the wording spaces are all over the place. Do you have a print friendly version. I would really like to make several of these hooded cowls to give to my sisters.
Thank you
Susan
How long did you cut your fringe? 10 inches?
Yours looks perfect!
Thank you! I think mine where 12 inches.
Thank you so much for this beautiful pattern! It’s so elegant and gorgeous!
Also, I’m going to make a bunch of these and donate to my local domestic violence shelter, so these gorgeous cowls will be making some special ladies very happy ❤
That’s so sweet of you! I bet you’ll make their day! :)
Thanks for sharing this pattern. It’s beautiful.
Thank you! I’m glad you like it :)
I love this! I hope it’s okay that I linked back to it in my blog post. Please check it out! Thanks!
http://mandiethemommy.blogspot.com/2015/06/feature-friday-61215.html
Thanks for using my pattern! Your cowl came out so nice! What type of yarn is that? Thank you for linking to me too! :)
You’re so welcome! The yarn is from Bonita Patterns. It’s called Kaleidoscopic – Over the Rainbow. :)