Sassenach Claire Outlander Crochet Cowl - Free Pattern

Don't i look smug! Well i was definitely feeling that way!

After sharing my knitted pattern of Claire's Cowl, quite a few people asked for a crocheted version. The knitted cowl is in garter stitch, of which there is no real equivalent in crochet. So after some experimenting and some results that were not quite what I wanted, I came up with this pattern, which I feel comes about as close as possible to the knitted version, both in appearance and drape. I really like it and I hope you do too!

My enigmatic look. Terrible isnt it.

Doubles nicely as a hood.

HOOK SIZE: 16mm/Q (big, yes)

YARN: Super bulky 212 yards (2 skeins)

GAUGE: 4 inches = 6 stitches

FINISHED SIZE: 12 inches wide, 14 inches tall

The yarn I used is Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick and Quick Super Bulky in Barley. It is the same yarn I used for the knitted cowl. Two/2 skeins. Unlike the knitted cowl, this crocheted cowl is worked with one strand.

Key:

FDC = foundation double crochet
FPDC = front post double crochet
BPDC = back post double crochet
SS = slip stich

THIS PATTERN IS WORKED IN THE ROUND AS A TUBE.

There are 2 ways of starting, depending on your comfort level. You can do the traditional chain, or you can do a FDC. Either way you join for working in the round. Here is an excellent video about FDC by CrochetEverAfter on youtube: FDC how to

UPDATED: I did end up doing a crochetalong/tutorial. I hope you will find it helpful. Click here.

PATTERN:

(I crocheted this with a very relaxed tension, so as to mimic the floppiness of Claire's knitted cowl. Please check your gauge)

Chain 34 (or FDC 34)

SS to your first chain to join, making sure your length of chains is not twisted. (again, if you do FDC just join to the chain and skip to Round 2)

Round 1: Ch 2 (yes. 2. not 3. serves as first DC), DC into FIRST chain from the hook (do not skip chains as you normally would), and DC in all remaining chains. (34)

Round 2 and all subsequent rounds: *FPDC, BPDC* (34 stitches every round, starting with FPDC and ending with BPDC)

Do not turn your work, do not make turning chains at the beginning of the rounds. Just keep going around and around and around like a spiral.

Finish, weave in ends, and enjoy!

****I just got a great question from rebelcake on youtube: "How do you know where to tie it off when it's finished? Is there a closing stitch?"

I've tried it several different ways and they all seem to work well. You can finish at the end of a round, or not. You can finish with the last BPDC, or you can finish with a regular SC (being a shorter stitch it can make the join look smoother). They both look good either way, so please feel free to experiment with what looks best for your cowl. If you are unhappy with your join, there are nice tricks to make the end smoother. Liat has a great tutorial on hiding the bind-off join for knitting, which is essentially the same approach for crochet.


EXTRA NOTES AND STUFF:

I continued mine until I reached about 14 inches height, which was 16 rounds for me. It was long enough to act as a hood/snood. I still had enough yarn left over to do probably another 2 rounds. (I believe it takes 12 yards of this yarn to make 1 round, but don't hold me to that).

If you want to make a chain ("turning chain" though you are not turning) at the end of every round, I don't think that would be a problem. I did not do it that way and was happy with the way it turned out.

You don't have to make it as tall as I have. You control how tall you want to make this. Just keep going around until you want to stop. At my gauge, 1 skein of yarn would make at least 8 inches tall cowl. It's up to you! Since there is no bind off row with crochet, you just stop wherever you want.

Any questions just ask!

This pattern is also on Ravelry, along with my other Outlander-inspired patterns.

 "och, its too beg for meh, lass!" says Pocket Jamie