Thursday, September 4, 2014

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



36 comments:

  1. You should be smug, the cowl is great. Thank you for posting such a lovely free pattern! May I say I love your hair too! When I suggested the same style to my husband he retorted, no, you'd look like a witch! That's men for you! Am I right though, in thinking your hair is naturally like that? Kind regards

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    1. thank you for your kind words!

      yes. i go through a ton of hair conditioner. wear your hair as you like it, i say! :)

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  2. Sorry, quick query! So, after the first DC row which I am going to do in the 'bumps' at the back of the row, so it matches the finishing row? I will then join, yes? If that is possible to do,or do I HAVE to join first? I then go around in a spiral, and my first fphdc is in the first DC of the previous row? Kind regards

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    1. hi jan! thanks for your comments! you can join either when you have just a chain or after you do the first row of DC's. that FDC - joining video shows a nice trick for joining them after the first row DC's have been done, but you can do it however you like. as long as the result is 34 stitches (or - not to complicate things but - another even number, if you want to customize and make it wider or thinner), then join whatever way is comfortable and gives you happy results. yes your first FPDC will be into your first DC on row 1. i hope that helps and that i understood you correctly. let me know if not!

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  3. Me again, don't worry I am not a stalker, but I have just read your post 'Be careful who you knit for' I feel your pain! I made an oversized cowl as a gift for someone last Xmas to be met with the comment 'Oh its handmade then' [I am not a beginner and not bigging myself up but it turned out lovely I think!] So I retorted 'Err yes, do you know how much people pay for handmade in the little boutiques and high end stores'? No I didn't really, but I came close! It really irks me when people say' I don't want it to look handknitted' What is that supposed to mean? I like to think I am certainly not a sloppy knitter and would never give something I would'nt wear myself!

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    1. some people just dont get it. i still adhere to a strict policy of not making handmade for those who cannot appreciate it. i'm sure your cowl was beautiful!

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    2. I guess I thought this was "just me" in the past. I've given handmade items to a handful of folks in the past, only to be met with a "meh" response. Note to self: don't waste your precious time making that person something handmade.

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  4. Love it so, so much! Thank you for the crochet version! Just shared on FB as a CAL as we enjoy Outlander!! xo

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  5. This is wonderful. I want my mom to make me one for Christmas!

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  6. I love this! I've made it twice and it goes so fast. Is it ok to sell the cowl made from your pattern with credit given to you?

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    1. Thank you, kate! Its a fun project isn't it. Yes please feel free and i wish you luck with your sales. Thank you for asking.

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  7. It looks wonderful!!! I'm going to attempt one. The biggest hook I have right now though is only an N (9MM). So it seems I'll need to go a few more FDC to get my 12 inches for width. Thank you for sharing your pattern.

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    1. Thank you for your note, ellie! I hope you love your cowl.

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  8. The knitted version seems to drape in a way that is much closer to Claire's than the crocheted version. Is that because it is crocheted, or just the way you are wearing it? Thanks!

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    1. hi gwen - its the nature of crochet. it does not drape as much but it is quite floppy, especially considering it is crochet. i tried to mimic the knitted version as close as possible but we're talking apples and oranges here. thanks for asking!

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    2. Thank you! I figured that was the case, but I wanted to ask just the same--just in case!

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    3. you bet! happy knitting, or crocheting! :)

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  9. I found this yesterday and ran to Michaels to buy what I needed. First thing I've ever crocheted and thanks to your video tutorials I finished it in about 5-6 hours. I accidentally twisted it but I kept going, and LOVE the way it turned out! It can be an infinity scarf but because of the twist It can be tighter around the neck and then drape down to either my chest, or almost across my shoulders depending on which way I have it. I'm so proud and pleased!! Thanks so much!!!

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    1. i'm so happy for you amanda! it sounds absolutely lovely. thank you so much for your note. it means so much to me to know that my pattern/tutorial helped someone, even inspired someone to try it for the first time! i'm most pleased that you are loving the cowl you created with your own hands! :)

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  10. Thank you! I loved the Outlander TV show and after teaching myself to crochet (thanks youtube denizens) I made this cowl this afternoon! Your video was super helpful. It's so cozy and I feel very 18th century. :)

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    1. you're welcome, and thank you for your kind note! youtube is a wonderful resource for crafts! i hope you have fun crocheting many more goodies.

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  11. hi, i'm crocheting my second one and it's a delight to make these. thanks a million for your working out these patterns. now i'm thinking that i'd like to create some decreased rows towards the top so that it will hug the neck area slightly and still be able to be pulled over the head. do you have any ideas on how to decrease these ribbed rows where back and front post stitches are alternating? i can just plow forward and grab a front and back post stitch and crochet them together. but that might throw the ribbed pattern way off and not do justice to your lovely design. so i wondered if you ever tried it.

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    1. hi there! thanks for your nice note. i have not tried any shaping, so i'm not sure what to advise. sounds like you'll be experimenting! besides doing decreases, you could also go down in hook sizes to make it smaller. i'm not sure how small a hook you can go and still comfortably work this thick yarn, but that might just give you enough shaping for your taste. if you do start crocheting stitches together to decrease, i'm not sure how dramatically that will influence the ribbing. i'd love to hear what you find out! happy crocheting!

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  12. hi, jen! well, is my face red, lol. a smaller crochet hook is the solution. i tried sizes p, n and even the l - they each hold the single strand of thick & quick yarn securely enough to easily work the front and back dc stitches. since I still haven't tied off the yarn on the first cowl i'm going to frog back several rows and try it out. i might use all three smaller hooks to create gradual shaping. for this second cowl i'm using homespun yarn i got from a home spinner on etsy. it has many textures & thicknesses. the more uniform thick & chunky yarn seems like the better choice to experiment. i'm excited to try it today and am also very grateful for your acumen. thanks a bunch from chilly colorado!

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    1. sounds great! i like your 3-hooks-gradual-shaping idea. i hope your cowls keep you warm out there in chilly colorado! :)

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    2. it all worked out. i uploaded the project to ravelry. after that i frogged back to add back two rows of crochet with the q hook and two rows each with the p and the n hooks for the shaping. i'd like this one for my cousin who rides her horse even during the winter when it's not snowy. this cowl/wimple will trap the warmth against the back of the neck very well. thanks so much, jen. the stitches work up so quickly that it's easy to rip out and try different things. happy designing to you!

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    3. oh it looks beautiful!! that shaping is wonderful. i'm so glad it all worked out! thanks for sharing your findings. so nice of you to make for your cousin. you're a sweetie!

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  13. thanks! it's all due to your clear instructions and those wonderful videos.

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  14. omg pocket jamie!!!! lololol ur killing me! love the cowl, thanks!

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  15. Merci ! Voici le mien : http://madeinmylittlehome.blogspot.be/

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    1. Merci beaucoup! Votre cowl est tres jolie!! :)

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  16. I would love to see this pattern as a wrap around hood, maybe by chaining longer to allow the wrap? Looks stellar as is of course ^_^ I'm so excited to have found this pattern just in time for the cooler weather!

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    1. thank you! i'm glad you like it. it would be lovely as a wrap-hood, i agree. :) if i were to experiment with that, i'd probably make the chain 3-4 times longer to allow for the bulk. i'm picturing a cowl that is wrapped around the neck twice, with plenty of height to serve as a hood. is that what you imagined?

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  17. Hey Polly (Jen), just wanted to say thank you for the pattern and tutorial. My husband and I have just started watching the Outlander series; during one episode my husband commented on how nice the cowl was that Claire was wearing, I was thinking the same thing just as he said it. I did a search on Youtube not expecting to really find a tutorial and I found you. I was so excited. I raced off to Spotlight and was able to buy the exact same yarn that you are using in your tutorial. I absolutely love it, so thank you so much. It is getting towards the end of winter here in Tasmania but I should still have time to wear it and show it off.
    P.S I also have hair very similar to yours (but not as pretty in colour), I love leave in conditioner to help tame the wild beast! x

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    1. hi kiki! thank you so much for your lovely comment. so glad you found my tutorial helpful, and i'm so glad you are enjoying Outlander and are happy with your cowl!

      i've since had my locks cut short but am letting them grow out again. i had the long hair for a long time, and as you know it's a lot of work to take care of!

      best wishes and happy crocheting!

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  18. My husband left us and started living with his girlfriend and wasn’t ready to come back home for me and our 3kids. He sold almost all our property and lied to me that he was going to use the money to startup business unknowing to me that he was going to use the money to start a new with his new girlfriend. People who knows the kind of husband I married advised me, but I was covering him until my eyes got open for all of his lies. I could hate him for all of those hurts and grieve he put me through. And the depressions I faced having my kids allow for 3yrs. but because of our kids, I need him back to stay and beg me for all what he did to me. and then make a promise never to leave again. And today I have him back in such a romantic way that I couldn’t have ever imagined. I thank, Jai Mata Sunlight: who cast a lovespell on him that brought him back. And now he is totally changed for good. I am so filled up with fullness of joy and happiness and although i used money for the rituals, . if I were to pay for this miracle, I won’t have been able to. But I thank her mercy and her spiritual understanding that brought me happiness and joyfulness I now have in marriage. And I want to tell you looking for love solutions for your either relationship, or marriage, pls via ( sunlightmata@gmail.com ) with yours. And don’t money discourage you because she won’t charge something that to can’t afford. And that makes your faith to work on the spell. and I speak the truth to you, you will come out testifying. Thanks to you the ultimate mother of love. Jai Mata Sunlight.’’


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