Crochet Pattern: Warm and Textured 1-Skein Cowl

I love one-skein cowl crochet patterns. They are a wonderful way to use up special skeins of yarn. Today I’m sharing the Warm and Textured 1-Skein Cowl, a pattern that uses post stitches, clusters, and popcorns for a beautiful texture!

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Back in 2011, I went to my favorite local yarn shop, Knitty City during the NYC Yarn Crawl and picked up four beautiful skeins of yarn.

Underground Crafter yarn haul from Knitty City
From left to right: Dream in Color Classy in Spring Tickle, Malabrigo Rios in 16 Glazed Carrot and 859 Primavera, and Dream in Color Classy in Happy Forest.

My original plans were for a sampler blanket, but over the years the other skeins were used for different projects until just the one remained.

I even tried planned to include it in my Temperature Scarf, but (based purely on weather patterns) I only ended up using it for one row! It’s such a lovely skein that I knew I had to make something I could use frequently with it, but since all the coordinating skeins I purchased with it were used up, I wanted to make a one-skein project.

Warm and Textured 1-Skein Cowl, free crochet pattern by Marie Segares/Underground Crafter

This snug cowl is a great small project to test out your post stitch skills. It has two different types of clusters to make a richly textured surface.

Warm and Textured 1-Skein Cowl, free crochet pattern by Marie Segares/Underground Crafter

The half double crochet stitches are nice and plump, and keep the cold air out. It’s a perfect project to keep out the winds on a chilly day.

Warm and Textured 1-Skein Cowl, free crochet pattern by Marie Segares/Underground Crafter

This post is part of the Countdown to Christmas I’m sharing with folks signed up for the Crochet Along updates and the Underground Crafter newsletter.

Each day through December 24, 2023, I’m sharing a 2-day free coupon code straight to your inbox for one of my crochet patterns that is perfect for winter or holiday crafting. The Warm and Textured 1-Skein Cowl is the December 9 featured pattern. Sign up now to get access to the free PDF! (When you sign up for this list, you get regular updates from Underground Crafter, and an update email about every pattern for the CALs I host as those patterns are released. When you sign up, you’ll also get access to my subscriber vault which includes exclusive free PDF patterns, a coupon code for your choice of any crochet or knitting pattern or ebook from my Ravelry shop, and coupon codes from other indie designers and crafts businesses.)

If you make your own Warm and Textured 1-Skein Cowl, I’d love to see it! Share your progress and questions by tagging me on Facebook as @Underground Crafter or Instagram as @ucrafter. You can also share a picture in the Underground Crafters Facebook group. Sign up for my weekly newsletter and get a coupon code for your choice of one of my premium patterns and other subscriber goodies. Plus, you’ll never miss one of my free patterns again!

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Warm and Textured 1-Skein Cowl

One-Skein Cowl Crochet Pattern by Underground Crafter

Updated 12/8/2023

03-intermediate
US terms 50
4-medium 50

This cabled cowl makes a bold statement with just one skein.

Finished Size

  • Adult: 9” (23 cm) wide x 20” (51 cm) long (blocked).

Materials

  • Dream in Color Classy (100% superwash Merino wool, 4 oz/113 g, 250 yd/229 m) – 1 skeins in Spring Tickle, or approximately 250 yd (229 m) in any medium weight yarn.
  • US I-9/5.5 mm crochet hook, or any size needed to obtain gauge.
  • Yarn needle.

Gauge

  • 12 sts x 14 rows in pattern = 4” (10 cm) unblocked. Exact gauge is not critical for this project.

Abbreviations Used in This Pattern

  • ch – chain
  • FPcl – front post cluster – [Yo, insert hook from front around back to front of st, yo and draw up a loop to the height of current row, yo and draw through 2 loops] 3 times, yo and draw through all 4 loops on hook. Sk st behind FPcl. A video tutorial for a 3-repeat cluster (or bobble) stitch is available below the pattern abbreviations.
  • FPdc – front post double crochet – Yo, insert hook from front around back to front of st, yo and draw up a loop, (yo and draw through 2 loops) twice. Sk st behind FPdc. A video tutorial for the FPdc is available below.
  • If you can’t see the video tutorial for the FPdc above, click HERE to watch it on YouTube.
  • hdc – half double crochet
  • pop – 6-hdc popcorn – Hdc 6 times in same st, remove hook from loop and insert hook from front to back of first hdc in group, pick up dropped loop and pull through loop on hook. A video tutorial for a 3-dc popcorn stitch which demonstrates the method is available below the pattern abbreviations.
  • rep – repeat
  • RS – right (front) side
  • sc – single crochet
  • sk – skip
  • st(s) – stitch(es)
  • WS – wrong (back) side
  • yo – yarn over
  • [] Repeat instructions between brackets as indicated.
  • If you can’t see the video tutorial for the 3-repeat cluster (or bobble) and 3-dc popcorn above, click HERE to watch it on Instagram.

Pattern Note

Pattern Instructions

Cowl

  • Ch 34.
  • Row 1: (WS) Turn, sk first ch, sc in next ch and each ch across. (33 sts)
  • Row 2: (RS) Turn, ch 2 (counts as first hdc, here and throughout), hdc in next st and each st across.
  • Row 3: Rep Row 2 once.
  • Row 4: Turn, ch 2, hdc in next 4 sts, FPcl around next st 2 rows below, hdc in next 5 sts, [FPdc around next st 2 rows below, pop in next st, FPdc around next st 2 rows below, hdc in next 5 sts] twice, FPcl in next st 2 rows below, hdc in next 5 sts.
  • Row 5: Rep Row 2 once.
  • Row 6: Turn, ch 2, hdc in next 4 sts, FPcl around next FPcl, hdc in next 5 sts, [(FPdc around next FPdc, hdc) twice, hdc in the next 5 sts] twice, FPcl around next FPcl, hdc in next 5 sts.
  • Row 7: Rep Row 2 once.
  • Row 8: Turn, ch 2, hdc in next 4 sts, FPcl around next FPcl, hdc in next 5 sts, [sk FPdc, FPdc around next FPdc, hdc, working in front of last FPdc, FPdc around skipped FPdc, hdc in next 5 sts] twice, FPcl around next FPcl, hdc in next 5 sts.
  • Row 9: Rep Row 2 once.
  • Row 10: Turn, ch 2, hdc in next 4 sts, FPcl around next FPcl, hdc in next 5 sts, [FPdc around next FPdc, pop, FPdc around next FPdc, hdc in next 5 sts] twice, FPcl around next FPcl, hdc in next 5 sts.
  • Row 11: Rep Row 2 once.
  • Row 12: Rep Row 8 once.
  • Row 13: Rep Row 2 once.
  • Rep Rows 6-13, 7 more times, or until cowl measures approximately 21” (53 cm), ending after Row 13. Do not fasten off.

Finishing

  • Fold cowl in half with RS facing and line up short edges to join with slip stitches (see video below) on WS.
  • If you can’t see the video tutorial for the slip stitch join above, click HERE to watch it on Facebook.
  • Fasten off. Weave in ends on WS.
  • Turn inside out. Spray block to size (see Pattern Notes).
© 2015 by Marie Segares (Underground Crafter). This pattern is for personal use only. You may use the pattern to make unlimited items for yourself, for charity, or to give as gifts. You may sell items you personally make by hand from this pattern. Do not violate Marie’s copyright by distributing this pattern or the photos in any form, including but not limited to scanning, photocopying, emailing, or posting on a website or internet discussion group. If you want to share the pattern, point your friends to this link: https://undergroundcrafter.com/2015/01/30/free-pattern-warm-and-textured-1-skein-cowl/.  Thanks for supporting indie designers!

8 thoughts on “Crochet Pattern: Warm and Textured 1-Skein Cowl”

  1. I love your unusual pattern for this cowl. Is it alright if I hand write the instructions on paper since you do not want them printed? Thanks and happy crocheting!

    Reply
    • Thanks for stopping by, PJ, and I appreciate your kind words. You are welcome to print an individual copy of any of my patterns for yourself. However, you cannot distribute the pattern by giving printed copies to other people. And, of course, if you prefer, you could hand write the pattern (again, for yourself only) as well. Enjoy!

      Reply
  2. Hi There! I I’m so stuck on row 6!
    The bracket instructions got me.
    I don’t understand how I would stitch around another stitch or where you’re saying to place the following hdc.

    Thanks for your help,
    Sylvia

    Reply
    • Thanks for writing, Sylvia. Every time you make a post stitch, you are working around a stitch. So, in Row 4, you worked the FPcl and FPdc around the posts of specific stitches. In Row 6, you work the post stitches around the post stitches from Row 4. The hdc should go into the stitch after the one behind the post stitch. Let me know if you’re still having trouble.

      Reply

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