About this design
The techniques used in this crochet lace cowl are very simple. There are two different join-as-you-go motifs — an eight-point star and a four-point star — which, when combined together, produce some intriguing square and triangle negative spaces that fool the eye. The end result is a soft, lacy cowl that is perfect for transition seasons.

The sample cowls use just two colours, with half the cowl reversing the colours so that two different colour ways merge and blend when you twist the cowl around your neck. However, this cowl would work just as well in a single colour or with a main colour for the chain sections and the four-point star motifs and a range of scraps in different colours for the centres of the eight-point stars. In fact, this would be an excellent scrappy project to use up all those little bits and bobs of 4 ply/fingering weight yarn left over after other projects.

Size
Finished dimensions – 9 in/23 cm wide and 42 in/107 cm circumference after blocking. However, you can lengthen or shorten the cowl if you wish simple by adding or subtracting rows of eight-point stars, noting that this will change the amount of yarn that is used.

Tension
A single eight-point star motif measures 2 ½ in/6.2 cm wide using a 3.00 mm crochet hook. A close match for tension is moderately important for this pattern in order to ensure you get the correct finished dimensions, as well as a nice drape in the fabric of the cowl. Please move up or down a hook size and swatch one more time if your gauge does not match.

Yarn
You will need 2 x 50g (approx. 165m/180 yds per 50g) of 4 ply/fingering weight yarn in two contrasting colours that crochet to match the required tension gauge for the eight-point star motif.

The sample Octagram cowls have been crocheted with Shepherd Baby Wool 100% Merino 4ply (machine washable) that I dyed myself. Any soft 4 ply/fingering weight yarn would be suitable for this design.

Hooks
3.00 mm crochet hook.

Notions
Darning needle.

Pattern
Written and charted instructions are provided for this design. Links are also provided to useful video tutorials (produced by other people).

Questions?
Please send all queries to capitalknits@icloud.com.

Please note that the price of this design includes 10% Australian Goods and Services Tax (GST).