First of all, I apologize for the pictures. I kept trying to take pics of my cowl on myself in the bathroom, but they just weren’t turning out since one of the lightbulbs went out in there. So I put it one of my cosplay wigs on my wigstand and used that as a substitute Aili model. …someday I’ll get that wig styled right. =/

Cowls seem to be in style lately, and I find them really appealing. After all, they can combine the coziness of a scarf, yet not get in the way, and if made right they can double as a hood for a little extra head warmth.

After BlizzCon 2010, I decided I really wanted a cowl so I could have a scarf to wear while traveling that would be less likely to get lost while running through the airport. We came home on a particularly chilly and rainy night (always take red-eyes home so we can spend as much time with friends as possible) and I wished I had a black-and-red one to match my J!nx Horde hoodie that I bought while I was there. (Seriously, that is the most comfortable hoodie I have ever owned. Props to J!nx.) However, I’m more likely to take a scarf off because the ends would get in my way (and thus leave it somewhere) than I would a nice cowl that’s loose and comfy around my neck.

This prompted me to finally sign up for Ravelry so I could browse the patterns. I found a nice, easy moebius cowl pattern that I liked (sadly, I can’t seem to find the pattern anymore to at least give credit for the inspiration) and went out and got yarn for it: Bernat sport satin. It was soft and fuzzy and I thought it would make for an easy cowl.

Well, the pattern was easy, but because I chose to make it in a smaller gauge, I got about 2 inches into completing it and threw up my hands. I made it too long with stitches that were too small, and it just felt like after several rounds it was going nowhere fast. I put it aside…literally, it’s still sitting here beside my computer desk…and ooh’ed and aah’ed over the knitting patterns some more.

It took me a year to actually jump into some knitting, and I kept looking longingly at my cowl sitting beside me. Finally, I took one of my several balls of yarn and decided it was time I started on another version. I’d make it not so long in circumference, and with a looser stitch. I couldn’t find my big container of crochet hooks, so I went out and bought some more. (That was the same day I bought my “I Taught Myself To Knit!” kit. I was doomed. XD)

I also looked for some easy, more loosely-worked patterns in double-crochet. I didn’t find an actual pattern, but I saw the double crochet image at Classic Elite Yarns’ Double Crochet tutorial, and decided I could make a pattern out of that: DC, CH, DC in every other chain (in just the single CH of the chain below).

I finally had a pattern that was worked fast, produced a cowl that was still warm and cuddly without being bulky, and could double as a hood.

This is what I did:

Bernat Satin Sport solids (in black) - purchase 2 balls (You’ll use 1 1/2 at most)
Weight: DK (8 ply), 11 wpi
1 size 6.5mm (Size K) crochet hook

Chain an even number of stitches that will be long enough to fit around your face. The size is up to your personal choice and gauge. (I think mine turned out to be a chain of about 120. I considered going to 150.)

SS to the first chain, forming a loop. Chain 3 more (4 chains total, including the SS), and DC in the second chain from your SS. CH, DC in the 4th chain of your loop (so you’ve skipped a chain). Continue all the way around.

You should end up DCing in the chain before the SS. Twist your loop, and continue the pattern on the underside of the loop in the unworked chains.

When you reach your starting point again (DCing into the final empty chain before where you began your row), SS into the 3rd chain up (2 CH prior to your first DC stitch), CH 4, turn your work, and go the other way, skipping 1 stitch (the previous DC) and DC’ing into the next empty CH. You should be able to continue the entire loop without having to worry about finding your twist. Just make sure you DC, CH, DC, and DC only into the CH from the previous row.

Make your cowl as wide as you like!

Mine took a little over a full ball of yarn.

I hope these instructions make sense…I’m no pattern writer and tend to wing it. I’m also fighting off the end of a head cold so things like technical lingo are slipping my mind at the moment.

I considered trimming the end with some red fun fur (hey, I said I wanted it to match my Horde hoodie!) but at the moment I’ve changed my mind since I just did a fun fur trim on my Pink Cabled Scarf. Fun fur can test your sanity, so right now I’m taking a break from it. I think it would look nice to have some kind of trim along the edge, but for now I’m happy with just my plain black cowl.

UPDATE: Ended up giving this to a guy friend. Despite being “lacy” it was plain enough to look good on a guy. Plus, he didn’t have a scarf while I brought two. XD