Riley Striped Cowl Crochet Pattern for Beginners

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If you are just learning how to crochet and want to make something super practical and cute.. but using only beginner stitches, then take a look at this lovely Riley Striped Cowl by Veronika from Blue Star Crochet! All you need is your basic chain, slip stitch, single crochet and double crochet! Woohoo – move over grannt square.. let’s make a useful and pretty cowl! You can choose from the free written pattern below, the YouTube video instructiosn or purchase an easy to print pattern on raverly!

how to crochet a cowl EASY

Introducing More Star Crochet

I’m Veronika, the creative force behind Blue Star Crochet. My crochet journey began in my childhood in Slovakia, where my mum introduced me to the craft. After moving to the United Kingdom, I rekindled my passion for crochet, focusing on designing modern and wearable garments and accessories. My designs have been featured in prominent UK crochet magazines such as Inside Crochet, Simply Crochet, Crochet Now, and Happily Hooked. Through the Blue Star Crochet blog, I aim to share my creations and inspire others to embark on their own handmade journeys.

You can also find Veronika on Ravelry and Etsy! Or why not pop over and follow her on Instagram!

Come one.. let’s have a go at this lovely and easy beginner crochet cowl!

Supplies needed to make this lovely cowl!

NOTE: See section below for Yarn Substitues including cotton yarns)

  • Heatherly (worsted weight; 80% acrylic, 20% merino wool; 218 yds /200m per 100g /3.5 oz hank) 1 hank each in Butter (yarn A) and Peach Fuzz (yarn B)
  • 6 mm crochet hook
  • Yarn needle
  • Scissors

Today’s pattern is also available for small fee on Ravelry or Etsy! A great way to support Veronika and her work! Ravelry is kinder to it’s creators, always choose ravelry over etsy if you can!!

Finished Size of your Cowl

If you are following the tension/ gauge guid below, this is a 50 cm/20 inch circumference x 25 cm/10 inch height cowl.

Stitches And Abbreviations (US Crochet Terms)

As you can see the stitches used for this cowl is perfect for beginners!

  • ch – chain stitch
  • sl st – slip stitch
  • sc – single crochet
  • dc – double crochet

Tension/Gauge

12 sts x 8.5 rows  in stitch pattern = 10 x 10 cm/ 4 x 4 inch

beginners pattern crochet cowl

Video Tutorial

For a full video tutorial, please CLICK HERE. Don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel for more crochet tutorials.

Yarn Substitutes

  • Hobbii Upcycled Alpaca Blend – (worsted weight; 34% Acrylic, 33% Alpaca, 33% Wool; 200 m (218 yds) per 100 g (3.5 oz)) in Light Peach, Icy Blue and Wheat
  • Paintbox Yarns 100% Wool Worsted Superwash – Oekotex certified, this classic twist yarn in 100g balls, is a fantastic price for pure wool. Made from 100% superwash wool means you can machine wash on a wool cycle
  • Cascade 220 – 100% Peruvian highland wool, this glorious yarn crochets up as a worsted-to-aran weight, suitable for any aran pattern.

COTTON ALTERNATIVES

  • Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton – The 24/7 Cotton is an everyday dream come true. This yarn is 100% mercerised cotton and is great for clothes, accessories, home textiles, things for the baby, toys for the kids, and pets.
  • Lily Sugar ‘n Cream Solids – Lily Sugar and Cream The Original Solids is a natural, soft and absorbent aran weight yarn of 100% cotton, that comes in a range of rich and delicious solid shades.

Pattern Notes

  • the cowl is worked in joined rounds in one piece as a seamless item
  • you will alternate a round of double crochet clusters that consist of 4 double crochet stitches all worked into the same stitch and a round of single crochet stitches
  • you will change color for each round but there is no need to cut yarn after every round, you can carry the yarn on the wrong side (the inside) of the cowl to minimise the need to sew in loads of ends, the video tutorial shows you how to do this
  • you can adjust the size of the cowl to suit your style and needs
  • if you would like to make the cowl wider, you will need to adjust the number of stitches on your starting chain
  • the stitch pattern works over 4 stitches, so you will need to chain a multiple of 4
  • you can also adjust the height of the finished cowl by simply repeating more rounds in the established stitch pattern until you are happy with the height

Riley Cowl Written Instructions

crochet cowl for beginners

With yarn B and 6 mm crochet hook chain 64, sl st to 1st st being careful not to twist the starting chain and continue working in a round.

Rnd 1: 1 ch (doesn’t count as a st), starting in same st and working though the back bumps of chain stitches, 1 sc in each ch around, sl st to 1st sc. [64 sc]

Join yarn A and continue working on Round 2.

Rnd 2: 3 ch (counts as 1 dc), 3 dc in same st at the bottom of beginning 3 ch, (skip 3 sc, 4 dc in next st) repeat around until last 3 sts, miss the last 3 sts and sl st to top of beginning 3 ch. [64 dc]

Change to yarn B.

Rnd 3: 1 ch (doesn’t count as st), 1 sc in each st around, sl st to 1st st to join. [64 sc]

Repeat Row 2 & Row 3 for pattern 9 more times. Then repeat Rnd 3 again.

Fasten off both yarns and securely sew all ends in.

easy crochet cowl for beginners

If you enjoyed crocheting this super easy and cute accessory, there is plenty more inspiration on my blog. Here are a few projects I think you might like:

crochet clothes
  1. Knit-look Crochet Cowl Free Pattern – Etela Cowl
  2. How To Crochet An Easy Hat From A Rectangle Pattern
  3. Free Beginner Lace Crochet Shawl Easy Pattern & Video