Free Pattern for a Crochet Cowl – Shifting Posts Crochet Cowl

I love to make and design crochet cowls! I was thinking a little while ago that it has been a while since I shared a free pattern for a crochet cowl so when the opportunity to participate in the Scarf of the Month Club with Oombawka Design Crochet and The Stitchin Mommy, I knew that I’d be making and sharing a free pattern for a crochet cowl with you all today. The Shifting Posts Crochet Cowl is a quick and fun make, full of texture. I’ve designed it to use 4 different colours to create a cool ombre-looking cowl but it can be made with any combination of colours or just use one colour of yarn for a solid look. It’s a really versatile crochet cowl design and I hope that you will enjoy making it as much as I did.

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I named this design the The Shifting Posts Crochet Cowl because of the stitch combination that is used to give this cowl it’s texture. This free pattern for a crochet cowl is made in a single piece, using front post double crochet stitches, often referred to simply as ‘post stitches’ that reach down into previous rows. The post stitches are shifted slightly in each subsequent row so that they are not stacked on top of each other and this shifting of the front post double crochets creates a really fun design and texture on the front side of your crochet cowl. If you haven’t done a front post double crochet stitch before, check out my helpful tutorial below:

Purchase an ad-free PDF version of this pattern in my Ravelry and Etsy shops.

This free pattern for a crochet cowl is made by working back and forth in rows, using simple crochet stitches. If you know how to do the single crochet, double crochet and front post double crochet stitches, then you’ll have no issues making this crochet cowl. After the crochet fabric is completed, the cowl is seamed together. I recommend using a hand seaming technique like the whip stitch or mattress stitch (my personal favourite seaming technique) but you can use a sl st seam if that’s your preference as well.

After designing my Lavender Fields Crochet Blanket Square recently, I fell in love with the ombre-effect that I created using using 4 different solid-coloured shades of yarn and a coordinating speckle yarn. I used Brava Worsted Weight yarn and Brava Speckle yarn from WeCrochet for my crochet blanket square as well as this free pattern for a crochet cowl. I used the colours Mulberry, Lady Slipper, Plummy Speckle and Freesia. Try mixing and matching your own colours to create your own ombre effect or completely mix it up to create a whole new look. Check out all the colours of WeCrochet Brava and Brava Speckle here.

Once you’re done making your Shifting Posts Cowl, you should check out the other two free crochet patterns that are a part of the Scarf of the Month Club this month! You can find the design by Oombawka Design Crochet and the design by The Stitchin Mommy.

Want to make a matching hat to go with your crochet cowl? I have launched a free crochet hat pattern that matches this crochet cowl. I really love the set together because it’s great for gifting and they can be made in any colours so regardless of whom you need a gift for, it can be made for anyone. Check out the Shifting Posts Hat pattern.

I personally like it made in black, greys and white (which you’ll see an example of next week) and it makes the perfect gender-neutral crochet hat and cowl set. Another great colour palette to try is red, orange, yellow and red. It kind of looks like flames which is cool. Below is another potential yarn palette to try (from left to right) red, rouge, cotton candy and cherry speckle. Check them out at crochet.com.

Check out these great free crochet patterns:

• Not-So-Guilty Pleasure Cowl
  
  
• Strut Your Puff Crochet Cowl
  
  
• Brave at Heart Crochet Scarf
  
  

Disclaimer:

Feel free to sell the item created by this pattern but please provide pattern credit back to me when posting online, and please provide a link to my blog: https://theloopylamb.com.  Please do not resell, distribute, duplicate, or share this pattern in any printed or digital form, or claim this pattern as your own original design.  Please do not use my photos when selling your finished items.   

Skill Level:

• Easy

Terminology:

• U.S. Terminology

Supplies:

• 5.5 mm Furls Crochet Hook
  
  
• Brava Worsted Weight Yarn (100% Premium Acrylic, 218yds/200m, 100g/3.5oz);
  • Color A: Mulberry, 1 Skein (Approx. 81 yds/74 m),
  • Color B: Freesia, 1 Skein (Approx. 74 yds/67 m),
  • Color C: Lady Slipper, 1 Skein (Approx. 74 yds/67 m),
  • Color D: Plummy Speckle, 1 Skein (Approx. 74 yds/67 m)
    
    
• Tapestry Needle
  
  
• Scissors
  
  
  

Abbreviations:

• CH = Chain
  
  
• DC = Double Crochet
  
  
• FO = Finish Off
  
  
• FPDC = Front Post Double Crochet
  
  
• RS = Right Side
  
  
• SC = Single Crochet
  
  
• ST = Stitch
  
  
• WS = Wrong Side

Finished Size:

• 27” around by 9” tall
  
  

Gauge:

• 14 sts x 12 rows = 4 inches, blocked.

NOTES:

• CH 3s at the beginning of each round count as the first ST.
  
  
• The piece is worked back and forth in rows and seamed together after blocking.
  
  
• Gauge is not vital to the project but it will affect the amount of yarn needed and the size of your cowl.
  
  

Purchase a printable ad-free PDF version of this pattern in my Ravelry and Etsy shops.

Row 1 (RS): Using Colour A, CH 95.  DC in the 4th CH from the hook and each ST across. (93)

Row 2 (WS): CH 1 and turn.  SC in the first ST and each ST across. (93)

Change to Colour B

Row 3:  CH 3 and turn.  DC in the 2^nd ST, FPDC around DC one row below next SC * DC in the next 3 STs, FPDC around DC one row below next SC; repeat from * across to last 2 STs, DC in last 2 STs.

Row 4: CH 1 and turn.  SC in the first ST and each ST across.

Change to Colour C

Row 5: CH 3 and turn.  SK the first ST and *DC in the next 3 STs, FPDC around DC one row below next SC; repeat from * across to last 4 STs, DC in the last for STs.

Row 6: Repeat Row 4.

Change to Colour D

Row 7: Repeat Row 3.

Row 8: Repeat Row 4.

Change to Colour A

Row 9: Repeat Row 5.

Row 10: Repeat Row 4.

Change to Colour B

Row 11: Repeat Row 3.

Row 12: Repeat Row 4.

Change to Colour C

Row 13: Repeat Row 5.

Row 14: Repeat Row 4.

Change to Colour D

Row 15: Repeat Row 3.

Row 16: Repeat Row 4.

Change to Colour A

Row 17: Repeat Row 5.

Row 18: Repeat Row 4.

Change to Colour B

Row 19: Repeat Row 3.

Row 20: Repeat Row 4.

Change to Colour C

Row 21: Repeat Row 5.

Row 22: Repeat Row 4.

Change to Colour D

Row 23: Repeat Row 3.

Row 24: Repeat Row 4.

Change to Colour A

Row 25: Repeat Row 5.

Row 26: Repeat Row 4.

FO, leaving a long tail for seaming.  Lightly steam block your piece to help with any curling.  With right sides together, use the tail to seam the short ends together.

More great crochet winter accessory patterns to check out:

• The Heather Super Scarf
  
  
• Picot Me Up Ear Warmer and Cowl Set
  
  
• Tweedy Pocket Scarf
  
  

Disclaimer:

Feel free to sell the item created by this pattern but please provide pattern credit back to me when posting online, and please provide a link to my blog: https://theloopylamb.com.  Please do not resell, distribute, duplicate, or share this pattern in any printed or digital form, or claim this pattern as your own original design.  Please do not use my photos when selling your finished items.   

I’d love to see your finished items!  Please share your finished makes by tagging the pattern on Ravelry, sharing it to our Facebook page or Instagram.  Don’t forget to follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest 

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