Do you find yourself staring at a ball of chunky weight yarn, unsure of what to create with it? If so, look no further than the Colbie Cowl, this versatile and stylish accessory is the perfect solution for that neglected yarn, offering a quick and satisfying crochet project that’s ideal for last-minute gifts or a cosy addition to your own wardrobe.

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I’m excited to say that I’m participating, with the Colbie Chunky Cowl, in the Christmas in July Make Along with Underground Crafter. 30 bloggers have teamed up to bring you a month full of forever free patterns to kick start the handmade holiday season — including crochet, knitting, and sewing projects. There’s something new to make every day in July. Each week has a theme, and my Colbie Chunky Cowl is part of week 2;

So pop on over to the Underground Crafter’s blog to learn more about the prizes, enter the giveaway, and to get links to each Christmas in July Make Along projects available.

The Colbie Cowl stands out not only for its simplicity but also for its effectiveness in showcasing the beauty of chunky weight yarn. This pattern utilises a fun stitch that creates a lovely texture, allowing the yarn itself to shine. Whether you opt for a variegated yarn for a nuanced look or a solid colour for a bold statement piece, the Colbie Cowl adapts effortlessly to your yarn choice, making each creation unique and eye-catching.

One of the best features of the Colbie Cowl is its speed. Thanks to the chunky weight yarn and straightforward pattern, you can whip up this cowl in no time at all. It’s the perfect project for those moments when you need a quick handmade gift or simply want to indulge in a satisfying crochet session without a long-term commitment. Beginners will find the pattern approachable, while more seasoned crocheters will hopefully appreciate the opportunity to relax with a project that doesn’t require intense concentration.

Scroll down for the free version of this pattern but I’d recommend the purchase of the ad-free PDF Pattern if you’d like all the instructions and pictures in a nice document which you can print and take notes on without relying on your phone or an internet connection.

Chunky Colbie Cowl

The pattern below is written just in US terms but you can view a handy conversion chart here on the blog.

Skill Level: Beginner / Easy

Yarn: 

• Bernat Softee Baby Chunky (100% Acrylic; 148 yards [112 meters]/140 grams): My Sunshine Varg: Shade 97005 (1 ball)

Pattern will work in other hooks and yarns though finished size will be different.

Hook: US size K-10 (6.5 mm)

You will also need:

• Scissors
• A yarn needle

Gauge: 5 sts = 2 inches [5 cm] in US dc

Obtaining the correct gauge is not critical to this project but if your gauge does not match the gauge stated then your finished item will be a  different size.

Finished size: 13 inches / [33 cm] wide x 6.5 inches / [16.5 cm] high

STITCH GUIDANCE:

• Slip Stitch (sl st) Insert hook in st indicated, yarn over and draw through all loops.
• Chain (ch): Bring yarn over hook from back to front and grab it with hook. Draw hooked yarn through slip knot and onto hook. 
• Space (sp): The gap between stitches or chains.
• Single Crochet (sc):  Insert hook in st indicated and pull up a loop [two loops on hook], yarn over, pull through both loops on hook.
• Double Crochet (dc): Yarn over, insert hook in  indicated st and pull up a loop (three loops on hook), yarn over, pull through two loops, yarn over, pull through remaining two loops on hook.
• Back Loop Only (BLO): If you hold your piece of crochet in front of you with the Vs of the stitch on top, the part of the V closest to you is the front loop. The part of the V farther away from you on the opposite side is the back loop. When a pattern asks you to crochet into the back loop, insert your hook into the relevant loop and crochet as instructed.

PATTERN NOTES:

• All ch(s) are counted in this pattern.
• Ch 2 at the start of a rnd counts as dc.
• Ch 1 at the start of a rnd does not count as a st

PATTERN:

Row 1: Ch24; in BLO, 1sc in the 2nd ch from hook, 1sc in each st across until end, turn (23 sts)

Row 2:  Ch2, 1dc in 7sts, ch7, skip 7sts, 1dc in the last 8sts turn.

Row 3: Ch1, 1sc in the same st as the beginning ch1, 1sc in each st and ch across, turn

Rows 4 – 51: Repeat rows 2 to 3 for the pattern

Row 52: Repeat row 2; do not fasten off

MAKING UP THE COWL:

You should have created a long strip of fabric with a section that looks like a ladder;

When you’re ready to create the Jacobs Ladder stitch begin at the bottom row.

1. Twist the chain over itself so that the right side crosses over the left and closes the first stitch.
2. Next pull up the loop from row 2 and pull it through the loop creating the “chained” stitch in your ladder.

Continue moving up, row by row, until you have pulled each chain through the ladder.

Ch1; work 1sc in the next 7sts, sl st in the top of the chain of the ladder to secure, 1sc in the rem 8sts. Fasten off, but leave a long yarn tail for the seam.

FINISHING:

Line up both ends of the cowl and, with right side facing, whipstitch together. Weave in any rem ends.

And that’s it!

Whether you crochet one for yourself or as a thoughtful gift for a loved one, this pattern promises satisfaction and style in equal measure. If you enjoyed this pattern, you can view a list of my other free patterns here.

If you enjoyed this pattern please give it a love, or leave a comment or review on the platform you got it from – and  I hope you’ll share your photos with me on social media (facebook, twitter or instagram) or as a project on Ravelry – I love to see what you make! And finally you may wish to make sure you are signed up to blog (below) and / or my mailing list to get a reminder when new blog posts, discounts or new pattern releases are available.

Until next time folks! Happy hooking and keep calm and crochet on my friends xx

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Photo credit: This pattern originally appeared in One Skein Collection of I Like Crochet (2019). Photo credit as shown.