Comfy Cozy Cowl + Beanie

If you are a knitter or crocheter, I really hope you have heard of Ravelry.com. It is the best website I have ever discovered for this wonderful craft. They have millions of free and cheap patterns for millions of different projects as well as forums, yarn information, shopping and your own personal profile where you can post your patterns and save your favorites. 

I found this beautiful pattern for what the creator Jen dubbed as the Gap-tastic Cowl. She spied this cute cowl in a Gap store, walked in and literally counted all the stitches then created a knock off version and graciously posted the pattern for free. I love it when someone does this because The Gap was probably charging over $20 for this cowl and I hate paying so much money for something I can create myself. So I created it! But not without my own modifications. 

Her finished cowl was 15" wide but while I was knitting it, I thought that is a ton of yarn! Plus I was getting tired because this pattern is all seed stitch and for a non-continental knitter, this is a lot of back and forth. She also used Lion Brand Wool-Easy Chunky Yarn but I went with a cheaper chunky yarn - Deborah Norville Serenity Chunky Yarn from Joann's Fabric and Craft store and it worked out excellent.

What you need: 

Circular Knitting Needles US Size 13 (9mm)

2 Skeins of Chunky Yarn

Embroidery Needle

What to do: 

Cast on 131 stitches, join

Row 1: *k1, p1* repeat around

Row 2: *p1, k1* repeat around

When you start a new row, make sure that you are knitting in a purl stitch and purling in a knit stitch. This creates the "seed" look. 

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until it is the width you like, then bind off and weave in ends. The width of my scarf ended up being around 7" or 8" and it was still nice and cozy. 

The accompanying beanie is a crochet pattern that can be found on Ravelry.com as well. I used the same yarn as the cowl and also made my own modifications. 

What you need: 

Crochet needle Size I (5.5mm)

1 skein Chunky Yarn

Embroidery Needle

What to do: 

Ribbed Band: 

Ch 9

Row 1 : sc in second ch from hook then sc in remaining 7 ch

Row 2 : *ch 1 and turn. Working in back loops only, sc in 8 st across*

Repeat Row 2 until the band fits your head (keep the rows at an even number)

Join the ends of the band by inserting hook in first chain of the opposite edge, y/o and pull yarn through both stitches. Repeat this sl st by lining up the edges of the band so that the 2nd stitch on the edge of the band is aligned with the 2nd ch on the opposite edge of the band, the 3rd st is aligned with the 3rd ch and so on. This creates a nice seam. 

Now you will be crocheting the body of the hat: 

Sc evenly across the top of the band and sl st to join. I've found that the easiest way to keep it consistent is to make sure there are two sc in between each ridge of the rib. Since the spacing is not very obvious, you have to find the holes for the sc in between the ribs. If you have 50 ribbed rows you should have 50 sc as well.  

Props

Row 1 : Ch 2, skip 1st sc, puff st in next sc, ch1, *skip next sc, puff st in next sc, ch1* repeat around. Join with sl st in top of ch 2. 

At this point, you will have 1 puff, ch-1 sp, 1 puff, ch-1 sp, etc. 

Row 2 : Ch 2, puff st in first ch-1 sp, ch 1, *skip next puff, puff st in ch-1 sp, ch 1* repeat around, sl st in top of ch 2. 

Repeat row 2 until hat is desired length. 

Two ways to close the top: 

1. Pinch opposite edges and sc through. Pinch the other edges into the middle and sc through all. This creates a star shape and keep pinching edges and sc through until top is closed. 

2. With an embroidery needle and your yarn, sew through the top edge in a circle, pull tight, make a knot and weave in the ends. 

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