I was blown away by the amazing feedback, likes and interest in my HDC with a Twist Toque that I published last week (see the pattern here:https://oneknottydog.ca/2020/01/25/the-hdc-with-a-twist-toque/). And early in the week by youngest just could not sleep. He is 3 and has only slept through the night twice, but this night was worse than normal. So as I lay awake beside him, trying to soothe him – and me – into a deep sleep, the idea for this cowl formed in my mind. The next day I set to work making it, and with a few changes and adaptations to the sleep-deprived plan, the HDC with a Twist Cowl was born!

I love Red Heart Soft yarn. It is one of my favourite worsted weight yarns and is my general go to yarn for a huge range of products. I like the colour choices, the way it works up and the fact that it is on the thicker side of the worsted weights on the market. So I flew through the charcoal cowl, with the Loops and Threads Color yarn in Strawberry Wine as my accent to match the hat I had made last week. Then set to work using the light heathered grey colour with some left over Red Heart Unforgettable in Red Sea to make a second cowl (I like to try out my pattern by making a second – sometimes a third – piece to correct mistakes and make improvements). As I got about 3/4 of the way through my work I ran out of yarn (I had been using some leftovers so didn’t start with a full skein). The next day I was super busy, but managed to make a quick trip to Michaels to pick up another skein and finish my work but they were sold out of light heathered grey! Not to be discouraged I ran over to another local yarn store only to find they were also sold out of this colour. I’m not sure what is going on but someone in my community is hoarding Red Heart Soft light heathered grey! So frantically I looked for a worsted weight yarn of similar feel and colour. It just so happens that my little yarn store had Red Heart Heat Wave as their featured Yarn of the Month and the colour Passport was close enough to satisfy my love for the way the cowl would work up with the Red Sea accent I was using. And I am rather intrigued by this new yarn – I do not understand how it will create heat with UV light – but I’m always in for some added warmth! Unfortunately this meant I had to frog all the work I had done, but with only a little delay I was able to see the light grey rainbow cowl to fruition. So here is the pattern that once again came out of some chaos – I hope you enjoy!

Materials

• 200 yards worsted weight yarn
• 6.0 mm crochet hook
• Buttons or decorative pin
• Scissors
• Tapestry needle

A note on yarns used:

• The Charcoal Grey and Pink Cowl was made with Red Heart Soft in Charcoal as the main colour  and Loops and Threads Colors in Strawberry wine as the accent colour
• The Light Grey and Rainbow Cowl was made with Red Heart Heatwave yarn in Passport as the main colour and Red Heart Unforgettable in Red Sea as the accent colour
• I worked this pattern with the accent colour on all the half double crochet cross stitch rows.  Other ideas for working with colour are to use the accent colour on all the regular hdc rows or I think it would also look lovely worked in all 1 solid colour or all in a variegated or ombre yarn.  Have fun making it your own!

Stitches

• Chain (Ch)
• Single Crochet (sc)
• Half Double Crochet (hdc)
• Half Double Crochet Cross Stitch (hdcX)
• Double Crochet (dc)
• Front Post Double Crochet (fpdc)
• Back Post Double Crochet (bpdc)
• Reverse Single Crochet/Crab stitch
• You will need to be able to work in the front loop of a hdc stitch and in the 3^rd loop of a hdc stitch
• Note:  The chain 2 at the end of each row in the first 4 rows of dc will count as a stitch

Pattern

Chain 101

Row 1:  With main colour, dc in 3^rd chain from hook, dc across, ch 2 and turn (100)

Row 2:  Skip the 1^st stitch, *1 fpdc, 1 bpdc* repeat to the ch 2 from the previous row.  fpdc around the ch 2.  Ch 2 and turn (100). 

Row 3:  Repeat row 2 (100). 

Row 4:  Repeat row 2 except at the end of the row ch 1 and turn (100)

Row 5: hdc in each stitch across, ch 1 and turn (100)

Row 6:  Working in the 3^rd loop only, hdc across.  Ch 1, joining the accent colour, and turn (100). 

Row 7:  With the accent colour and working in the front loop only, hdcX across, ch 1, joining the main colour, and turn (100). 

Row 8:  With the main colour, hdc across, ch 1 and turn (100)

Row 9:  Working in the front loop only, hdc across, ch 1, joining the accent colour, and turn (100)

Row 10:  With the accent colour and working in the 3^rd loop only, hdcX across, ch 1, joining the main colour, and turn (100)

Row 11:  With the main colour, hdc across, ch 1 and turn (100)

Row 12:  Working in the 3^rd loop only, hdc across, ch 1, joining the accent colour, and turn (100)

Row 13:  With the accent colour and working in the front loop only, hdcX across, ch 1, joining the main colour, and turn (100)

Row 14:  With the main colour, hdc across, ch 1 and turn (100)

Row 15:  Working in the front loop only, hdc across, ch 1, joining the accent colour, and turn (100)

Row 16:  With the accent colour and working in the 3^rd loop only, hdcX across, ch 1, joining the main colour, and turn (100)

Row 17:  With the main colour, hdc across, ch 1 and turn (100)

Row 18:  Working in the 3^rd loop only, hdc across, ch 1 and turn (100)

Row 19:  Working in the front loop only, sc across.

Finishing:  Reverse single crochet along the short edges or the cowl, fasten off.  Weave in ends.  Sew on buttons if using.