Crocheted Rib Cowl
I know that crocheters sometimes feel like the Cinderella of the needlecraft ball. While her adored stepsister, Belle Knit, dances the night away, Crochet-erella stays home sifting the internet for hard-to-find modern crochet patterns. That’s why we love to use whatever magic we can muster in order to restore Crochet-erella to her rightful place as the glass-slipper-wearing fashion princess that she is!
This Rib Cowl is as lush and dramatic, cascading and gorgeous, as any knit counterpart. And in Purl Soho’s Super Soft Merino, it’s seriously cozy too. I plucked this beautiful, wear-with-everything Storm Gray from our newest palette of moody neutrals. Just right for a ball gown!
In a simple rib stitch that even very beginners can master, your Rib Cowl will definitely be done before midnight! And for more experienced crocheters who don’t yet know how, check out our Foundation Single Crochet Tutorial (a foundation chain and the first row of single crochet all at once!)!
So, at last, Crochet-erella can get off the internet and join the party! I love a happy ending! -Whitney
Material
- 5 skeins of Purl Soho’s Super Soft Merino, 100% merino wool. Each skein is 87 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 385 yards required. We used the color is Storm Gray.
- A size P (11.5 mm) crochet hook
Gauge
9⅓ single crochets = 4 inches
Size
Finished Dimensions: 9 inches wide x 60 inches in circumference
Note
To make the Rib Stitch you create a single crochet fabric as usual, but instead of inserting the hook under both loops of the previous row’s single crochets, you insert the hook only under the back loop. The pink below indicates three “back loops”…
And here is the hook going under a back loop…
Pattern
If You Are a Beginner Crocheter…
Chain 141.
Foundation Row: Starting with second chain from hook, make 1 single crochet into each chain. (140 stitches)
If You Are a More Experienced Crocheter…
Make a Foundation Single Crochet of 140 stitches. (If you haven’t tried this technique, it’s well worth learning!)
Everyone…
*Turn the work. Make 1 single crochet into the back loop of each stitch. (140 stitches)
Repeat from * until piece measures 9 inches from the beginning, ending so that the working yarn is on the same end of the piece as the foundation tail.
Cut the yarn, leaving a 3-foot tail, and pull it through the remaining stitch.
Thread the tail onto a yarn needle and checking that the cowl isn’t twisted, sew the two ends together. Make sure that the ribs line up on one side (this will be the “right side”). I found that a simple whip stitch looks best…
Weave in the ends and wrap yourself up!
Looking for more inspiration? Explore all of our crochet patterns and crochet tutorials, buy one of our many kits and yarn bundles, and shop for beautiful yarn. We have over 35 gorgeous natural fiber yarns in 100’s of magnificent colors, designed to bring integrity, beauty, and joy to your next crochet or knitting project and only available at Purl Soho!
Yay! Thanks for bringing Crochet to the ball!
Truly modern & magical.
Lovely! I can't wait to try this! You should try this with an alternating color…
Thank you thank you thank you!
I recently sent you guys an email asking for more crochet patterns and this is just beautiful!
I'm still new at crocheting, but I love the look of this scarf and I will be trying this pattern out in the next few days!
Beautiful! Thank you for sharing this pattern, now I know what I'll be doing this weekend. I have been looking for a project for my peacock super soft merino wool and this is it.
All knitters know how to make a rib scarf, but not everybody has learnt knitting but crocheting or like crochet better. I do both but I love the possibility of choise. Thanks for this and all the other nice patterns. <3 from Karen, Denmark
Thanks so much for sharing. Happy Friday!
Oh my, this is just lovely! Thank you for sharing the pattern. And THANK YOU for helping fill the void of fashionable crochet projects! Crochet is my first love, but has been the "ugly stepsister" for so long! 🙂
Can you tell me how the circumference of the scarf?
Hi Patricia,
Thanks for writing in! The finished circumference for the cowl is 60 inches.
Happy crocheting!
-Cassy
It's beautiful! I am making it right now!!! Love it! Thank you!
Oh yeah..I'm loving it!!
Thanks for doing more crochet patterns! This is gorgeous and I have everything I need to whip it up this weekend. 🙂
Also wanted to mention that I just bought the Purl Soho learn to knit kit to dip my toes into the knitting waters. Can't wait until it gets here!!
Crochet! Hurray! We crocheters get a little crotchety when everything seems to always be about knitting. Thanks for not ignoring us. I will be trying this pattern as my next project.
I loovve this pattern. Thanks so much for the crochet love!
My family is sensitive to wool. Can you suggest one of your beautiful cotton yarns and how many skeins I would need? This looks like a wonderufl cowl. Thanks so much.
Him I an trying to find a size P crochet hook, and I can't seem to find a consistent US to metric conversion! Can you tell me once and for all if size P is 10 mm or 15 mm??
My P hook says 11.5 mm. 🙂
How would I knit this beautiful scarf? I'm not ready to learn to crochet yet, but I'd love to make something similar.
Hi Shauna H,
We don't have a cotton that is exactly the gauge of the Super Soft Merino, but I'd recommend working with Blue Sky's Worsted Cotton: https://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/721-Blue-Sky-Worsted-Cotton . It's incredibly soft and supple and comes in lots of beautiful colors.
You'll want to double it to get about the same gauge as we did here. Our Chevron Baby Blanket illustrates how Worsted Cotton looks doubled (it's knit, but you get the idea): https://www.purlsoho.com/create/the-purl-bee/2011/9/15/whits-knits-chevron-baby-blanket.html . You'll need 6 skeins of the Worsted Cotton.
Thanks so much for asking and please let us know how it turns out!
Whitney
HI Shelley,
I'm not sure if I can tell you "once and for all", but the general consensus seems to be that a size P hook is a 10.00 mm in metric size.
Thanks for asking!
Whitney
Hi Deborah (and other knitters!).
The Cartridge Belt Rib pattern would be a great knitting translation of crocheted rib. Our Forever Baby Blanket shows you what I'm talking about and also explains the stitch pattern: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/the-purl-bee/2011/1/26/whits-knits-forever-baby-blanket.html . When you knit your cowl just be sure to cast on a multiple of 4 plus 3 stitches (like 19, 23, or 27).
Thanks for asking and please let us know if you have any other questions!
Whitney
Love this – but might want to make lit with less length to it. How many chain stitches would you think might work for a shorter version?
I recently finished this and loved both the pattern and yarn. Your comments about the similarity to cartridge belt rib now has my mind whirling! I see a crocheted Forever Baby Blanket in my future. Thanks again for your fresh take on crochet!
Hi! Looks like a great pattern. I have about 240 yards of worsted weight yarn and was wondering if it's possible to make this cowl using 70 foundation chain stitches instead of 140? What increments does the foundation chain have to be in?
Thanks!
Hi Serena,
Your foundation chain can be any number for this stitch pattern to work. To figure out how long it should be exactly, you should crochet a gauge swatch, determine the number of stitches you get per inch and multiply that by the number of inches you want your cowl to be.
Please let us know if you have any other questions and thanks so much for these!
Whitney
Hi Tracie,
You can chain any number for this stitch pattern. So, to figure out how many you'd like, first figure out your gauge (how many single crochets per inch you crochet, using the yarn and hook you intend to use for the cowl). Then multiply that number by the length you'd like and add one. For example, this pattern has a gauge 2 1/3 single crochets per inch x 60 inches (the length) = 140 + 1 = 141 chains.
I hope this helps. Please let us know if you have any other questions and thanks for this one!
Whitney
I love the look of this cowl and really enjoy your website.
I am in the beginner crocheter category. I am finished the third row of the cowl and my ends don't seem to be lining up at all.
I have never crocheted a pattern before that didn't require a "chain one or more" at the turn part – is this required for your pattern, as it is not mentioned? Maybe this is something that accomplished crocheters know?
Thanks for the great tutorials and sharing your beautiful patterns.
HI Cindy,
I have lately learned (from a Purl Bee reader!) that a single crochet fabric doesn't really require the chain 1 at the turn. You just have to be sure to make single crochets into every single stitch from the previous row. It looks just as good as making a chain 1 and it's easier!
Of course, if you're more comfortable with the technique you know, that's fine too!
Thanks for asking and please let us know if you have any more questions!
Whitney
My "P" hook says 11 1/2 mm on it Shelley and Whitney. I used the P hook and the stitches don't look as tight as the picture and I used a skein of Lion Brand Homespun I had in my stash. I might frog this and use a smaller hook to try to get the tighter look. Great pattern.
Hi.
Just wanted to know if you have a pattern for making scarfs for coverage for a hole in neck . My brother needs something that warm and able to breathe through it.
crotchet if possible…. easy need to make
Marie Brooks
I think a simple way to make a hole in a scarf would be to pick a spot that would work the best for putting tube through, and instead of crocheting into stitches, just chain however many stitches for width of gap needed and then start back into the appropriate stitch. So if you chain 10, skip 10 stitches and start crocheting back into the 11th stitch. Then the next row you would do all the stitches, including crocheting into the chain stitches. This would make a sort of button hole. I hope this makes sense. I don’t have any experience with breathing tubes but as long as the yarn isn’t too heavy and pulling on tube, this could work I think.
Sorry, I just realized the dates on these comments! I hope you figured out how to make the hole long ago!
Loooks lovely and easy.Thank you!
Hurray for Crochet!!! Yes, we do feel left out most of the time… I will be whipping up this cowl for my mama. I love it!
Hi Marie Brooks,
I think this would be a great pattern for such a purpose! Some men would perhaps prefer if you were to forgo sewing the ends together, but otherwise, this project is what you describe: very warm, yet not particularly dense.
Please let us know if you have any other questions and thank you for this one!
Whitney
How long would if take a beginner to complete?
Hi Whitney,
I checked the three "P" hooks that you have for sale on Purl Soho – the Skacel is a 16 mm; the Susan Bates is an 11.5 mm and the Boye is a 10 mm. This is really frustrating since the difference between 10 and 16 mm is going to produce a very different finished product.
I realize this isn't your fault, of course, since you don't control the manufacturer's labelling on their products. I thought the purpose of moving to metric was that all the hook and needle sizes would be consistent but if the various companies are still using different standards for conversion, it won't help much.
Would it be possible for Purl Soho to move to metric hook measurements in your patterns and list the metric equivalent for the hooks in your online shop so that when we are ordering, we will get the same thing no matter which company we choose? "X" mm is always the same size while the letter sizing is not.
Thanks.
Oh!
Love<3
Hi AMA,
Hard to say! I'd guess somewhere between five and ten hours.
I hope you give it a try; it's a great beginner pattern! Please let us know if you have any more questions and good luck!
Whitney
Hi Linda L,
True, I understand your frustration! In the materials list I linked specifically to Boye's size P crochet hook, hoping to avoid confusion, but you're absolutely correct that the metric size would be helpful for people who may already own a collection of hooks!
Boye's size P hook is 10mm. I've added that info to the materials list and to our web site's product description.
Thanks so much for your suggestions and questions. Please let us know if you have more!
Whitney
I'm making the cowl now and it is sooooo gorgeous.
I'm using Homespun Thick & Quick and was having a bit of trouble getting the back loop. My daughter, who was sitting on the other side of my work, pointed out that you're actually crocheting along the top of the row instead of from the front of the work. I turned the piece in my left hand up so I'm looking at the top and it's so much easier to see and get into the back loop. I hope this is useful.
Happy New Year to everyone at Purl Bee!!
I am a stricktly crochet kinda girl. But….I love the look of knit. So, thank you for this pattern. I followed your foudation chain (LOVE IT!!!!) instructions. So glad you posted that. I have often been annoyed with the no-stretch of a plain old chain stitch to start.
So, I did this scarf with regular sized (worsted?) yarn that is super soft and a 10mm hook. It turned out so great! Thank you. I love it.
Just finished this and it is GORGEOUS!! And your yarn is every bit as wonderfully soft and squishy as it looks. What an amazing treat. Thank you for giving us crocheters something simple, stylish and warm to make this bitter winter better.
Hi,
Can you please tell me how many rows you did? From the picture I counted 14 maybe 15.
Thanks.
Hi Tisa-
Good eye! There are 15 ribs but since there are two rows per rib it actually means 30 rows all together.
Thanks for your question!
Molly
Would this pattern work with the Mulberry Merino yarn? If so, how many skeins would you recommend? Thanks!
Hi Ashlyn-
The stitch pattern would work beautifully with Mulberry Merino however it is much thinner than the Super Soft Merino so you’d have to chain more stitches in the beginning and use a smaller hook. I’d recommend that you make a swatch using an H hook to figure out how many stitches you’ll get per inch. That way you can determine how many to cast on. I estimate that you’d need 3-4 skeins.
Thanks for your question!
Molly
Love this pattern! I’m just finished the foundation single crochet (great tutorial). I have a question though…After turning at the end of each row, is there a chain that should be added before starting the single crochets?
Thank you
Hi Kristine!
It is very common to do an extra chain when turning when making rows of single crochets. However, you don’t always have to! This pattern doesn’t call for an extra chain, so you can simply turn and go into the first single crochet. If you find it easier to work with an extra chain, feel free; just be sure to skip it after turning and crochet into the first actual single crochet!
Happy Crocheting!
Thomas
thank your for sharing this pattern! Question, how do I wrap the scarf so it looks the same as the maniquin picture?
Hi Rüt-
It is just wrapped twice around the mannequin.
Thanks for getting in touch!
Molly
This is so pretty – I am a little lazy- do you think it would work to do this in the round? Thanks.
Hi Wendy!
I don’t think the rib would look quite the same. In theory, you could maybe do a row crocheting through the back loop only, followed by a row crocheting through the front row only. However, it would not look quite the same.
Happy Crocheting!
Thomas
Thank you for sharing.
This pattern is beautiful and so easy. (Almost mindless for the experienced crocheter.) I used the P hook and Loops and Threads Cozy Wool in Velvet. I just love it.
Do you happen to have a hat pattern to go with it? If so, please share. It would make a beautiful set.
Thank you and happy crocheting 🙂
Hi April B-
We don’t have a matching hat pattern but thank you so much for getting in touch. It’s great to hear that you had fun with this pattern!
Molly
Beautiful, thanks for posting this, I can’t wait to try it!
I just made this scarf and I love it! I am beginner at crochet and as usual your patterns are very easy to follow. The seam doesn’t look great; I wish I could do this in the round. But it is my favorite cowl of the season and I am going to make one for my friend! Thank you for sharing your beautiful patterns with us.
I love this pattern! I was wondering if you could you make this with Merino Script yarn as well? Any suggestions for hook and amount of yarn needed? Thank you!
Hi Doreen,
So glad to hear you like the pattern! You can absolutely make it in the Merino Script. You want to use a size I hook and you will want 3-4 skeins of the Merino Script depending how wide of a scarf you want.
Thank you for your question!
Jake
I absolutely love this pattern and your wool! Do you deliver to the UK and if so how much would it cost to send me the wool necessary to crochet this lovely thing!
Thanks!
Maggie
Hi Maggie,
Thank you so much! Yes, we do ship to the UK (all the time!). Please check out our shipping page, which includes international rates if you scroll to the bottom of the page:
https://www.purlsoho.com/purl/shop/shipping
Please let us know if you have more questions about shipping or absolutely anything else!
Whitney
After a long break, nearly 20 years, I have returned to crocheting. I love your site and am just about to start this scarf for my husband. UK
How do you keep the scarf from stretching?
Thanks
Hello Mary!
The nature of knit and crocheted fabrics are that they do tend to stretch. If your item is stretching and loosing its shape entirely, I would recommend re-blocking it by getting it slightly damp and leaving it to dry flat or by gently steaming it while sort of squeezing it into place. Blocking can never 100% restore the piece to its original size and shape, but it should help quite a bit.
Thanks for writing in! -Alyson
I’m making this right now with Bernat’s blanket yarn in vintage white and it’s amazing!! Thanks so much for sharing!!
I happen to have 3skeins of Bernat blanket vintage white on hand. Thanks for the great idea!
I’m in the UK and I just made one in super chunky wool and it looks amazing. I am now making one in aran and doing 210 ch and it too looks fab. Really grateful for you sharing this pattern, thank you.
What size hook did you use please thank you☺
Hi this is a lovely looking cowl can you please let me know what ply is the yarn thank you
Hi, Alexa!
Thank you for your question! Our Super Soft Merino gets about 2.75-3.25 stitches per inch and so, is considered a Bulky or Super Bulky yarn. A 12 ply yarn would be the most comparable in gauge. Please let us know if you have further questions and again, thank you for writing in!
Best,
Kumeko
Thanks for sharing this pattern. It’s easy and I can’t wait to get started on mine. I plan to gift it to my best friend.
I am wanting to make this for my son. He is 8 years old. What would the demensions be for a child? And how many chains should I start with? Thanks in advance 🙂
Hi Chandra!
Thank you for writing in! Most children’s scarves are about 48-inches long and about 6-inches wide. If you are crocheting at the same gauge as the pattern (2 1/3 single crochets = 1-inch) then you’d want to chain about 113 stitches.
Please let us know if you have any more questions.
Best wishes,
Kumeko
merci pour tous ces modèles partagés et le choix est assez grand j’attend plus de vos modèles .
I absolutely love your yarns and want to make crocheted cowls that are not quite so bulky or long. How do I convert this pattern to a lighter weight yarn with a shorter length???
Hello Eileen,
Thank you for writing us! To adjust the gauge of this cowl the first step is to figure out how many single crochets you are getting per inch. If you are using a thinner yarn and smaller crochet hook you might not have to do much pattern adjusting because you are crocheting long ways so your smaller gauge will make the cowl shorter. However, this will all depend on your gauge. I hope this all makes sense. I you have any questions let me know!
Warmly,
Marilla
Wondering about turning chains. After my row of foundation single crochet stitches shouldn’t I add a turning chain age then continue?
And same in each row?
Thanks!
Hi Kevin,
Thanks for writing in! Here a turning chain will not be necessary as you are working in the round in sort of a spiral. Turning chains are generally only needed when you turn your work and begin working back but as this is a continuous spiral, they will not be needed.
Best,
Cassy
But this pattern is not joined in a round???
Hi Susan,
Thanks for reaching out! You are correct! My apologies for the incorrect response! The pattern is not joined in the round but rather crocheted flat and then sewn up. There is no mention of a turning chain however the first single crochet of each row will require a chain 3 to begin.
My sincerest apologies again!
Cassy
Now I’m really confused, I was looking for clarification on the turning chain but here you are saying it’s worked in the round? The pattern clearly says to turn your work after each row, and then see into a circle at the end. So should I join the foundation row and work in the round, or should I turn my work and join at the end? If the later is the case do I add a turning chain? Thank you
Hi Audrey,
Thanks for reaching out! You are correct! My apologies for the incorrect response! The pattern is not joined in the round but rather crocheted flat and then sewn up. There is no mention of a turning chain however the first single crochet of each row will require a chain 3 to begin.
My sincerest apologies again!
Cassy
In this pattern it states to use crochet hook P 11.5mm???? Isn’t the P crochet hook 1/2″ inch? 11.5mm is not 1/2 inch.
Hi Gilda,
Thanks for reaching out. The metric sizes we indicate in our patterns might differ from what you’re used to since different crochet hook companies sometimes assign the millimeter measurements to different US sizes. These inconsistencies, while frustrating, are very common when comparing hooks, so when in doubt, rely on metric sizes…they’re standardized! And as long as you find a hook with which you can achieve the correct gauge, that will work for the pattern!
All the best,
Lili