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 to make a Foundation Single Crochet (a foundation chain and the first row of single crochet all at once!), take this opportunity to learn with our new tutorial right here.
So, at last, Crochet-erella can get off the internet and join the party! I love a happy ending! -Whitney
Materials
- 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)Â crochet hook
Gauge
9â…“ 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! Check out our Foundation Single Crochet Tutorial right here.)
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!
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