Winter’s Blush Cowl & Infinity Scarf – Free Crochet Patterns

One skein crochet projects are perfect for several reasons. I personally like them because they help to use up random balls of leftover yarn from larger projects. They also make great last minute crochet gifts and they are the perfect size crochet projects to take with you on long car rides.

This time of year I try to come up with a few one skein crochet projects to help use up the leftover yarn that I’ve accumulated throughout the year. And it just so happens that the holidays are coming up so it helps me to get started on making gifts. While the Winter’s Blush Cowl is a great one skein project, the infinity scarf option will likely require a little more than I skein. 

Yarn

For this free crochet cowl pattern, I wanted to use yarn from my stash. The yarn I chose was Lion Brand’s Touch of Alpaca in the color Blush (can you guess where the name of this pattern came from?). Touch of Alpaca is a very soft, durable and washable worsted weight yarn and it is available in 11 colors. Alpaca is similar to sheep’s wool, but it is warmer, softer, and hypoallergenic. Each ball has 207 yards which is perfect for making the Winter’s Blush Crochet Cowl a one skein project.

Basic Stitches Create a Beautiful Texture

The body of this cowl is crocheted using a variation of the double crochet moss stitch, also known as the extended moss stitch. The double crochet moss stitch itself is a slight variation of the more popular moss stitch (also known as the linen stitch). The differences between the moss stitch (linen stitch) and the double crochet moss stitch (extended moss stitch), are  1) the double crochet moss stitch uses a double crochet stitch in place of a single crochet stitch and 2) the double crochet stitches are worked into the double crochet stitches from 2 rows below, whereas the single crochet are worked into the chain space from the previous row. I love the classic crochet moss/linen stitch pattern (and I’ve used it in many crochet designs) but, I really like the change in texture that’s produced by switching from single crochet stitches to double crochet stitches.

Each variation of the moss stitch has its own unique qualities. One is more of an openwork crochet stitch pattern and the other creates a more dense fabric. I prefer the more popular moss/linen stitch when crocheting items that need to be more lightweight and have more drape to them such as garments, sunhats, and lightweight crochet afghans. But the double crochet/extended moss stitch is great for crocheting items that I’d like to be more dense and have no holes such as Christmas stockings and warm winter crochet accessories.

Although the most popular versions of the crochet moss stitch pattern use a single crochet or double crochet, the sky’s the limit! You could substitute nearly any basic crochet stitch and create a nice stitch pattern variation. I’ve created a crochet stitch tutorial for the extended moss stitch & double extended moss stitch.

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Materials

• Yarn:  Worsted Weight Yarn / 4 , Lion Brand’s Touch of Alpaca,  90% Acrylic / 10% Alpaca (207 yards / 190 m / 100 g / 3.5 oz)
  • Worsted Weight Cowl: 180 yards
  • Worsted Weight Infinity Scarf: 340 yards
• Crochet Hook: J/10/6.00mm (My favorite crochet hooks are the Clover Amour Hooks, I’ve never had an ache in my hand since switching)
• Scissors
• Yarn Needle
• Scrap piece of yarn or stitch marker

Gauge

• In textured pattern stitch (double crochet moss stitch): 9 sts = 3″; 9 rows = 3″

One Size Fits Most

• Cowl: 30″ circumference x 8″ H
• Infinity Scarf: 60″  circumference x 8″ H

Abbreviations (US Terms)

• ch(s): chain(s)
• sl st(s): slip stitch(es)
• st(s): stitch(es)
• sc: single crochet
• dc: double crochet
• RS: Right Side
• BLO: back loop only
• FLO: front loop only
• Rep: repeat
• Rnd: round
• Extended Moss Stitch

Notes

• I tend to crochet on the tighter side. You may find yourself needing to go down a hook size (or two) to properly meet gauge. Gauge height isn’t crucial.
• Lion Brand Touch of Alpaca in Blush was used for the cowl in the photo, 90% Acrylic / 10% Alpaca (207 yards / 190 m / 100 g / 13.5 oz)
• Another comparable light worsted weight yarn may be used as long as gauge is met.
• This pattern includes instructions for both cowl and infinity scarf lengths.
• Changes for sizes written as follows: cowl (infinity scarf)
• Yardage
  • Cowl: 180 yards
  • Infinity Scarf: 340 yards
• The stitch pattern is a multiple of 4. You can increase or decrease the circumference of your cowl simply by adding or subtracting 4 chains from your set-up row.

Winter’s Blush Cowl & Infinity Scarf Instructions

You’ll find the crochet stitch tutorial for the extended moss stitch & double extended moss stitch.

Set-up: With a yarn and a 6.00mm crochet hook, ch 92 (184), being careful not to twist the ch, join with a sl st to the 1st ch.

Rnd 1 (RS): Ch 1, working into the back hump of the foundation ch, sc in each ch around. Join. (92, 184 sts)

Rnds 2 – 3 (RS): BLO sc in each st around. Join.

Rnd 4 (RS): Ch 1, ext sc in the first st, ext sc in the next st, ch 2, skip next 2 sts, (ext sc in each of the next 2 sts, ch 2, skip each of the next 2 sts) rep from ( to ) around. Join with a sl st to the 1st st. Turn.

Rnds 5 – 21: Ch 1, (dc in each of the next 2 sts 2 rnds below, ch 2, skip each of the next 2 sts) rep around. Join. Turn.

Rnd 22 (RS): Ch 1, (dc in each of the next 2 sts 2 rnds below, ext sc each of the next 2 sts) rep around. Join. Do not turn.

Rnds 23 – 24 (RS): Ch 1, BLO sc in each st around. Join.

Fasten Off. Weave in ends.