The Balsam Alpine Cowl features soft peaks and valleys made using the textured Alpine Stitch. Its cowl neck adds a warm element to the design for comfort and style.
With contrasting texture of raised stitches in the main body and edging, this textured triangle cowl is a striking accessory that will complement your wardrobe. The illusion of peaks and valleys made by the Alpine stitch give this cowl a distinct and fashionable design.
The Balsam Alpine Cowl includes directions for sizes XS-5X and includes instructions on how to customize for any fit preference.
Lorene Eppolite is the designer behind Cre8tion Crochet. She has been designing since October 2012. She loves to create fun and easy crochet accessories and garments. Lorene strives to make her designs to be achievable for any skill level. Just because it is easy, doesn’t mean it can’t be beautiful.
Lorene is also the founder of A Year in Crochet. This yearly membership features an exclusive, size inclusive, garment design and a new accessory design each month.
Lorene lives in Eastern NC with her husband and three kids. She also has two adorable Pot Belly Pigs. It is Lorene's dream to have a full blown mini farm/homestead.
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- Red Heart Soft 2 (2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3) skeins
OR
450 (470, 470, 500, 500, 540, 540, 575, 575) yards of comparable weight yarn
Samples shown in Off White and Minty
- K/6.5mm hook- I used my Blue Odyssey
Finished Size
Triangle
19.5" tall from center tip to top- all sizes
18" wide at top of triangle (before adding cowl neck)- all sizes
Cowl Neck
10" tall/ 5" when folded- all sizes
10 (11, 11, 11.5, 11.5, 12, 12, 12.5, 12.5) wide
OR
20 (22, 22, 23, 23, 24, 24, 25, 25)" circumference
Stitch Information
This design uses the Alpine Stitch. It is performed differently in the pattern, to create the V shape, but if you are unfamiliar with this stitch you can learn the basics in this video by Furls. The only differences are that I prefer to use a foundation row to begin (you will not use a foundation row for the cowl pattern, only if you need to practice the stitch or gauge). I also use a CSDC instead of a ch-3 and I use an extended st (ex-fpdc) for the textured post stitches. See 'Special Stitches' below for detailed stitch descriptions.
Gauge
11st and 8 rows = 4" in pattern
Gauge is not imperative with this design, as you will be able to adjust according for different yarns used.
Gauge Pattern: Alpine Stitch
Row 1: FDC 6" across (even number increment), turn work OR chain 6+" across (odd number increment), dc in the 4th ch from the hook (counts as first and second dc), dc in each ch to end, turn work.
Row 2: Ch 3 or CSDC, dc in next st, dc in each st to end, turn work.
Row 3: Ch 1, sc in first st, sc in each st across, turn work.
Row 4: Ch 3 or CSDC, *ex-fpdc in next dc from two rows below, dc in next st, repeat from * until one st remains, dc in last st, turn work.
Row 5: Ch 1, sc in first st, sc in each st across, turn work.
Row 6: Ch 3 or CSDC, dc in next st, *ex-fpdc in next dc from two rows below, dc in next st, repeat from * until one st remains, dc in last st, turn work.
Row 7: Ch 1, sc in first st, sc in each st across, turn work.
Row 8: Ch 3 or CSDC, *ex-fpdc in next dc from two rows below, dc in next st, repeat from * until one st remains, dc in last st, turn work.
Repeat Rows 5 through 8: until swatch measures 6"
Measure your 4" in the center of this swatch, starting at a sc row for height. See this tutorial on how to properly measure gauge.
Basic rules are: ex-fpdc in each dc from two rows below and dc in each sc st where the st two rows below is an ex-fpdc. The first and last sts of each dc/ex-fpdc row will be a dc. This will mean that every other row will begin with two dc and the next row will end with two dc.
Abbreviations
blo - back loop only, dc - double crochet, RS - right side, sc - single crochet, sl st - slip stitch, st(s) - stitch(es), WS - wrong side
Special Stitches
CSDC- Chainless Starting Double Crochet - Tutorial
If working in rows, turn work. If working in rounds spin hook completely around, making a twist in the loop. Pull up a loop to the height of a normal dc. YO with the loop so that the hook is behind the loop. Insert the hook into the first st of row. Complete a normal dc (YO and draw through st (3 loops on hook). YO and draw through first two loops on hook. YO and draw through last two loops on hook).
Ex-fpdc- Extended Front Post Double Crochet
Yarn over (YO), insert hook from front to back around the post of the indicated st, st, YO and pull through st (3 loops on hook), YO and draw through one loop, [YO and draw through two loops] 2x.
Notes
- Triangle portion of the pattern is made in turned rows.
- The post stitches are worked on right side rows only.
- The cowl portion of the pattern is worked in turned ribbed rows that are seamed to finish.
- The pattern is written in size XS with changes for S, M, L, 1x, 2x, 3x, 4x and 5x. If there are only one set of directions, or one number listed, it pertains to all sizes.
- Ch 3 counts as the first dc, you can also use the alternate CSDC (see special stitches).
- Ch 1 does not count as the first sc.
Construction
The triangle portion of the cowl is made in turned rows, starting at the bottom 'V'. Each dc row is increased on the sides to add width to the triangle. The decorative post sts are added on the right side of the work.
Once the triangle portion is the desired height the edging is added, working around the the two bottom sides only, in turned rows.
Next the top is edged and width is added to the cowl neck by spanning the distance between the top two corners. The cowl neck is then worked perpendicular to the edging you just completed, in turned rows working in the back loop only.
After the cowl portion is completed it is seamed to finish.
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Furls Crochet Team
November 9th, 2016
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