Wrap yourself in a granny stitch cowl that’s a blend of lightweight warmth and refined style to elevate any outfit. Perfect for a touch of sophisticated comfort!

I am such a fan of cowls. For me, they’re more than just added warmth against the colder temperatures. I love them because they’re the perfect way to look “put together”, dressed up when you’re casual.

I wore cowls all the time when I was working in the professional world. And, I still wear them, even with a t-shirt and a pair of jeans. A beautiful cowl creates a polished, put-together vibe without feeling overly dressed up.

Introducing my latest granny stitch cowl, a beautifully crafted accessory that adds instant sophistication to any outfit. The name “Aria,” meaning “air” in Italian and often associated with a melodious solo in an opera, perfectly captures the essence of this elegant piece. it’s fitting to call this beautiful granny stitch cowl “Aria”, because my previous career was as a professional classical singer!

Lightweight yet cozy, the Aria granny stitch cowl drapes effortlessly around the neck, providing the warmth of a scarf without the bulk. The timeless charm of the granny stitch adds texture and depth, creating a versatile accessory that can dress up casual wear or add a soft, romantic touch to more formal attire.

The Aria Cowl will be your go-to accessory for effortless style in any season.

The Aria Granny Stitch Cowl

Design + Construction

When designing my granny stitch cowl, I wanted to create something that honored my commitment and love for the granny stitch. I had beautiful yarn to work with so the granny stitch is the perfect stitch to let the yarn do most of the “talking”.

If you’re looking for something mindful and relaxing to make, I designed this granny stitch cowl with basic stitches and simple techniques that allow you to focus on the soothing rhythm of each stitch. This project lets you relax into the creative process while producing a beautiful, wearable piece.

After working a couple of foundational single crochet rounds, the main body of the cowl begins a 6 row repeat. The modern granny stitch opens up the texture to provide gorgeous drape in the fabric. For a bit of surface texture, I added the camel stitch (half double crochet in the 3rd loop), my all-time favorite alternative to surface stitching.

Everything in the design of the granny stitch cowl will provide you with a relaxing crochet session and a gorgeous accessory when you’re done.

While the width of the granny stitch cowl can be customized to your personal taste, I prefer a wider version. Its oversized warmth creates a sense of calm, while the elegant drape gives you an effortlessly stylish look, boosting your confidence and making you feel beautifully put together, no matter the occasion.

Work the granny stitch cowl in one piece.

The Yarn

It was time to use some of my gorgeous stash for this granny stitch cowl. Last year I visited the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival where I visited my absolute favorite indie-dyer, Miss Babs Yarns!

Every yarn in Miss Babs’ collection is amazing. But, my all-time favorite is Yowza, a stunning superwash merino wool. 

There is so much to love about Yowza. The dreamy softness is a joy to work with and exceptionally comfy to wear. The expansive color selection makes it easy (or hard if you can’t decide) to find what you’re looking for. 

From the Miss Babs website: “We love seeing the colors that occur in nature and playing off them to create yarns that evoke the emotional impact of the natural world.” 

While I chose a luxury yarn to make my granny stitch cowl, you can use any DK weight yarn you prefer. Create your very own unique look by choosing a different fiber content or customizing the colors you use.

Scroll down to find the free PDF download for the 2024 Giftstravaganza Blog Hop.

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The 2024 Giftstravaganza Blog Hop hosted by Underground Crafter

I’m participating in the third annual Giftstravaganza Blog Hop with Underground Crafter. Come join the fun! 33 bloggers have teamed up to bring you 33 days of free crochet patterns for handmade holiday gift ideas made with 1, 2, or 3 skeins of yarn! Each pattern is forever free on a blog but you can also grab the PDF version of the daily featured pattern free for 24 hours! Each week will have a theme.

Week 1 (November 1-7): Gifts for Home
Week 2 (November 8-14): Gifts for Women
Week 3 (November 15-21): Gifts for Babies, Kids, and Teens
Week 4 (November 22-28): Gifts for Anyone
Week 5 (November 29-December 3): Last-Minute Gifts

We’ve partnered with 11 fabulous craft companies to bring you great prizes! Find out more information about participating bloggers, the schedule, and how to enter to win the prizes on Underground Crafter. The deadline for entering the giveaway for your chance to win a prize from CozyNorthWoods, Crochet Foundry, Cutpie Studio, GlassEyesOnline, KennyClayCo, KnitPal, Knitter’s Relief Balm, lesliewind, MBT Creates, Unicorn, or Walnut Farm Designs is Wednesday, December 4, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern.

Visit the event post to see all of the included designs. Click here or on the graphic below.

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The Free Pattern for the Aria Cowl Starts Here

General Information

Yarn

Miss Babs “Yowza Mini” 100% superwash merino wool (3) DK weight (200yd/2.8oz; 182m/80g)

• Main color (MC): Blarney Stone – 285 yds
• Contrast Color (CC): Moroccan Door – 75 yds
• Approx. 360 yds total

Note: Any DK weight yarn in any color combination you choose. Work the entire cowl in one color, in two colors as shown, or use your stash for a scrappy cowl!

Hook

US size H-8 (5mm) or size needed for gauge

Tool

Tapestry needle for weaving in ends

Finished Size

30” circumference x 14” wide

Gauge

Rows 3-12 worked in pattern x 5 GS = 4”

Skill Level

Advanced beginner/Intermediate

Abbreviations – US crochet terminology

• beg – beginning
• BLO – back loop only
• ch – chain
• dc – double crochet
• hdc – half double crochet
• rep – repeat
• rnd(s) – round(s)
• sc – single crochet
• sk – skip
• sp – space
• st(s) – stitch(es)
• YO – yarn over

Repeats

• (…) – Work everything within the parentheses in the same st or sp.
• […] – Repeat everything within the brackets the indicated number of times.

Special Stitches

Double crochet 2 together (dc2tog) – YO, insert hook in indicated st, YO, pull up a loop, YO, pull through 2 loops, YO, insert hook in next st, YO, pull up a loop, YO, pull through 2 loops, YO, pull through 3 loops on hook.

Double crochet 3 together (dc3tog) – [YO, insert hook in the next st, YO, pull up a loop, YO, pull through 2 loops] 3 times, YO, pull through 4 loops. This dc3tog is worked over the 3 dc of the GS below.

Foundation single crochet (Fsc) – To start the row, ch 2, insert hook in the 2^nd ch from hook, YO, pull up a loop, YO, pull through 1 loop (this forms the chain along the bottom, YO, pull through 2 loops on hook (sc made).

All other Fsc in the row: Insert hook under both loops of the chain at the bottom of the previous st, YO, pull up a loop, YO, pull through 1 loop (this forms the chain along the bottom), YO, pull through 2 loops on hook (sc made).

Granny stitch (GS) – 3 dc in the same st or sp

Half double crochet in the 3^rd loop (hdc 3lp) – when working from the front side of the stitch below – YO, insert hook through the 3^rd loop that sits behind and just under the top loop of the stitch, YO, pull through the 3^rd loop, YO, pull through all 3 loops on the hook to complete the hdc.

Invisible join: At the end of the rnd, remove working loop from the hook, insert hook from back to front through the top of the 1^st st of the rnd, add the working loop back onto the hook and pull through to the wrong side of the cowl; continue as instructed.

Stacked single crochet (STsc) – (This stitch is used at the beginning of a row or round to replace the traditional turning ch-3. It has the appearance of a dc.) – Insert hook in the same st as loop, YO, pull up a loop, YO, pull through 2 loops (bottom sc made), insert hook in the left vertical bar of the bottom sc, YO, pull up a loop, YO, pull through 2 loops (top sc made).

Pattern Notes

1. A “ch 1” at the beg of a rnd does not count as a st. Work the 1^st st of the rnd in the same st as the “ch 1”.
2. A “ch 2” or “ch 3” may be substituted for the STsc without altering the construction of the cowl.
3. Do not turn after any rnd. The right side of the cowl is always facing you.

Pattern Instructions

Rnd 1: With MC, Fsc 111, join with slip st to beg st, being careful not to twist. < 111 sc >

Substitute: Ch 112, sc in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch across, join with slip st to beg st, being careful not to twist.

Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc BLO in the same st and in each st around, join with slip st to beg st. < 111 sc BLO >

Rnd 3: (STsc, 2 dc) in the 1^st st (counts as the 1^st GS), sk 2 sts, [GS in the next st, sk 2 sts] around, join with slip st to beg st. < 37 GS >

Rnd 4: [(Sc, ch 1) in the 1^st st, dc2tog over the next 2 sts] (counts as the 1^st dc3tog), ch 2, [dc3tog over the next GS, ch 2] around, join with slip st to the top of the dc2tog. < 37 dc3tog, 37 ch-2 sp >

Rnd 5: Ch 1, hdc in the same st (the top of the dc3tog), 2 hdc in the ch-2 sp, [hdc in the top of the dc3tog, 2 hdc in the ch-2 sp] around, invisible join. < 111 hdc >

Rnd 6: Ch 1, hdc 3lp in the same st and in each st around, join with slip st to beg st. < 111 hdc 3lp >

Rnd 7: Ch 1, hdc in the same st and in each st around, invisible join. < 111 hdc >

Rnd 8: Rep Rnd 6.

Rnds 9-14: Rep Rnds 3-8.

Rnds 15-20: With CC, rep Rnds 3-8.

Rnds 21-22: Rep Rnds 3-4.

Rnds 23-26: With MC, rep Rnds 5-8.

Rnds 27- 32: Rep Rnds 3-8.

Rnds 33-34: Rep Rnds 3-4.

Rnd 35: Ch 1, sc in the same st (the top of the dc3tog), 2 sc in the ch-2 sp, [sc in the top of the dc3tog, 2 sc in the ch-2 sp] around, join with slip st to beg st. < 111 sc >

Rnd 36: Ch 1, sc BLO in the same st and in each st around, join with slip st to beg st. < 111 sc BLO >

Fasten off and weave in ends. Note: If you worked Fsc for Rnd 1, use the beg yarn tail to sew the gap closed.

Blocking isn’t necessary but preferred. Doing so will set and open up the stitches for a more professional finish.

Do you love to make and wear cowls?

Here are a couple more of my favorite designs!