Crochet Pattern: Chunky Cluster Cowl
By Erin Burger – 28 CommentsChunky cowls in muted colors might just be one of the coolest (no pun intended) winter accessories this year! This pattern is very quick to make up and is the perfect Christmas gift. It’s never too early to start crocheting Christmas presents!
Never worked with clusters before? You could practice these stitches first before attempting the pattern: V-Clusters and Clustered Chevrons
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Finished Size: 26″ (66.04 cm) long and 12″ (30.48 cm) wide
| Materials: bulky weight yarn approx. 149 yards, 7 oz. Crochet Hook N (9.00 mm) |
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Gauge: 1 cluster= 3/4″ (1.9 cm) wide, 1″ (2.54 cm) long
Need help understanding the abbreviations and symbols? Check out the crochet abbreviation chart!
Crochet Pattern: Chunky Cluster Cowl
Cluster cl: (yo, insert hook into indicated stitch, yo, pull up a loop) three times, yo and pull through all 7 loops on hook, ch 1 to close cluster
Row 1: ch 23, cl in 3rd ch from hook, (skip ch, cl in next ch) across, cl in last ch: 11 cl
Rows 2-28: ch 2, turn, cl in space between first two cl and in each space across, cl in ch-2 space: 11 cl
With Wrong Side (see Right Side and Wrong Side in Crochet if you’re not familiar with this term) facing out, hold the two ends of the cowl together and sl st in each st across. Turn inside and out and finish off.
Have any questions or comments? Please ask and comment away! Also, if you attempt this pattern share a photo with us on the Crochet Spot Facebook Page!
How cute! I love chunky shawls and -when knitted/chrocheted- especially cowls! I just crocheted a hat with this “puffstitch” so I just might make myself a nice cowl in the same colour! Thanks for this cute pattern!
Rachel, I love this cowl, and want to try to make it. Thanks for sharing this pattern with all of us.
Erin, I love this! Thanks, all, for the wonderful free patterns and the inexpensive ones available for purchase. I recommend this site to all my crocheting friends.
This is very nice! Thanks for the pattern! I love the warmth of the puff-stitch 🙂
Great pattern and stitch for a cowl! Marsha’s right. Those puffs will certainly help keep your neck warm.
Love it! I’m modifying it to be a scarf – perfect stitch for the bulky yarn I’ve been playing with. Thanks!
I made this yesterday and it was quick and easy (although I made it a bit trickier by holding some worseted triple instead of using a bulky). I think this took me about 2 hours total? I’m not 100% sure because I was watching tv and took a few breaks for chores and starting dinner and all that. It’s super warm and cuddly!
I would LOVE to see this pattern worked in a continuous circle instead, and maybe even tapered a bit towards the top so that there wasn’t as big a gap for snow to fall inside it! 😉
I totally dig this pattern! I use this pattern to make a cowl (waaaaay late xmas gift) for a friend and it came out sooo pretty; so pretty in fact, I don’t want to give it to her! Lol. I used similar bulky yarn and had to do more than 28 rows to ensure it wrapped comfortably around the neck but it’s great. I’ll be making one for myself very soon.
I’m a beginner trying to become an intermediate. I love, love this pattern but I’m a little confused on the clustered chevron. I don’t quite understand how to draw up on the same loop three times- it gets REALLY tight. I can’t find a video anywhere online. Help!
Hi Pamela, to draw up a loop you’ll insert your hook into the stitch, yarn over, and pull the loop through. Since it’s a cluster you’ll insert your hook into the same stitch 3 times. It’s okay if it gets a little tight. Using a large crochet hook and a thinner yarn (compared to the bulky weight yarn used in this pattern) to practice may help.
Pamela, I also a beginner and had difficulty with the loops getting tight. What I found that helped was holding the loops with my thumb low on the hook whenever I added a new loop. It helped me a lot, I hope it helps you.
Hi,
When I first saw this pattern I was sort of apprehensive about usingit. It look very difficult, but it isn’t. As a matter of fact, it is very easy. I really like the design. I am presently working on my cowl. Thank you.
I’m pretty new with crocheting, at least anything that isn’t a sc or dc, so my question is, Can you clarify about rows 2-28, we just crochet the clusters into the open spaces between the clusters of the previous row, and then in the second space between the clusters below we do 2 clusters instead of 1 to make 11 in the row? Also, are we crocheting the width or the length, the 23 chains isn’t the part that makes the circle to go around your neck is it?
Thank you so much, I LOVE the look of this cowl!
Jessie.
Jessie, yes you are correct. You make a cluster between each of the clusters on the previous row. When you get to the end of the row, you’ll see your ch-2 space (the space that is made from chaining 2 on the previous row) which is where you make your last cluster. You will have a total of 11 clusters on each row. The 23 chains at the beginning of the pattern is the height of the cowl, so as you crochet more and more rows you’ll be making the cowl wider to go around your neck.
Thank you Rachel! I had my grandma look at the pattern and confirm for me so I’m well on my way to having a cowl! I actually used two threads of worsted weight yarn because I didn’t have bulky but I’m loving how it’s looking! I think I might head out to the store tonight and find a bulky weight to try it with!
Thank you for your help! :]
Erin, thanks so much for posting this! Such a creative way to use the cluster stitch, the cowl looks beautiful! Such a quick and easy stitch too. Love it!!
I’m confused about how this fits around you neck. It seems as I crochet it is staying the same size except for length-help what am I doing wrong???
Hi Penny, you are crocheting a long rectangle. When you are done you’ll join the two ends together to make a circle that will go around your neck.
Thanks – I will try this again – I have ripped it out twice since it didn’t look right
Please can you tell me what yarn you used to make this cowl, because in the UK the bulky is our chunky and it doesn’t look thick enough to get the effect you have with the cowl. Thank you.
Hi Beth!
I’m not sure what brand yarn Erin used for her pattern, but the bulky weight yarn in the US is equivalent to the UK 13ply yarn. So if you use a 13ply yarn then it should turn out the same. If you’d like you are more than welcomed to use an even thicker yarn for an even thicker cowl.
Love this cowl! Thank you for this free pattern. 🙂
May I ask, that yarn and color is that?
Hi Elle! Sorry, I don’t know what brand of yarn Erin used for this pattern. Any yarn of the same weight would be okay to use though.
What kind of yarn would anyone of you suggest using? I want it to be chunky like in the photo, yet soft to the touch. Any suggestions?
I made this pattern with Lion Brand super bulky yarn in Cambridge Tweed because I loved the color. It turned out really well, such a cool but easy design.
For those who are having a hard time with the yarn getting too tight — I’d recommend using Susan Bates Crystallites hooks. I was having that problem with the first cluster scarf I made, too, and then I found a set of these hooks and the problem was solved. They slide right through the stitches, easy peasy! And the hooks are lightweight and easy to work with, too.
I’m now making a cluster blanket using the same pattern and Caron Simply Soft yarn in Soft Pink, crocheting with a Crystallites hook in size G. It’s a gift for a baby shower, and I think it’s going to work up beautifully!
This was fun! Made it last night! I needed a fowl I could pull over my mouth…not good to breathe cold air…but was open enough for me to breathe. Thank you for the pattern!
I love this pattern and hope to start a project using it soon. Thank you for sharing.