How to Crochet a Beautiful Braided Cowl
Materials Required
You'll need:
- About 2 skeins of Vanna's Choice yarn in color Linen
- Crochet hook 5 mm
- Yarn needle
- One 1-inch wooden button
Stitch Control
Stitch control: 13 hdc = 4 inches
Instructions
Creating the Bands
Row 1: Chain 70, 1 hdc in 3rd ch from hook (beginning ch 2 counts as 1st hdc here and throughout), 1 hdc in each ch across.
Turn. -------------- 69 hdcRow 2: You will not be working into the regular “V” of the stitches but the third loop you find in front of each st. Ch 2, 1 hdc in third loop in the front of next st, 1 hdc in third loop of each st across. Turn. -------- 69 hdc. This will push the “V” of your stitches to the back of your work, as pictured below.
Row 3: Ch 2, 1 hdc into 3rd loop at the back of each st as shown below. This will push the “V” of your stitches to the front. Do not fasten off. Chain 70 again and repeat rows 1-3 to make the second band. Repeat the process 2 more times till you have 4 bands. Do not fasten off. Now you will have 4 bands joined on one side.
Joining the Bands Together and Braiding
Row 1: Continue working along the shorter side of the bands as shown. Ch 1 (not a st here and throughout), (1 sc, sc2tog, 1 sc) across the edge of each of the 4 bands. Turn. --------------- 12 sc
Row 2: Ch 1, *1 sc, sc 2tog, repeat from * till end. Turn. -------------- 8 sc
Row 3: Ch 1, 3 sc, sc2tog, 3 sc. Turn. ------- 7 sc
Row 4-14: Ch 1, 1 sc in each st across. ------------ 7 sc
Fasten off after Row 14. The sc part will now be 3 ½ inches long.
Braiding the Strips
Step 1: Bring the 4th Strip over the 3rd and the second strip over the first.
Step 2: Cross the 2 strips in the middle now by bringing the one on the left over the one on the right.
Repeat the above two steps till you braid the whole length of the strips. Arrange the shorter sides of the strips, join yarn at the corner of the first band, and proceed to work a sc band along the sides of the 4 bands, following Rows 1-14 above. Fasten off. One layer of your braided cowl is now done. Thread 1 ½ yards of yarn and sew the braid (on the back side) to hold it in place. Make sure you don't make the stitches too tight. You only need to stitch at places where the bands cross each other. This will help your cowl hold its shape better.
To make the second layer of braid. Ch 86 and follow the same pattern for the first braid. For the sc bands on either side, repeat Row 14 three more times. So you will have 17 rows in total, and it will measure 4 ½ inches. Fasten off. Thread 1 ½ yards of yarn and sew the braid (on the back side) to hold it in place. Make sure you don't make the stitches too tight.
Assembly
Row 1: Now place the longer braid over the shorter one and align the edges of the sc bands. Start with the sc bands on the left side. Working through both layers, sl st to the first st, ch 1 (not a st), 1 sc in each st across. Turn. ------ 7 sc
Row 2-3: Ch 1 (not a st here and throughout), 1 sc in each st across. Turn. ----- 7 sc
Row 4: Ch 1, 2 sc, ch 3, 2 sc. Turn.
Row 5: Ch 1, 2 sc, 3 sc into ch-3 space, 2 sc. Turn. ------------ Button hole made.
Row 6: Ch 1, 1 sc in each st across. Turn. ----- 7 sc
Row 7: Ch 1, skip next 2 st, 6 dc in next st, sl st to last st. Fasten off.
Finishing Touches
Work on the sc bands on the right side now!
Row 1: Working through both layers, sl st to the first st, ch 1 (not a st), 1 sc in each st across. Turn. ------ 7 sc
Row 2-6: Ch 1, 1 sc in each st across. Turn. ----- 7 sc
Row 7: Ch 1, skip next 2 st, 6 dc in next st, sl st to last st. Fasten off.
Final Steps
Weave in any tails left. Sew on a big button on the right side of the cowl.