Malibu Cowl Free Crochet Pattern

I’ve been on a bobble crochet kick lately and I’m excited to share with you another pattern from the bobble series. Feast your eyes on the Malibu Cowl! (with a free crochet pattern later in this post).

A beautiful crocheted cowl is an amazing alternative to a scarf. Don’t get me wrong, I love scarves, but sometimes they drive me crazy. They get too loose, then too tight, they get caught on things, nearly choking me to death, they stick out from underneath my jacket when it’s zipped, should I say more?

A crocheted cowl is so much friendlier in use – it’s easy to put on, it stays in place and keeps you warm while adding adornment to your outfit. When I was younger I loved the long cowls, tubes, as we call them, they could be draped over your head like a shawl without the hassle of one, or be bunched up on your neck like a scarf. I loved those things! (I think I might make one for old times sake). But I digress.

Back to the Malibu Cowl. I wanted to make it easy to crochet, but not be boring and have that wow factor. So I went for an ombre yarn that creates this stunning color variation that almost messes with your eyes. In addition, especially if you decided to make it in a solid color, I added bobbles and some chain spaces into the mix. I wanted people to stop you on a street and ask you where you got it.

***Grab an ad-free, printable PDF version of this pattern HERE. For the free version, scroll down.***

I used weight 4 Medium Worsted for this pattern, just like I used it for the Pearls on the Beach Headband to really have the shape of the bobbles come through. You can try it in a chunkier yarn, but of course, you would need to consider the number of chains and the hook size and all that.

But before we get into those weeds, here is the pattern for the Malibu Cowl as you see it in the photos in this post.

***Grab an ad-free, printable PDF version of this pattern HERE. For the free version, scroll down.***

What you will need:

• Hook: 5.5mm / US I-9 (like this one by Susan Bates)
• Yarn: 1 ball of Weight 4 Worsted (Medium) by Red Heart Super Saver Ombre in Scuba
• Other: Scissors, Yarn Needle

Gauge: A 3”x3” square swatch in a combo of DC and SC stitch should be 11 ch wide and 10 rows tall. If your personal crochet style produces different in size, choose a bigger or smaller size hook to match the gauge.

Finished size: Approximately 32” in circumference and 11” in height.

Abbreviations:

• SC      single crochet
• SL ST   slip stitch
• DC      double crochet
• BO       bobble stitch (described below)
• SK skip
• YO       yarn over
• CH       chain
• ST(S)    stitch(es)
• * or **     repeat whatever is between the * or **

Special stitch used in this pattern:

Bobble stitch (BO):

Start as if you are doing regular dc: yo, insert hook into the stitch, yo, pull up a loop, yo and pull through 2. You now have 2 loops on the hook. Now, unlike in dc, instead of yo and pulling through these 2 loops, do this: with the 2 loops still on the hook, yo again, insert hook into the same stitch, yo and pull up a loop then yo and pull through 2 loops closest to the tip of the hook. You now have 3 loops on the hook. With the 3 loops still on the hook, yo again, insert hook into the same stitch, yo and pull up a loop then yo and pull through 2 loops closest to the tip of the hook. You now have 4 loops. With the 4 loops still on the hook, yo again, insert hook into the same stitch, yo and pull up a loop then yo and pull through 2 loops closest to the tip of the hook. You now have 5 loops on the hook. Now, at last, yo and pull the yarn through all 5 loops at once.

PATTERN:

Foundation

Chain (CH) 120 (multiples of 4). Connect the last chain to the first chain to form a circle using slip stitch (SL ST), make sure not to twist (this cowl is worked in a round).

Row 1

CH 1 (counts as first Single Crochet (SC)). SC into second chain (CH) from the hook, then SC into every CH of the foundation chain. Total: 120 ST(S).

Row 2

CH 3 (counts as DC). DC into next SC and into every SC around (120 ST(S)).  SL ST into top of the first ST of this row to close the circle.

Row 3

CH 1 (counts as SC). SC into next DC and into every DC around (120 ST(S)).  SL ST into top of the first ST of this row to close the circle.

Row 4

CH 1 (counts as SC). SC into next SC and into every SC around (120 ST(S)).  SL ST into top of the first ST of this row to close the circle. Turn your work inside out (next row will be worked the Right Side in).

Row 5

CH 1 (counts as SC). SC into next 2 SC.

*BO stitch into next SC, SC into next 3 SC*. Repeat between * * around. At the end, crochet 1 last BO and SL ST into top of the first ST of this row to close the circle. At this point, all the bobbles will be on the inside of your work. You will have 30 bobbles separated by 3 SC each.

Row 6

Turn your work outside in (Right Side out, all the bobbles are now on the outside).

CH 1 (counts as SC). SC into next SC and into every SC around (120 ST(S)). SL ST into top of the first ST of this row to close the circle.

Row 7

CH 1 (counts as SC). SC into next SC and into every SC around (120 ST(S)). SL ST into top of the first ST of this row to close the circle.

Row 8

CH 3 (counts as DC). DC into next SC and into every SC around (120 ST(S)). SL ST into top of the first ST of this row to close the circle.

Row 9

CH 3 (counts as DC). * CH 1, SK 1, DC into next DC *. Repeat between * * till the end of the row. SL ST into top of the first ST of this row to close the circle.

Row 10

CH 3 (counts as DC). DC into next DC and into every 1 CH SP  around (120 ST(S)).  SL ST into top of the first ST of this row to close the circle.

Row 11-22

CH 3 (counts as DC). DC into next DC around (120 ST(S)). SL ST into top of the first ST of this row to close the circle. Do this for 12 rows.

Row 23

CH 3 (counts as DC). * CH 1, SK 1, DC into next DC *. Repeat between * * till the end of the row. SL ST into top of the first ST of this row to close the circle.

Row 24

CH 3 (counts as DC). DC into next DC and into every 1 CH SP  around (120 ST(S)). SL ST into top of the first ST of this row to close the circle.

Row 25

CH 1 (counts as SC). SC into next DC and into every DC around (120 ST(S)). SL ST into top of the first ST of this row to close the circle.

Row 26

CH 1 (counts as SC). SC into next SC and into every SC around (120 ST(S)). SL ST into top of the first ST of this row to close the circle.

Turn your work inside out (next row will be worked the Right Side in).

Row 27

CH 1 (counts as SC). SC into next 2 SC.

*BO stitch into next SC, SC into next 3 SC*. Repeat between * * around. At the end, crochet 1 last BO and SL ST into top of the first ST of this row to close the circle. At this point all the bobbles will be on the inside of your work. You will have 30 bobbles separated by 3 SC each.

Row 28

Turn your work outside in (Right Side out, all the bobbles are now on the outside).

CH 1 (counts as SC). SC into next SC and into every SC around (120 ST(S)). SL ST into top of the first ST of this row to close the circle.

Row 29

CH 1 (counts as SC). SC into next SC and into every SC around (120 ST(S)). SL ST into top of the first ST of this row to close the circle.

Row 30

CH 3 (counts as DC). DC into next SC and into every SC around (120 ST(S)). SL ST into top of the first ST of this row to close the circle.

Row 31

CH 1 (counts as SC). SC into next DC around (120 ST(S)). SL ST into top of the first ST of this row to close the circle.

Finish

Fasten off. Cut the yarn.

Weave in all the ends.

Customization

To make the cowl bigger, add the multiplies of 4 to the beginning chain. Each 4 additional chains will give you an additional set of 1 bobble + 3 stitch space and an approx. 1” inch in circumference.

To make the headband smaller, subtract the multiplies of 4 from the beginning chain. Each 4 chains will take away the set of 1 bobble + 3 stitch space and approx. 1” inch in circumference.

Voila! I hope you are excited to make it. I would love to see your cowls on Instagram – go ahead and tag me @kindofknit 

With kindness,

Yelena