Crochet Shamrock Cowl
I love to decorate with shamrocks at this time of year and I really enjoy crocheting shamrocks! (I love crocheting shamrocks so much that in the past 2 weeks I published 2 NEW shamrock patterns – the Crochet Shamrock Square and the Celtic Shamrock Wall Hanging – if you love shamrocks like me, I encourage you to check them out!) This Crochet Shamrock Cowl is another fun Irish-inspired project that you can make and wear in honor of St. Patrick’s Day! This project uses a very simple crochet technique/stitch called: surface slip stitch. Basically you work your slip stitches over the top of a crocheted piece.
2 Cowls in 1!
This crochet cowl pattern uses all simple stitches (sl st, sc, hdc and dc) and some bulky acrylic yarn – so that means it works up fast, too! And, would you guess that the Crochet Shamrock Cowl is actually reversible! If you choose, you can make 2 center squares that are sewn together – one day you can wear it with the Shamrock side showing and another day you can wear it with the Claddagh side showing (scroll down to see a photo of the alternate side!)
**UPDATE: Now you can purchase an ad-free large-print PDF of this pattern in my Etsy Shop here**
(All color photos and templates are included in the file!)
Templates included to help you
If you’ve never tried “surface slip stitching” before, it can take a little practice so your shapes come out the way you would like them so don’t be afraid to practice with some scrap yarn from your stash. Plus, I have a FREE PDF printable to the 2 motif designs that you can use to guide you as you work your slip stitch magic for the center squares. You’ll see the template file listed in the supply list.
Step-by-Step Video Tutorial Now Available!
**UPDATE: And now there is a step-by-step video tutorial for this project! I show you how I use the templates and create the shamrock and claddagh designs and I go over all the supplies, stitches and how to put everything together – Click here to watch the video or scroll down**
International Crochet Month Blog Hop
Did you know March is International Crochet Month?! Exciting! This pattern is part of a special Blog Hop hosted by Marie Segares of Underground Crafter. She has put together a great list of designers that will share a NEW FREE crochet pattern each day of the month along with a FREE PDF download of each pattern for 24 hours! So, click here to check out more info and see the whole list of projects. There are some fun giveaways, too! If you are here because of the Blog Hop, THANK YOU for stopping by – you can find your coupon code for the PDF download of the Crochet Shamrock Cowl at the end of this post.
Let’s get started!
Skill Level: Intermediate
(The stitches included in this project are very basic but working on top of the crochet piece to create the shamrock and claddagh designs can be a little challenging – don’t worry, you can easily get it with some practice🙂 )
Measurements:
Center Square = 6 ½” x 6 ½”
Length around neck = 33”
Supplies:
(Please note this post contains affiliate links which earns this blog a small commission at no extra cost to you – it’s a win-win! Thank you for your support so I can continue to offer free patterns like this one)
LionBrand Homespun yarn in Forest – 2 skeins
Lionbrand Hometown in Houston Cream -1 skein
(Both of these yarns are considered bulky and are acrylic fibers)
Shamrock and Claddagh Template PDF – Click here to download and print
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Notes:
First 2 squares are crocheted and then Shamrock and Claddagh motifs are added with surface slip stitches
Then the neck lengths are added onto the Shamrock square and a triangle piece is sewn to the center back between the neck lengths
Lastly the Claddagh square is sewn to the back of the Shamrock square – this is optional and makes the cowl reversible
Gauge:
7 rows = 4”; 4 shells = 4” (Stitch pattern from neck length with Forest and larger hook)
Special Stitches and Abbreviations:
Hdc (half double crochet) = YO, insert hk into st, YO, draw up a lp, YO, pull through all 3 lps on hk
Surface sl st (surface slip stitch) = insert hk into crochet piece, place slip knot on hk behind crochet piece; pull hk up through piece to Right Side; *insert hk a short distance from previous st; YO behind crochet piece, pull lp up through crochet piece;* Repeat * to * for as many sts as desired
Sc (single crochet) = Insert hk into st, YO, draw up a lp, YO, pull through 2 lps on hk
Join with sc (join with single crochet) = With slip knot on hk, insert hk into st, YO, draw up a lp; YO, pull through 2 lps on hk
Dc (double crochet) = YO, insert hk into st, YO, draw up a lp, (YO, pull through 2 lps on hk) twice
Sl st (slip stitch) = Insert hk into st, YO, pull through stitch and loop on hook
Ch = chain; Sp = space; Hk = hook; Lp = loop; Sk = skip; YO = yarn over
Video Tutorial – I take you Step-by-Step:
In case you need some extra help with any part of this project, you can find it here in the step-by-step video tutorial!
Pattern for the Crochet Shamrock Cowl:
Center Square (Make 2 if want to make the cowl reversible):
With smaller hook and Forest yarn, ch 19
Row 1:
Hdc in 3rd ch from hk and in each ch across. Turn. (17 hdc)
Row 2:
Ch 2, hdc in each st across. Turn. (17 hdc)
Repeat Row 2 until piece is a square (approximately 13 total rows) Fasten off.
Adding Shamrock Motif:
Print out Shamrock motif printable and cut out all hearts along the inside of the black lines
Using photo as a guide pin hearts to center square
Insert smaller hook through square at point of heart
Put slip knot on hook on behind square
Pull slip knot up through square
Insert hook into square again a short distance from beginning point
YO behind square and pull yarn up through square to Right Side and through the lp on hook (one surface slip stitch completed);
*Insert hook into square again a short distance from previous st; YO behind square and pull yarn up through square to Right Side and through lp on hook;* Repeat from * to * around heart template shape making sure to end at base of 1st surface sl st; Fasten off.
Repeat this for all hearts
Using photo as a guide work stem as for hearts simply completing 7 surface sl sts in center. Fasten off. Weave in all ends making sure they do not show on the Right Side of center square
Adding Claddagh Motif:
Print out Claddagh motif printable and cut out all elements along the inside of the black lines
Pin elements to second square using photo as a guide
Surface sl st around each element in same manner as done for Shamrock motif
Crocheting the Length around Neck:
Side A:
Row 1:
With Forest and larger hk join with sc in 1st st on Side A (see diagram); (ch 1, dc) in same st; (sc, ch 1, dc) in each of the next 2 sts; sk next st; [(sc, ch 1, dc) in each of the next 3 sts; sk next st] across up to last st; sc in last st. Turn. (12 shells)
Row 2:
Ch 2, (sc, ch 1, dc) in each ch-1 sp across; sc in last sc; Turn. (12 shells)
Row 3+:
Repeat Row 2 until measures 13”. Fasten off.
Side B:
Since this side is along the sides of rows (and no clear sts to work into), first use your stitch markers to divide Side B into 4 equal parts – Best way to do this is to first mark the center and then mark the center of each half
Row 1:
With Forest and larger hk, join with sc at corner of square on Side B (see diagram); (ch 1, dc) in same st; work (sc, ch 1, dc) 2 times across side up to first stitch marker; *[(sc, ch 1, dc) in each st] 3 times across up to next stitch marker;* Repeat * to * 2 more times; sc in last st (spot) just before corner; Turn. (12 shells)
Row 2:
Ch 2, (sc, ch 1, dc) in each ch-1 sp across; sc in last sc. Turn. (12 shells) Fasten off.
Row 3+:
Repeat Row 2 until measures 13”. Fasten off.
Back Triangle:
(Measurements = 8 ¾” tall x 11 ½” wide)
With larger hk and Forest ch 2
Row 1:
Sc in 2nd ch from hk. Turn.
Row 2:
Ch 1, (sc, ch 1, dc) in sc. Turn.(1 shell)
Row 3:
Ch 1, (sc, ch 1, dc) in the next dc, ch 1 and sc. Turn. (3 shells)
Row 4:
Ch 1, (sc, ch 1, dc) in 1st dc; (sc, ch 1, dc) in each ch-1 sp across. Turn.
Rows 5 – 12:
Repeat Row 4
Row 13:
Ch 1, (sc, ch 1, dc) in each ch-1 sp across. Turn. (12 shells)
Rows 14-19:
Repeat Row 13. Fasten off with long tail for assembly
Finishing:
With Wrong Side facing use stitch markers or pins to attach backing triangle between 2 neck lengths making sure to line up cowl neck lengths with the sides of the triangle
Using yarn needle and yarn tails sew triangle to lengths
With Forest and smaller hook work sc evenly along sides D & E (see diagram) of each square (with Right Sides facing)
Sew Claddagh motif square with Wrong Side down to back of Shamrock motif square
Weave in ends
And there you have it – your Crochet Shamrock Cowl is complete! Do you like how your cowl turned out? Did you decide to make 2 center squares so your cowl is reversible? I was thinking that it would be interesting to make 2 Shamrock squares – one as shown and then the other with using white yarn for the background square and a green yarn for the Shamrock design. Adding the color orange into this project would be pretty, too. Tell us what you did in the comments below! I would love to hear about it. And if you think of it, please send along a photo of your project to [email protected].
If you would like to download an ad-free large-print PDF of this pattern, visit my Etsy Shop here – you will be able to download the pattern instantly – several color photos and both templates for making the shamrock and claddagh designs are included! Thank you for your support!
Remember, you can find more FREE crochet patterns here and several Celtic Knot projects and patterns here.
And you can pin the image below to help you remember where you found this Shamrock Cowl pattern!
Thank you for stopping by – I hope you have a wonderful International Crochet Month! Happy crocheting!
Jennifer
Copyright – Jennifer E Ryan- www.celticknotcrochet.com- all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher but please do link to this page to share this pattern with others.
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