Beginner's Luck

Beginner's Luck Cowl

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

53/4 inches wide at the widest part of the braid x 34 inches long

MATERIALS

• Red Heart Soft medium (worsted) weight acrylic yarn (5 oz/256 yds/141g per ball):

1 ball #9274 biscuit • Red Heart Soft medium (worsted) weight acrylic yarn (10 oz/ 513 yds/238g per ball): 1 ball each #9010 charcoal

and #4360 cocoa • Size I/9/5.5mm crochet hook or

size needed to obtain gauge • Tapestry needle

GAUGE

In pattern: Gobelin st: 10 sts = 31/4 inches (Strip width); 11 rows = 4 inches Grit st: 10 sts = 3 inches (Strip width); 12 rows = 4 inches Judith st: 10 sts = 27/8 inches (Strip width); 10 rows = 4 inches

PATTERN NOTES

Begin and end Strips with at least 8-inch tails; they will be used to assemble Cowl. Weave in loose ends as work progresses. In Grit Stitch Strip, working the last double crochet in the turning chain will create a smoother edge than working into the last single crochet.

SPECIAL STITCH

Judith stitch cluster (Judith st cl): Sk next sc, dc in each of next 3 sc, working over last 3 dc made and enclosing them with new st, dc in sk sc.

COWL GOBELIN ST STRIP

With cocoa, leaving an 8-inch tail (see Pattern Notes), ch 11. Row 1: Sk first ch (does not count as a st), hdc in each st across, ch 1 and turn. (10 hdc)

Rows 2–104: (Hdc between next 2 hdc) 9 times, hdc in turning ch of previous row, ch 1 and turn. (10 hdc) Fasten off.

GRIT ST STRIP

With biscuit, ch 11.

Row 1: Sk first ch, (sc in next ch, dc in next ch) 5 times, ch 1 and turn. (5 dc, 5 sc)

Designer Debra Lea came up with the idea for this cowl for her beginning crochet classes. Students learn the basic stitches, how to read a pattern and how to work simple finishing techniques all while crocheting a pretty and practical cowl!

Rows 2–212: Sc in first dc, (dc in next sc, sc in next dc) 4 times, sk last sc. Dc in turning ch (see Pattern Notes), ch 1 and turn. (5 dc, 5 sc) Row 213: Sc in each st across. Fasten off. (10 sc)

JUDITH ST STRIP

With charcoal, ch 11.

Row 1: Sk first ch, sc in each of next 10 chs, ch 2 (does not count as a st here and throughout) and turn. (10 sc) Row 2: Dc in first sc, work 2 Judith st cls (see Special Stitch), dc in turning ch, ch 1 and turn. (2 Judith st cls, 2 dc) Row 3: Sc in each dc across, working last sc in turning ch, ch 2 and turn. (10 sc) Rows 4–93: Rep rows 2 and 3. Fasten off.

FINISHING & ASSEMBLY First Join

Lay Strips tog in this order with each row 1 aligned: cocoa, biscuit, charcoal. With charcoal beg tail and working through all 3 thicknesses, sc in each st across. Fasten off.

Braiding

Pin sc edge just made to your blocking mat or work surface. Place the biscuit Strip to the right, the cocoa Strip to the center and the charcoal Strip to the left. Bring the biscuit Strip to the left over the cocoa Strip in the center. Place a pin at the crossing. Bring the charcoal Strip over the biscuit Strip, which is now in the center. Place pin at the crossing point. Bring the cocoa Strip over the charcoal Strip, which is now in the center. Place pin at the crossing. Continue in this manner until the full length of the Strips has been worked, ending in this order: cocoa, charcoal, biscuit.

Note: Cocoa is on top at both ends.

Pin these ends tog.

2nd Join

With biscuit end tail, work same as First Join to secure your braid.

Joining Ends

Bring the joined edges tog to form a circle. Your cocoa Strip should be facing out on each side. With cocoa end tail and working through both rows of sc, sl st ends tog. Fasten off. Block if desired.