Desert Dunes: A Free Crochet Cowl Pattern

If you’re a crocheter, loved my Cactus Cowl, and wanted something just for you, then you’ll be happy to see the Desert Dunes Cowl! This crochet cowl pattern uses the same basic construction principles as the Cactus Cowl to create an easy-to-wear and simple-to-make bandana cowl. Fun striping elevates this beginner friendly cowl to spring accessory perfection.

Bandana Cowls are Functional and Beautiful

I am completely enamored by the shape and style of a bandana cowl. Don’t get me wrong, triangle shawls are awesome, but I realize that I tend to use small and simple accessories much more than larger pieces. This triangle shawl inspired cowl is perfect for throwing on at the last minute, and you don’t have to worry about any extra ends and tassels getting in the way.

Beyond just being easy to wear though, a basic bandana cowl like this lends itself to so many design possibilities, doesn’t it? For this particular crochet cowl pattern, I chose to keep the stitches simple and play with the color. Especially because I used Lion Brand Cobblestone Yarn, which already has a marled effect, I felt that adding stitch complexity would make the cowl look too busy. Besides, I love projects that check all the boxes – quick and easy, functional, and beautiful to wear.

Lion Brand Cobblestone Yarn

I got a chance to see the entire line of Lion Brand Cobblestone Yarn, and all the colors are so pretty! Cobblestone is a worsted weight yarn with a lot of bounce in it (my favorite kind). It twists together a white strand with a colored strand to create a sophisticated, marled look. This twist also helps to mute some of the brighter color bases, and prevents the color from being too overwhelming.

Cobblestone Yarn Color Combinations

There are both cool and warm colorways in the Cobblestone line. If you are looking to combine a few colors together for this crochet cowl pattern, you’ll notice the combinations look better when the warm colors stick to other warm colors, or pick an entirely cool palette. On the other hand, sometimes, mixing warm and cool and create a unique effect!

 

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Which 3 colors of @lionbrand Cobblestone would you group together? I have a tentative fave of 2 grays with that soft peach in the middle, but that burgundy and the green is also calling to me! . Cobblestone is a worsted weight yarn that is working up beautifully so far! . #lionbrandyarn

A post shared by ChiWei @ One Dog Woof (@1dogwoof) on Feb 18, 2020 at 8:00am PST

I had a bit of a contest over on my Instagram account to help me choose the 3-color combination to use for the Desert Dunes Cowl. After lots of comments and polling, the crowd-sourcing community came up with a cowl using Misty Rose – a dusty peach, Monarch – a muted orange, and Mosstone – a light olive green. What a beautiful combination you guys chose! Another favorite was to use Monarch, Misty Rose, and Fallen Rock – a warm gray. You can see the color choices at Lion Brand Yarn, where the Desert Dunes Cowl is available as a crochet kit!

Crochet Cowl Construction and Shaping

One of my favorite parts about designing is playing with shapes using color and stitches. In this case, I needed to add a 90 degree turn to a triangle shawl. It took a few tries to get the stitch counts right, since you don’t see the shape until you’re several rows in.

Remember that if you’re feeling a little discouraged – you won’t see the right angle clearly until you give it a few rows to form.

This right angle becomes the joining seam of the crochet cowl. You can hold the seams together with a few stitch markers, and use a vertical mattress stitch to sew it up. Watching the seam come together is so satisfying!

Where to Find the Desert Dunes Crochet Cowl Pattern

As I mentioned earlier, you can grab the Desert Dunes Cowl crochet kit from Lion Brand Yarn. You’ll get 1 skein of Monarch and 1 skein of Misty Rose. Then you can choose whether your 3rd skein is Mosstone or Fallen Rock. Either choice is a winner!

If you’d like to try a different color combination of Cobblestone Yarn, or want to use yarn from your stash, you can scroll down for the free crochet cowl pattern, or purchase the PDF from my Ravelry shop. Be sure to share your progress with me over on Instagram!

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Buy the PDF from Ravelry

Add the Desert Dunes Cowl to your Ravelry queue

Shop the Desert Dunes crochet kit from Lion Brand Yarn

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Click here to pin it for later!

Desert Dunes Free Crochet Cowl Pattern

Supplies

• 400-600yds (365-548m) of worsted weight yarn
  Shown in sample: 3 balls of Lion Brand Cobblestone Yarn (3.5oz\100g, 219yds/200m)
• J/6.0mm crochet hook
• Tapestry needle
• Scissors

Gauge (after blocking)

• 13 sts and 8 rows in 4”/10.1cm, unblocked, using double crochet stitches

Finished Size

One size only

Approximately 29”/73.5cm around and 28”/71cm long

Abbreviations (US terminology)

• st(s) – stitch(es)
• ch – chain stitch
• sl st – slip stitch
• dc – double crochet
• dec – double crochet decrease: yo, insert hook into 1st st, yo, draw up a loop, yo, draw through 2 loops, yo, insert hook into 2nd st, yo, draw up a loop, yo, draw through all loops on hook.
• RS – right side

Pattern and Construction Notes

• (C1): Cobblestone in Monarch
• (C2): Cobblestone in Mosstone
• (C3): Cobblestone in Misty Rose
• The Desert Dunes Cowl is worked from the top down, in a classic triangle shawl shape, with consecutive decreasing rows to form a straight edge that is seamed together to create a bandana cowl.
• The width along the top of the cowl is slightly larger than the given row gauge as it’s measured on a slant. The row gauge calculated in the middle of the shawl is 8 rows to 4” / 10.1cm. At the top edge, 8 rows is approximately 5.25” / 13.3cm.
• Although you can carry yarn from one row to the next when changing colors, I don’t recommend doing so as it tends to show along the top edge and makes the edge look messy.
• Row 39, with the final sl st row, will determine the right side of the cowl. Be sure to weave in ends on the wrong side of the cowl.
• You can change the color pattern as desired.

Instructions for the Desert Dunes Cowl

Starting with C1: 

Row 1: Work [3 dc, 1 ch, 3 dc] into magic circle. Do not join the magic circle. (6) Note: The cowl is not worked in the round despite starting with a magic circle. Working the sts into the magic circle is to eliminate the hole at the very center of the starting point.

Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as st). Work 1 dc in same st, 1 dc in each of next 2 st, [2 dc + 2 ch + 2 dc] in ch sp, 1 dc in each of next 2 st, 2 dc in last st. (12)

Row 3: Ch 3 (counts as st). Work 1 dc in same st, 1 dc in each of next 5 st, [2 dc + 2 ch + 2 dc] in ch sp, 1 dc in each of next 5 st, 2 dc in last st – the last st is the 3rd chain from the previous row. (18)

Row 4: Ch 3 (counts as st). Work 1 dc in same st, 1 dc in each of next 8 st, [2 dc + 2 ch + 2 dc] in ch sp, 1 dc in each of next 8 st, 2 dc in last st – the last st is the 3rd chain from the previous row. (24)

Row 5: Ch 3 (counts as st). Work 1 dc in same st, 1 dc in each of next 11 st, [2 dc + 2 ch + 2 dc] in ch sp, 1 dc in each of next 11 st, 2 dc in last st – the last st is the 3rd chain from the previous row. (30)

Change to C2:

Row 6: Ch 3 (counts as st). Work 1 dc in same st, 1 dc in each of next 14 st, [2 dc + 2 ch + 2 dc] in ch sp, 1 dc in each of next 14 st, 2 dc in last st – the last st is the 3rd chain from the previous row. (36)

Row 7: Ch 3 (counts as st). Work 1 dc in same st, 1 dc in each of next 17 st, [2 dc + 2 ch + 2 dc] in ch sp, 1 dc in each of next 17 st, 2 dc in last st – the last st is the 3rd chain from the previous row. (42)

Row 8: Ch 3 (counts as st). Work 1 dc in same st, 1 dc in each of next 20 st, [2 dc + 2 ch + 2 dc] in ch sp, 1 dc in each of next 20 st, 2 dc in last st – the last st is the 3rd chain from the previous row. (48)

Change to C3:

Row 9: Ch 3 (counts as st). Work 1 dc in same st, 1 dc in each of next 23 st, [2 dc + 2 ch + 2 dc] in ch sp, 1 dc in each of next 23 st, 2 dc in last st – the last st is the 3rd chain from the previous row. (54)

Change to C2:

Rows 10-13: Continue following row pattern. 

Row counts are (60), (66), (72), (78)

Change to C1:

Rows 14-15: Continue following row pattern.

Row counts are (84), (90)

Change to C2: 

Rows 16-20: Continue following row pattern.

Row counts are (96), (102), (108), (114), (120)

Change to C1: 

Rows 21-22: Continue following row pattern.

Row counts are (126), (132)

Change to C3:

Row 23: Ch 3 (counts as st). Work 1 dc in same st, 1 dc in each of next 65 st, [2 dc + 2 ch + 2 dc] in ch sp, 1 dc in each of next 65 st, 2 dc in last st – the last st is the 3rd chain from the previous row. (138)

Note: The width along the neck edge should be approximately 28” / 71cm – 29” / 73.5cm.

 

DECREASE SECTION:

Using C3:

Row 24: Ch 3 (counts as st). Work 2 dec, 1 dc in each of next 64 sts, [2 dc + 2 ch + 2 dc] in ch sp, 1 dc in each of next 64 st, 2 dec, 1 dc in last st. (138)

Row 25 – 32: Repeat Row 24.

Change to C1:

Rows 33-34: Repeat Row 24

Change to C2:

Rows 35-38: Repeat Row 24.

Row 39 (RS): Ch 1. Work 1 sl st LOOSELY in each stitch across. In the ch sp, work 1 sl st in each ch st. 

Bind off, cut yarn, and weave in ends.

Weave in all ends.

 

SEAMING:

Cut a length of yarn approximately 2 ft/61cm long, and thread onto tapestry needle.

Starting from either end of the seam edge, work a mattress stitch through the horizontal bars between the 1st and 2nd st of each edge.

Pull tight to seam edges together. Do not pull too tightly as to scrunch the edge.

Secure and weave in both ends.

That’s it!