Inspira Crochet Cowl – Reversible Free Crochet Pattern & Tutorial

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Introducing the “Inspira Crochet Cowl”

Learn to Front Post Double Crochet

Use Front Post Double Crochet in the round to create this mesmerizing reversible cowl! This crochet version was “inspired” by the knit version by Graphica. I tried for years to recreate that look in crochet and finally was able to do so with this cool technique. With this cowl you get two intriguing looks with one garment! Once you learn this pattern, I think you will see that there are many possibilities with this technique and with this pattern for modifications. See the end of this pattern for several ideas.

Please refer to the video tutorial for step by step demonstration. See the description of that video on YouTube to jump to Chapter Sections of the Video you want help with specifically.

Can’t wait to see your pictures! #inspiracowl

Download the PDF Pattern Here

The free instructions are below.

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Pattern:

Materials:

You will need 2 worsted weight (#4) yarn. I used two long-stranded gradual color-changing yarns. You could use 1 color changing and 1 solid, or 2 solid colors, or 1 solid and 1 variegated. The only combo that wouldn’t work well would be 2 variegated. I think you would lose the distinction of the pattern.

This project was made with Lion Brand Ferris Wheel yarn. If using another yarn, please make a swatch first to ensure correct gauge. I made several versions of this cowl. The colors and yarns used are below. These all worked up with the approximately the same gauge. To make this in another weight yarn, either heavier or lighter you would need to re-do the math. This is discussed in detail in the video tutorial at the end of the video.

Yarn options **

Lion Brand Ferris Wheel Yarn (Wild Violets, Cotton Candy, Evergreen)
Red Heart Roll with It Melange (Hollywood)
Lion Brand Mandala Ombre (Mantra)

Optional

Stich markers **

Notions

Crochet Hook 6.0 mm or size to obtain gauge **
Scissors **
Yarn needle I used: Susan Bates Finishing Needles (Easiest to use) **
Measuring tape **

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Stiches Used and Abbreviations

Ch= Chain

YO = Yarn Over

Sl St = Slip Stitch

Sk = Skip

St(s) = Stitch(es)

DC = Double Crochet

FPDC = Front Post Double Crochet

Special Stitches:

Front Post Double Crochet:

YO, insert hook from right to left around the post of the stitch in the previous row, YO, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook). YO, pull through 2 loops, YO, pull through 2 loops.

V-Stitch Front Post Double Crochet:

Make 2 FPDC into 1 stitch of previous row.

See the video tutorial for demonstration of all stitches.

Difficulty Level

Moderate.

Adventurous beginners can try this pattern while following along with the video tutorial.

Video Instructional Tutorial Link

Want help learning how to make this pattern? Learn with step by step instructions. Click the Video Tutorial

Dimensions & Gauge

Cowl featured here is 11” high and 22” in circumference at neck and 46” at the bottom edge.

There are 15.75″ Stitches and 12 Rows in 4 inches.

Instructions

NOTES:

ALWAYS make a small swatch to find your gauge and to ensure that you like the colors and texture of your chosen yarns.
Pattern has two sizes Small/Medium and Large. Instructions for Increases for the Large will be in parentheses. Example “Work V-stitch FPDC in every 2^nd (3^rd) st”
The pattern is worked in rounds.
Each numbered round has 2 passes. One in Color A, one in Color B.
Always work in front of the last pass.
Diagrams and Charts are available in the PDF version of this pattern.
Lettered Rounds (A-F) are worked in 1 pass in just Color A
See video tutorial for demonstration and detailed description of everything.

COWL

BEGIN:

(Color A) Chain 80 Sm/Med (108 – Large) and join with SL ST to first chain.

SECTION 1

R1 – Pass 1 – (Color A) Ch3 (counts as DC), DC in next CH, Sk 2 Sts, Ch 2 *(DC in next 2 chains, Sk 2 chains, Ch2)* Repeat * to * to the end. Join with Sl St to 3^rd chain of Ch 3.

R1 – Pass 2 – (Color B) Attach yarn in 3^rd chain of starting chain loop. Working in front of the first pass: Ch3 (counts as DC), DC in next CH, Sk 2 Sts, Ch 2 *(DC in next 2 chains, Sk 2 chains, Ch2)* Repeat * to * to the end. Join with Sl St to 3^rd chain of Ch 3.

R2 – Pass 1 – (Color A) Ch2 (does NOT count as St), Working in front of the last pass: FPDC in Ch3 and 1^st DC of previous row., Sk 2 Sts, Ch 2 *(FPDC in next 2 sts, Sk 2 sts, Ch2)* Repeat * to * to the end. Join with Sl St to first FPDC.

R2 – Pass 2 – (Color B) Ch2 (does NOT count as St), Working in front of the last pass: FPDC in 3^rd & 4^th St of previous row, Sk 2 Sts, Ch 2 *(FPDC in next 2 sts, Sk 2 sts, Ch2)* Repeat * to * to the end. Join with Sl St to first FPDC.

R3 – Pass 1 – (Color A) Ch2 (does NOT count as St), Working in front of the last pass: FPDC in 1^st & 2^nd FPDC of previous row., Sk 2 Sts, Ch 2 *(FPDC in next 2 sts, Sk 2 sts, Ch2)* Repeat * to * to the end. Join with Sl St to first FPDC.

R3 – Pass 2 – (Color B) Ch2 (does NOT count as St), Working in front of the last pass: FPDC in 3^rd & 4^th FPDC of previous row., Sk 2 Sts, Ch 2 *(FPDC in next 2 sts, Sk 2 sts, Ch2)* Repeat * to * to the end. Join with Sl St to first FPDC.

Round A – (Color A) Ch2 (does NOT count as St), Working in front of the last pass: FPDC in each FPDC of previous row to the end. Join with Sl St to first FPDC.

<<STITCH COUNT 80 (108) >>

SECTION 2

R1 – Pass 1 – (Color B) Sl St backwards 2 sts, Ch3 (does NOT count as St), Working in front of the last pass: FPDC in 1^st & 2^nd FPDC of previous row, Sk 2 Sts, Ch 2 *(FPDC in next 2 sts, Sk 2 sts, Ch2)* Repeat * to * to the end. Join with Sl St to first FPDC.

R1 – Pass 2 (Color A) – Sl St forwards 2 sts, Ch2 (does NOT count as St), Working in front of the last pass: FPDC in 3^rd & 4^th St of previous row., Sk 2 Sts, Ch 2 *(FPDC in next 2 sts, Sk 2 sts, Ch2)* Repeat * to * to the end. Join with Sl St to first FPDC.

R2 – Pass 1 – (Color B) – Ch2 (does NOT count as St), Working in front of the last pass: FPDC in 1^st & 2^nd FPDC of previous row, Sk 2 Sts, Ch 2 *(FPDC in next 2 sts, Sk 2 sts, Ch2)* Repeat * to * to the end. Join with Sl St to first FPDC.

R2 – Pass 2 – (Color A) – Ch2 (does NOT count as St), Working in front of the last pass: FPDC in 3^rd & 4^th St of previous row, Sk 2 Sts, Ch 2 *(FPDC in next 2 sts, Sk 2 sts, Ch2)* Repeat * to * to the end. Join with Sl St to first FPDC.

R3 – Pass 1 – (Color B) Work R2 – Pass 1

R3 – Pass 2 – (Color A) Work R2 – Pass 2

Round B – (Color A) Work Round A

<<STITCH COUNT 80 (108) >>

SECTION 3

R1 – Pass 1 – (Color B) Sl St forward 2 sts, Ch3 (does NOT count as St), Working in front of the last pass: FPDC in 1^st & 2^nd FPDC of previous row., Sk 2 Sts, Ch 2 *(FPDC in next 2 sts, Sk 2 sts, Ch2)* Repeat * to * to the end. Join with Sl St to first FPDC.

R1 – Pass 2 (Color A) – Sl St backward 2 sts, Ch2 (does NOT count as St), Working in front of the last pass: FPDC in 3^rd & 4^th St of previous row, Sk 2 Sts, Ch 2 *(FPDC in next 2 sts, Sk 2 sts, Ch2)* Repeat * to * to the end. Join with Sl St to first FPDC.

R2 – Pass 1 – (Color B) Work R2 – Pass 1 from Section 2

R2 – Pass 2 – (Color A) Work R2 – Pass 2 from Section 2

R3 – Pass 1 – (Color B) Work R2 – Pass 1

R3 – Pass 2 – (Color A) Work R2 – Pass 2

Round C – (increase row) (Color A) Ch2 (does NOT count as St), Working in front of the last pass: FPDC in each FPDC of previous row to the end, making an V-stitch FPDC in every 2^nd for Sm/Med size (3^rd for Large size) stitch. Join with Sl St to first FPDC.

<<STITCH COUNT 120 (144) >>

SECTION 4

R1 – Pass 1 – (Color B) Sl St backward 2 sts, Ch3 (does NOT count as St), Working in front of the last pass: FPDC 1^st & 2^nd FPDC of previous row, Sk 2 Sts, Ch 2 *(FPDC in next 2 sts, Sk 2 sts, Ch2)* Repeat * to * to the end. Join with Sl St to first FPDC.

R1 – Pass 2 (Color A) – Sl St forward 2 sts, Ch2 (does NOT count as St), Working in front of the last pass: FPDC in 3^rd & 4^th St of previous row, Sk 2 Sts, Ch 2 *(FPDC in next 2 sts, Sk 2 sts, Ch2)* Repeat * to * to the end. Join with Sl St to first FPDC.

R2 – Pass 1 – (Color B) Work R2 – Pass 1 from Section 2

R2 – Pass 2 – (Color A) Work R2 – Pass 2 from Section 2

R3 – Pass 1 – (Color B) Work R2 – Pass 1

R3 – Pass 2 – (Color A) Work R2 – Pass 2

Round D – (increase row) (Color A) Ch2 (does NOT count as St), Working in front of the last pass: FPDC in each FPDC of previous row to the end, making an V-stitch FPDC in every 5th for Sm/Med (6^th for Large) stitch. Join with Sl St to first FPDC.

<<STITCH COUNT 144 (168) >>

SECTION 5

R1 – Pass 1 – (Color B) Sl St forward 2 sts, Ch3 (does NOT count as St), Working in front of the last pass: FPDC in 1^st & 2^nd FPDC of previous row, Sk 2 Sts, Ch 2 *(FPDC in next 2 sts, Sk 2 sts, Ch2)* Repeat * to * to the end. Join with Sl St to first FPDC.

R2 – Pass 1 – (Color B) Work R2 – Pass 1 from Section 2

R2 – Pass 2 – (Color A) Work R2 – Pass 2 from Section 2

R3 – Pass 1 – (Color B) Work R2 – Pass 1

R3 – Pass 2 – (Color A) Work R2 – Pass 2

Round E – (increase row) (Color A) Ch2 (does NOT count as St), Working in front of the last pass: FPDC in each FPDC of previous row to the end, making an V-stitch FPDC in every 6^th for Sm/Med (14^th for Large) stitch. Join with Sl St to first FPDC.

<<STITCH COUNT 168 (180) >>

SECTION 6

R2 – Pass 1 – (Color B) Work R2 – Pass 1 from Section 2

R2 – Pass 2 – (Color A) Work R2 – Pass 2 from Section 2

R3 – Pass 1 – (Color B) Work R2 – Pass 1

R3 – Pass 2 – (Color A) Work R2 – Pass 2

Round F – (increase row) (Color A) Ch2 (does NOT count as St), Working in front of the last pass: FPDC in each FPDC of previous row to the end, making an V-stitch FPDC in every 14^th for Sm/Med (9^th for Large) stitch. Join with Sl St to first FPDC.

<<STITCH COUNT 180 (200) >>

SECTION 7

R2 – Pass 1 – (Color B) Work R2 – Pass 1 from Section 2

R2 – Pass 2 – (Color A) Work R2 – Pass 2 from Section 2

R3 – Pass 1 – (Color B) Work R2 – Pass 1

R3 – Pass 2 – (Color A) Work R2 – Pass 2

Round G – (Color A) Work Round A

<<STITCH COUNT 180 (200) >>

This pattern is fully demonstrated in the VIDEO TUTORIAL HERE.

Finishing: Sew in ends. Enjoy your Inspira Crochet Cowl.

MODIFICATION IDEAS

This is all discussed at the end of the VIDEO TUTORIAL

Smaller Version. Make a turtle neck version by stopping after Row C, however don’t make the increases of row C.
Make Larger Cape Version. Keep working in the basic pattern. You may need to do more increases in order to cover over your shoulders and body. If so see the math in #3.
Make Inspira Crochet Cowl using lighter weight yarn. You will need to recalculate all the numbers. To do this:
1. Make a swatch in pattern with your chosen yarns to determine your gauge.
2. Determine your starting chain length – must be a multiple of 4.
3. Calculate your increases for Rounds C, D, E, F, and more if needed.
  1. Test different increase amounts ensuring that the new stitch total is a multiple of 4.
  2. By using your gauge from your swatch you can know the dimensions for different stitch totals.
  3. An example of the math is discussed at the end of the VIDEO TUTORIAL.
Shorter Neck portion. Skip one of the sections in the neck portion of the cowl to make it more like a mock turtleneck.
Make Larger Version using Larger Hook. To achieve a looser, more drapey version, you could try using 6.5mm or 7.0mm or even larger hook while still using #4 weight yarn. Make a swatch first to check if you like the way the fabric works up. You will follow the instructions above, but because of the larger hook your cowl will be larger.
Experiment with the Vertical Stripes. This would take some planning and math, but you could take this basic pattern and then make some rows with wider or narrower stripes (instead of 2 and 2, your pattern could be 3 and 3, or 1 and 2). You could also vary the vertical stripes by how tall they are in different sections. So instead of 3 round sections, you could have 4 round sections and 2 rounds sections (shorter stripes) or 5 round sections (taller stripes).
Make the Inspira Cowl into a Yoke Top Down Sweater. This may be a future video. So stay tuned. Let me know if you are interested in this!

If you do choose to make any modifications, please let me know! I would LOVE to see what you do with this pattern, whether you make it just like mine or choose your own yarns. All the ways to contact me are below at the end of this pattern.

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Video Tutorial

Watch how to make this Inspira Crochet Cowl on YouTube. VIDEO LINK HERE.

This is a long and COMPLETE tutorial. You can JUMP to the section you want help with by going to the Description of the video and click on the timestamp of the chapter of the video.

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