This Ribbed Knit Look Crochet Cowl, featuring dramatic vertical black and white stripes, is a must-have accessory for the season. Perfect for chilly October nights, this cowl features striking vertical black and white stripes that mimic the classic ribbed knit look. Made using just two skeins of Lion Brand Butta yarn, it’s not only a quick project but also super cozy to wear.

Get into the Halloween spirit with a fun and fashionable accessory that’s sure to turn heads. With its eye-catching black and white stripes, adds a playful touch to any autumn outfit. This was inspired by a few Halloween movies our family just loves; Beetlejuice and Nightmare Before Christmas.  

Four Suggested Size Options

While this pattern can easily be adjusted using any number of beginning chain stitches and rows, there are four suggested sizes in the written pattern to help you get started.

• Toddler
• Child
• Teen.
• Adult Large (shown)
• Adult X-Large

Quick Crochet Pattern

This pattern is a quick and easy project to complete. It took me just a few evenings of crocheting while I was watching television with the family. It’s an ideal project for celebrating the season in style. Whether you’re attending a Halloween party or just enjoying the crisp autumn air, this squishy cowl will keep you warm and fashionable.

This pattern comes with both written instructions plus a full video tutorial.

Halloween Crochet Along Blog Hop

Easy Cowl Pattern Using Basic Crochet Stitches

With just a straightforward stitch and a dash of creativity, you can capture the classic essence of knitting in your crochet projects. This pattern uses the half double crochet stitch worked in the third loops across the row. The Ribbed Knit Look Crochet Cowl pattern is an excellent chance to experiment with this technique, allowing you to craft a chic accessory that’s both enjoyable to create and delightful to wear.

Thoughts About Yarn

I want to make another cowl using this same stitch and solid-colored yarn. While you can see lots of beautiful texture on this pattern, it is hard to see on the black yarn color. However, I love the striped look of the cowl.

If you are looking to highlight the knit-look texture of this warm winter cowl, choose a light, solid-color yarn. While a multi-colored yarn would look nice with this pattern, it will distract from the ribbed look.

So, choose your yarn depending on if you are looking for an overall look with colored yarn or to show off the ribbing. 

Yarn Suggestions for This Cowl

If you’re looking for yarn alternatives to Lion Brand Butta for the Ribbed Knit Look Crochet Cowl, you’ll want to choose worsted weight yarns with a similar texture and softness. Here are a few options that would work well:

Red Heart Soft Yarn. It has a soft and smooth texture. It is 100% acrylic. Easily accessible and comes in a wide range of colors, like Lion Brand Butta in terms of feel and drape.

Bernat Softee Baby Yarn. Soft and gentle texture. This one is also 100% acrylic. Known for its softness and durability, making it a great choice for a cozy cowl.

Caron Simply Soft Yarn. Silky and soft texture. This one is also 100% acrylic. Offers a nice drape and sheen, with a wide range of colors. It’s slightly thicker but still works well for similar projects.

Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino. It’s texture is luxuriously soft. The fiber content is made of 50% merino wool, 33% microfiber, and 17% cashmere. Adds a touch of luxury with a soft and warm feel, though it is more expensive.

Knit Picks Brava Worsted. A soft and smooth texture with 100% acrylic fiber content. Affordable and available in many colors, similar in texture to Lion Brand Butta.

Hobby Lobby I Love This Yarn. A soft and versatile texture. This is also 100% acrylic. Known for its softness and excellent color range, it’s a great budget-friendly alternative.

You can find links to yarn on our Savings Page. Each of these yarns will provide a soft and cozy result similar to the yarn I used for this pattern.

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Directions: Ribbed Knit Look Crochet Cowl Pattern for Halloween

Skill Level

Easy, Beginner Friendly

Gauge

16 stitches and 11 rows of half double crochet every 4 inches.

Size

11 X 29 inches lying flat before joining the ends to create the infinity cowl.

This knit look cowl can be easily changed to any size. To make a longer cowl or shorter cowl, add or decrease the number of rows. The width is adjusted by adding or decreasing any number of stitches to the foundation chain.

Infinity Cowl Suggested Size Chart

For each suggested size, you will still need at least two skeins of yarn if doing the striped pattern: 1 white and 1 black.

• Toddler Size 5 X 19 inches.  25 stitches X 50 rows.
• Child Size 6 X 24 inches. 30 stitches X 66 rows.
• Teen Size 7 X 26 inches. 34 stitches X 71 rows.
• Adult Size Large 11 X 29 inches. (shown) 48 stitches X 80 rows.
• Adult Size X-Large 13 X 31 inches. Increase to 2 skeins of each color. 52 stitches X 85 rows.

Materials

Yarn. Lion Brand Feels Like Butta. Black, 1 skein or 218 yards. White, 1 skein or 218 yards. There is a bit of yarn leftover for both skeins.

Crochet Hook Size H, 5.0mm

Yarn Needle

Scissors

Abbreviations

• CH = Chain
• HDC = Half Double Crochet
• SC = Single Crochet
• SL ST = Slip Stitch
• ST – Stitch
• STs = Stitches
• [ ] = Repeat Between

Pattern Notes

Pattern is written in US terms.

You can find a whole blog post with step-by-step instructions on the knit-look ribbing stitch used in this infinity cowl. Easy Half Double Crochet Ribbing Stitch Tutorial

Reversible Crochet Pattern. Since each row is worked the same, the pattern also looks the same no matter which side is facing you.

The thing we have to remember is that when we work this stitch to make it look like knitting, we need to turn the rows sideways. For instance, if you were making a stretchy band for a beanie, you wouldn’t work this stitch in rows around hat brims as it would end up with horizontal ribbing. Rather, you would work the rows sideways, or top to bottom. This will have the ribbing effect be vertical rather than horizontal.

I am using a slightly larger hook than what the yarn calls for.

Turn at the end of each row.

The CH 1 at the beginning of the row does not count as a stitch.

All stitches except for the beginning and end of the row are worked in the third loop. Normally, with this knit-look crochet stitch, you would place them in the third loop also. However, the black yarn is hard to see and it was easier to start and end the rows for this cowl stitching into the top two loops.

The last stitch of the row should always be placed in the top of the previous row stitch. This helps keep the rows even.

The foundation row is done the same way as for a classic half double crochet stitch.

Carry the Yarn up the Side

Watch the video below for a step-by-step demonstration on how to work this stitch.

**Change yarn colors every other row.

Crochet Stitches Used

Half Double Crochet (HDC)

Yarn over, insert the hook through both top loops of the next stitch and pull up a loop. Yarn over and pull through all three loops on the hook. For height, this is between the single crochet stitches and double crochet stitches.

HOW TO CROCHET THE HALF DOUBLE CROCHET STITCH video tutorial

You can find lots of other free patterns using a simple stitch for beginners crochet stitch tutorials.

If you are ready to expand your skills, we have a growing number of crochet patterns detailing crochet stitches for you to try.

Begin

Using the White yarn.

Work a starting chain of 48.

Row 1

Continue using the White yarn

Work your first HDC in the 3^rd CH from the hook. (Yarn over. Insert hook into the third chain from the hook. Yarn over and pull the yarn through. There are now 3 loops on the hook. Yarn over again and pull the yarn through all three loops. You now have one loop left on the hook). Continue working a HDC in each CH ST across. Turn

Row 2

Continue using the White yarn.

CH 1 (Does Not Count as a ST). Work a HDC into the front third loop and in each front third loop stitch across. End with a HDC in the top stitch of the CH STs skipped in the first row. Turn

Row 3 through Row 80

Switch to the Black yarn.

CH 1 (Does Not Count as a ST). Work a HDC into the front 3rd loop and in each front third loop stitch across. End with a HDC in the in the top of the first stitch of the previous row. Turn

Continue to repeat row 3 until your desired size.

Alternate the white and black yarn every two rows.

**Don’t cut any yarn off when you have finished the rows. Continue onto joining and working a single crochet stitch on the top and bottom of the infinity cowl.

Joining

You can use any method to join the ends. A slip stitch or a single crochet through both ends. You could use the yarn needle and work a whip stitch through both ends.

Today, I chose to work a slip stitch.

Align the ends of the rectangle. Using the White yarn, starting where you ended your last stitch, insert the hook in the stitch directly across. Yarn over and bring it back through the loop on the hook.

Insert the hook in the next stitch, then in the stitch across, yarn over and bring it back through the loop on the hook.

Continue to work the slip stitch joining the ends of the cowl until you reach the end. Don’t cut off the yarn yet.

Crocheting Over the Yarn Carried Up the Side

Next continue using the white yarn and work a single crochet all the way around easing the stitches around so they look evenly spaced. Now you can cut the white yarn leaving a 10-12 inch yarn tail for weaving in later. Pull the yarn through the last loop.

Using the black yarn, work a SC ST all the way around the other end if the cowl easing the stitches around so they look evenly spaced. Now you can cut the black yarn leaving a long tail for weaving in later. Pull the yarn through the last loop.

Finishing

Once you have reached your desired number of rows, pull the yarn through the last stitch. Cut the yarn leaving a 10-12 inch yarn tail. Using your yarn needle, weave the yarn back and forth between the stitches of the same color yarn. At least 3-5 times. Trim off any excess yarn.

Crochet Video Tutorials

Coming soon

We hope you enjoyed this free crochet pattern using the knit-look crochet stitch. Here are a few other patterns using basic stitches for you to try.

• Beginner Easy Ribbed Knit Look Crochet Scarf Pattern
• Salt and Pepper Cowl
• Beautiful Black and White Granny Square Finally Done
• Beautiful Black and White Granny Square Free pattern
• Easy Half Double Crochet Ribbing Stitch Tutorial