Autumn Leaves Cowl – Free Lightweight Crochet Cowl Pattern

Looking for a lightweight crochet cowl pattern? The Autumn Leaves Cowl uses one skein of fingering weight yarn in a beautiful lacy design!

Sometimes you just need a lightweight, lacy cowl to dress up an outfit, you know?

Crocheted cowls fit this description pretty well since you have so many lace possibilities! That’s exactly why I designed the Autumn Leaves Cowl—so you can have a stunning lightweight accessory to dress up an outfit!

Yarn to Use in a Lightweight Cowl

But that’s not the only thing I love about lightweight cowls and scarves…

I love also love what a great stash buster they are! If you’ve been crocheting any amount of time, I’m sure you’ve had that urge to use up leftover yarn…

Some leftover skeins that can be particularly difficult to find patterns for are fingering weight! But since this cowl is lightweight, fingering weight is the perfect yarn to use (and guess what? It only calls for one skein!)

Not to mention the thin nature of fingering yarn, paired with the lacy stitch pattern of the cowl, will make for a wonderful drape!

All that to say: I used We Crochet Chroma Fingering yarn to make this cowl. I love this yarn not only for it’s amazing colorways, but also for the soft, fuzzy feel it has.

Want to Print This Pattern (Plus get a Stitch Chart?)

As with all of my patterns, you can get a downloadable PDF version without ads on either Etsy or Ravelry.

When you buy the premium version, you are able to print out the pattern AND get a stitch chart (perfect for visual learners!)

Make an Easy Crochet Cowl Neck Scarf

The nice thing about this cowl is that it can easily lay close to your neck! The entire pattern is size adjustable, so you can really customize it to make it as long or short as you want.

Because it is worked in the round, you will want to test out this measurement at the very beginning. The starting round is made from foundation single crochet, and this is where you can adjust the circumference of the cowl! As the pattern directs, make sure to try it on to make sure you like how close the cowl is sitting to your neck.

Lightweight Crochet Cowl Pattern – Autumn Leaves Cowl

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Let’s get straight to the free pattern now!

Notes:

1. Cowl is worked lengthwise, going around continuously without turning. 
2. The stitch pattern is a multiple of 8, so if you want a longer or shorter scarf, feel free to add or subtract sts from the starting fsc row.

Materials:

• 1 ball of We Crochet Chroma Fingering Yarn OR about 250 yards of any fingering weight yarn. 
• F/3.75mm crochet hook
• Yarn needle to weave in ends

Finished measurements:

Easily Adjustable. I made my cowl 9” wide by 14” long.

Special Stitches:

Beginning Cluster: ch 2, dc in same st.

Cluster (cl): YO, draw up loop in indicated st, YO, draw through 2 loops on hook. YO, draw up loop in indicated st, YO, draw through 2 loops on hook, YO, draw through all 3 loops on hook. 

Instructions: 

Fsc 96. Note: it is important to start with foundation single crochet because it will ensure the starting rnd isn’t too tight. If you’re unfamiliar with this technique, see the video below for a tutorial!

Being careful not to twist stitches, join with sl st to first fsc to form a ring.

Try this around your head and loop it around once to make sure it is the length you want. If it is not, simply add or subtract sts in multiples of 8. 

Rnd 1: ch 3 (counts as dc), 4 dc in same ch, (ch 3, sk 3 fsc, sc in next fsc, ch 3, sk 3 fsc, 5 dc in next fsc) 11 times. Ch 3, sk 3 fsc, sc in next fsc, ch 3, sk 3 fsc, join with sl st to first dc. (12 5dc shells)

Rnd 2: Beg cl in same sp as sl st. *(Ch 1, sk next dc, cl in next dc) 2x. Ch 2, sc in next ch 3 sp. Ch 4, sk next sc, sc in next ch 3 sp. Ch 2, cl in next dc. Rep from * around. On last rep, omit last cl. Sl st to beg cl. Sl st in next ch 1. 

Rnd 3: Beg cl in same sp as sl st. (Ch 1, cl in next ch 1 sp) 2x. *Ch 3, sc in ch 4 sp, ch 3, cl in next ch 2 sp. (Ch 1, cl in next ch 1 sp) 3x. Rep from * 10x more. Ch 3, sc in next ch 4 sp, ch 3, cl in last ch 2 sp. Ch 1, sl st to beg cl. Sl st in next ch 1.

Rnd 4: Beg cl in same sp as sl st. Ch 1, cl in next ch 1 sp. *Ch 3, sc in next sc. Ch 3, cl in next ch 1 sp. (Ch 1, cl in next ch 1 sp) twice. Rep from * 10x more. Ch 3, sc in next sc, ch 3, cl in next ch 1 sp, ch 1, sl st to beg cl. Sl st in next ch 1. 

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Rnd 5: Beg cl in same sp as sl st. *Ch 3, sc in next sc, ch 3. Cl in next ch 1 sp,    ch 1, cl in next ch 1 sp. Rep from * 10x more. Ch 3, sc in next sc, ch 3, cl in next ch-sp. Sc in next beg cl to join. 

Rnd 6: Ch 1 (does NOT count as stitch). Sc in the joining sc from last rnd (the “ch-sp”). Ch 3, 5 dc in next sc. *Ch 3, sc in next ch 1 sp, ch 3, 5 dc in next sc. Rep from * 10x more. Ch 3, sl st to beg sc. Sl st in next 3 ch and in next dc.

Repeat rnds 2-6 two more times; then repeat rnds 2-5. Note: to adjust the width of the cowl simply keep repeating rounds 2-6. On the last repeat you want to do, omit row 6 and end on row 5. 

LAST RND: Ch 1 (does NOT count as stitch). Sc in the joining sc from last rnd (the “ch-sp”). Sc in next cl. *2 sc in next ch 3 sp, sc in next sc, 2 sc in next ch 3 sp. Sc in next cl, sc in next ch 1 sp, sc in next cl. Rep from * 10x more. 2 sc in next ch 3 sp, sc in next sc, 2 sc in next ch 3 sp, sc in next cl. Join with sl st to first sc. Fasten Off, weave in ends, and block to finished measurements.

I hope you enjoyed making this easy lightweight crochet cowl. I had so much fun designing it!

Here are some other one-skein cowl and scarf patterns you might like:

• Peacock Cowl
• Icicle Infinity Scarf
• Royalty Scarf
• Winter Wonderland Cowl

To view ALL of my crochet patterns, click HERE.