Inside – Learn how to crochet the Puffy Heart Cowl with this free pattern. Keep reading to learn more about this easy crochet pattern.
Originally, this post was published in February 2024 on a Substack that I no longer use. I wanted to keep what I first wrote because of the story of this cowl’s creation. Enjoy a small trip down memory lane!
Things People Don’t Say About February
“It’s February somewhere!” 🍹
“Vacationing in Michigan sounds great this time of year.” ✈️
“If only this weather could last forever.” 🌫️
February is my least favorite month. I’m grateful to endure only 28 (or 29) days of it. Maybe Februaries in other lands aren’t so bad. But, everywhere I’ve lived, February is gray, dull, and barely able to make it to Spring.
Despite all the gray, February does have something going for it – Valentine’s Day. The commercial explosion of red, pink, and purple — could there exist a more in-your-face color palette? I think not. Although those are not my go-to colors, I appreciate the brightness against the gray.
Elementary schools (at least in the US) make Valentine’s Day a RBD (real big deal). Anyone else remember the self-decorated Valentine’s Day boxes? Young pupils still make them each February! My son attends a STEM school, so his box assignment is to engineer something. What happened to slapping cutout construction hearts onto a shoe box?
For those curious – he’s choosing to build it out of LEGOs. Yesterday, I sat in his room searching for specific bricks in the bin. *chrisssssp, chrisp-chrisp-chrisp* While trying hard to not build it for him. His LEGO Valentine’s Box is a box-of-many-colors, and pure happiness to look at.
Let Me Introduce the Puffy Heart Cowl…
You’ll want to snuggle this around your neck until the warmer days arrive.
Back in December, I squirreled away all the things that bring me joy inside the Puffy Heart Cowl. Sunshine alighting my face on a cold winter day. Curling up under a sumptuous, soft blanket with my morning coffee. Dreams of flowers to plant in my summer garden. Am I grateful to stockpile these treats of sweet joy into this cowl! Because, when I wear it during another gray day, it brightens the outdoor world a tad.
What’s in a name anyways?
If you’ve been a Trail Crew Member for a while, you know that I love to think of fun + unique names directly tied to nature. This cowl… Well, it’s not inspired by nature. Comfort came to mind, like a lullaby, every time I sat down to crochet.
Comfort, com-fort, c o m f o r t.
So, I started to refer to it as the motifs surfaced – puffy hearts. Alternatives alluded me like catching snowflakes on my tongue. But, there was still time! The pattern wasn’t sent to testers yet.
Then, I sent the pattern to testers with the working title – Puffy Heart Cowl. My mistake was not telling my testers it was a working titled. We all started referring to it as “Puffy Heart Cowl”, the name stuck, so here it is – the Puffy Heart Cowl.
Quick bit of Inspiration
The last few months of 2023 drained my creativity bucket bone dry. It’s a miracle that I created anything at all towards the end of the year. Yet, there was this whisper of an idea.. a new crochet pattern that was restful for the crocheter.
I wanted to combine my *favorite* hand dyed yarn with my *favorite* crochet stitch to create an accessory I could wear all the time. I did what any artist does with a dash of inspiration – I played.
From the playing, I designed the Puffy Heart Cowl – a simple combination of V Stitches and Puff Stitches to make a squishy blanket for your neck.
What Yarn Should You Use?
First, stick with a worsted weight (category 4) yarn. Fiber content widely depends on your preferences and needs for this cowl. It works up great in acrylic, or wool. Given the chance, it’ll work up great in another fiber, too. Think wool carried with mohair. That could be delicious!
If you’re interested in trying a wool yarn, I recommend giving it try for this pattern. I used one of my very first renditions of Red on the Rocks – inspired by my time spent living in the American Southwest. Although hand dyed yarn is not part of the HDY Business, you can find incredible hand dyed merino wool on Etsy, or a local yarn store.
Pin this pattern to your favorite crochet board for later!
Prefer to crochet with a printable PDF?
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NOTE ABOUT THIS FREE CROCHET PATTERN :
Thank you for choosing this free pattern as part of your crochet journey! It’s an honor for you to be here, browsing the High Desert Yarn Blog. This pattern is 100% free for you to crochet from, but please, do not screenshot, or copy+paste this pattern. However, work directly from this webpage. The ad revenue from this website allows me to offer free crochet patterns. If you do not like the scrolling, or ads, then you may purchase the ad-free PDF in my Etsy Shop or Ravelry Store. Thank you for your cooperation. Happy creating! -Joanna (Owner + Creative)
Materials
- Yarn : Kaibab Worsted from High Desert Yarn, Worsted weight (category 4)
- (220yds/100g), 100% Superwash Merino Wool
- You will need approximately 440yds.
- Crochet Hook : J/10 (6.0mm) or hook to obtain gauge
- Notions : scissors, tapestry needle
Notes
- Experience Level – Advanced Beginner
- You will need to know how to Half Double Crochet, Double Crochet, Puff Stitch, and Mattress Stitch (seaming) before starting this pattern.
- Do not substitute the starting chain for a foundation single crochet (FSC). Seaming the short ends will not create a continuous fabric if the FSC is substituted.
- CH 2 (turning chain) at the end of a row DOES NOT count as a stitch.
- This pattern is worked in short turning rows.
- Hand dyed yarn tip : alternate skeins every two rows for even color placement. Do not cut yarn, but carry along the cowl’s edge.
Stitch Abbreviations
US crochet terms used throughout.
- CH(S) – chain(s)
- SP(S) – space(s)
- SK – skip
- HDC – half double crochet
- DC – double crochet
- PUFF – puff stitch
- ST(S) – stitch(es)
- YO – yarn over
Special Stitches
Puff Stitch – YO and insert your hook into the next ST. YO and pull up one loop, (3 loops on hook). YO and insert your hook into the same ST. YO and pull up one loop, (5 loops on hook). YO and insert your hook into the same ST. YO and pull up one loop, (7 loops on hook). YO and pull through all the loops on the hook. The Puff Stitch is complete.
Finished Size
Sizes measured before blocking.
- Width – 7.25”
- Circumference (Length) – 54”
How to Adjust the Finished Size
- Width – Start your beginning chain in any multiple of 3 + 1.
- Length – Repeat Rows 2-3 until you reach your desired length.
Gauge
- 11 PUFF sts x 7.5 rows = 4×4”
- Gauge is measured before blocking.
- I did not block my finished cowl prior to wearing it. If you plan to block your finished cowl, I HIGHLY recommend blocking your gauge swatch prior to starting the pattern.
Gauge Pattern
CH 22
Row 1 : In 3rd CH from hook, DC. SK 1 ST. ( DC, CH 1, DC in the next CH. SK 2 CHs.) Repeat (…) until 2 CHS remains. DC in the last CH. CH 2. Turn. (14 DC, 6 CH-1 SP)
Row 2 : HDC in the 1st ST. (PUFF, CH 1, PUFF in the CH SP. SK 2 STS.) Repeat (…) until 2 STS remain. HDC in the last ST. CH 2. Turn. (12 PUFF, 2 HDC)
Row 3 : DC in the 1st ST. (DC, CH 1, DC in the CH SP. SK 2 STS.) Repeat (…) until 2 STS remain. DC in the last ST. CH 2. Turn. (14 DC, 6 CH-1 SP)
Rows 4 – 9 : Rep Rows 2-3
Pattern Instructions
CH 31
Row 1 : In 3rd CH from hook, DC. SK 1 ST. ( DC, CH 1, DC in the next CH. SK 2 CHs.) Repeat (…) until 2 CHS remains. DC in the last CH. CH 2. Turn. (20 DC, 9 CH-1 SP)
Row 2 : HDC in the 1st ST. (PUFF, CH 1, PUFF in the CH SP. SK 2 STS.) Repeat (…) until 2 STS remain. HDC in the last ST. CH 2. Turn. (18 PUFF, 2 HDC)
If using a hand dyed yarn, remember to switch to the 2nd skein here. Keep switching skeins every two (2) rows. You don’t need to cut the yarn every time you switch. Carry the yarn along the side of the cowl.
Row 3 : DC in the 1st ST. (DC, CH 1, DC in the CH SP. SK 2 STS.) Repeat (…) until 2 STS remain. DC in the last ST. CH 2. Turn. (20 DC, 9 CH-1 SP)
Rows 4 – 102 (or until the cowl reaches 54″ long*) : Rep Rows 2-3, ending with Row 2 as the last row.
*As you near the end, check the fit to determine the proper length for you. Stop when you reach this length even if it’s before, or after, Row 102 (54″).
Finishing the Cowl
Leave a long tail three (3) times the width of the cowl for seaming. Use the Mattress Stitch to seam the short sides together. Weave in all the ends, and wear your beautiful new cowl!
Blocking the Cowl (optional)
If you prefer blocking your finished pieces, then I would do so BEFORE seaming the cowl together.
- Wool (natural fiber) does best with wet blocking.
- Acrylic (synthetic yarn) does best with steam blocking.
Also, please block your gauge swatch PRIOR to starting the cowl for accurate sizing. Blocking changes the finished size.
Copyright Policy
You are free to use this crochet pattern to make and sell the final product, but do not republish or distribute this pattern in any way. DO NOT claim it as your own in part or in whole. Please give credit to High Desert Yarn, as the designer, in your listings, on your blog, or social media platforms. All images are property of High Desert Yarn. Do not use any of these images as your own.
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