Hidden Wavelengths: Free crochet cowl pattern

Hidden wavelengths is a 4ply/ fingering weight crochet cowl pattern which uses contrasting colours and a gentle wave stitch to create eye catching yet subtle undulating stripes of colour and texture.

This design all started with a conversation with indie yarn dyer, Pippin yarns, at the East Anglia Yarn Festival back in March 2022.

She was talking about how she struggled to find crochet patterns (or knit for that matter) that made the most of her sock sets… other than socks.

You can read the pattern below for zero cost or purchase an ad-free printable PDF version of the pattern from Etsy, Love Crafts or Ravelry.

Note that the PDF version of the pattern also includes a stitch diagram as a supplement to the written pattern.

This post contains affiliate links. This means if you click a link to a product and go on to make a purchase, I receive a small percentage of the sale at no extra cost to you. You can read my full affiliate disclosure here. 

If you don’t know, a sock set is, generally speaking made up of a 100g skein of fingering weight / 4ply yarn in one colour and a 20g mini skein in a second colour (contrasting or complementary) which makes a nice colour palette when worked together.

So, she gave me one of her sock sets (one I’d had my eye on) to experiment with.

It may have taken me the best part of a year, but the Hidden Wavelengths cowl was what I came up with.

It uses a relatively simple wave pattern and adds stripes of the contrast colour with some crochet loop magic to create the textured, undulating ripple effect you see pictured.

Pattern Notes

General Notes

• Please read through the pattern and all associated notes before starting your project
• This pattern uses standard US crochet terminology (UK equivalents are given in brackets in the abbreviations list where applicable)
• The stitch count remains consistent throughout the pattern 
• Turning chains and slip stitches do not count as stitches
• Unless otherwise indicated, stitches should be worked in consecutive stitches
• The first stitch of each round should be worked into the last stitch from the previous round
• Instructions written after *asterisks should be repeated as indicated 

Construction

• The cowl is worked in turned rounds – You can learn more about cowl construction here
• The number of stitches in the round dictates the circumference of the cowl and the number of rounds dictates its depth
• The pattern uses a stitch multiple of 14 and a row multiple of 4+7
• You may wish to fasten off after each colour change or carry the dropped yarn up, as I did

Skills Used

I would class this as an intermediate crochet pattern. It uses the following skills:

• Knowledge of basic crochet stitches, techniques and terminology is assumed
• Chainless foundation rows – foundation single crochet (more info here)
• Working in back loops and front third loops (stitch anatomy info here)
• Careful attention to stitch placement
• Simple colour changes

Materials

Crochet Hook

You will need a 3.5mm crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge. I used my clover amour hook.

Yarn

You will need 100g – 425m/467yds – sock weight / 4ply yarn in the main colour (MC) and 20g – 85m/94yds or a ‘mini skein’ in a contrast colour (CC).

The item you see pictured used a large ‘sock set’ which included both of these.

Pippin yarns, large 4ply sock set, 80% Merino, 20% Nylon, 1x100g skein = 425m/467yds and 1x20g skein = 85m/84yds. Colourway; ‘pops of pastel’.

Yarn Substitution Options

Using a similar fibre and yarn weight will achieve similar results. Different colourways, fibres and yarns will produce a different finished result. You may find this post useful when choosing yarn.

Note that the yarn used in the sample has 425m in 100g, which is slightly more than a common 4ply sock yarn which has 400m. Depending on your tension, 400m should be enough to complete this pattern. If you have looser tension, you may wish to skip the last repeat if you’re running out of yarn.

This article shows you how to calculate how much yarn you need.

Note that this pattern could work with different yarn weights but would result in a different finished size. To achieve a similar size cowl, you would need to adjust the stitch and row counts by the appropriate multiples, depending on your gauge. General guidance on adjusting the size of the cowl is given in the measurement section below.

Other Materials & Notions

Yarn needle, scissors and a tape measure.

You may wish to block this project, in which case I recommend a Blocking board and pins.

Learn more about blocking here.

Measurements & Finished Size

The finished cowl is intended for adult use only and measures approximately 60cm/24in in  circumference and 32cm/12.5in deep.

You can change the circumference of the cowl by altering the stitch count on the foundation row by a multiple of 14 sts.

You can change the depth of the cowl by changing the number of Round 6-9 repeats.

This post teaches you how to adjust your stitch count based on your gauge and you can learn more about stitch multiples here.

Stitches & Abbreviations: US terms 

(UK Equivalent in Brackets)

• BLO = back loop only
• CC =  contrast colour
• ch = chain
• dc = double crochet (UK treble crochet)
• esc = extended single crochet (UK extended double crochet) – tutorial here
• fsc = foundation single crochet (UK foundation double crochet) – tutorial here
• hdc = half double crochet (UK half treble crochet)
• MC = main colour
• rep = repeat
• RS = right side
• sc = single crochet (UK double crochet)
• ss = slip stitch
• st(s) = stitch(es)
• tr = treble crochet (UK double treble crochet)
• WS = wrong side
• yo = yarn over

Special Stitches 

Foundation Single Crochet (fsc)

Ch2, insert hook into second chain from hook, yo and pull up a loop (2 loops on hook). *Yo and pull through 1 loop (this creates the base chain of the next fsc), yo and pull through 2 loops to complete the st. To start the next st, insert the hook under the ‘v’ of the base chain you just created, yo and pull up a loop. Repeat from * for required number of sts.

You can find more details on foundation rows including a tutorial here.

Extended Single Crochet (esc)

Insert hook, yo, pull up a loop (2 loops on hook), yo, pull through 1 loop (2 loops on hook), yo, pull through 2 loops to complete the stitch.

You can find a tutorial for the extended single crochet here.

Front third loop

The front third loop can be found just below the front loop of the stitch as your work faces you. It’s a small horizontal bar across the post of the stitch.

The front third loop is present in half double crochet, double crochet and taller stitches and is created by the initial yarn over. It is a relative part of the stitch as it reverts to the back third loop when your work is turned. 

This post on crochet stitch anatomy goes into more detail identifying different loops in different stitches.

In the image below you can see a yarn needle placed underneath front third loop in a small swatch of double crochet. This is where you will insert your hook (from the bottom up).

Pattern Repeats

The pattern uses fairly simple ripple pattern repeat throughout, with each complete rubble or wave consisting of 14 stitches. 

The pattern predominantly uses double crochet stitches, which is what the gauge  description below is based on (taken from within the wave pattern which is why the stitch count may seem higher – it’s not a straight line). I have also included the width of one wave pattern repeat as you may find this easier to measure.

Gauge

26 sts and 17 rows in 10cm of double crochet in the wave pattern repeat using a 3.5mm crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge.

Each wave measures approximately 5.5cm long from peak to peak.

Variation in your gauge will lead to variations in the finished size of your project. 

Learn how to make and measure a gauge swatch here.

You can purchase the ad-free print optimised PDF version of this pattern from Etsy, Ravelry or Love Crafts for a small fee.

The Hidden Wavelengths Crochet Cowl Pattern

Using MC;

Round 1: Make 154 fsc, taking care not to twist your work, ss to top of the first fsc to make a loop, turn. 154 sts – the stitch count does not change throughout.

Round 2 (WS): Ch3, starting in first st, *1tr in next st, 1dc in next 2 sts, 1hdc in next 2 sts, 1sc in next 3 sts, 1hdc in next 2 sts, 1dc in next 2 sts, 1tr in next 2 sts; rep from * to end, ss to top of first st, turn

Round 3 (RS): Ch2, starting in first st, *1dc in next st, 2dc in next st, 1dc in next 3 sts, dc2tog, 1dc in next st, dc2tog, 1dc in next 3 sts, 2dc in next st; rep from * to end, ss to top of first st, turn

Round 4: Ch2, starting in first st, *2dc in next st, 1dc in next 3 sts, dc2tog, 1dc in next st, dc2tog, 1dc in next 3 sts, 2dc in next st, 1dc in next st; rep from * to end, ss to top of first st, turn

Round 5: As Round 3

Join CC, drop MC

Round 6 (WS): In CC, ch2, 1esc in front 3rd loop of each st to end, ss to top of first st, turn

Drop CC, change to MC

Round 7: In MC and working in BLO all around, rep Round 3

Round 8: As Round 4

Round 9: As Round 3

Drop MC, change to CC

Rounds 10-53: Rep Rounds 6-9 (you will have 12 repeats in total)

Round 54: Ch2, starting in first st *1sc in next st, 1hdc in next 2 sts, 1dc in next 2 sts, 1tr in next 3 sts, 1dc in next 2 sts, 1hdc in next 2 sts, 1sc in next 2 sts; rep from * to end, ss to top of first st, turn

Round 55: Ch1, 1sc in each st to end, ss to top of first st

Fasten off, block if desired and sew in ends

How to share your finished makes

I hope you enjoyed this cowl pattern. I can’t wait to see it worked up in all the different colorways you have in mind and I’d love to see your finished projects. If sharing your crochet efforts is up your street, here’s how you can do so:

• On Instagram, you can use the hashtag #DoraDoes to share your finished projects or just tag me @doraexplored
• If you have the bug for creating garments, why not join my dedicated facebook group “My Crochet Wardrobe” and share them there?
• Sign up to the WiP Tip for weekly crochet chat, offers and exclusives straight to your inbox – click here to sign up

Happy Hooking 

Dx

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