Stashbuster Mixed Media Cowl

MMCowlBrown

Before my Art Show in November, I made several of these and they have been well received by many folks there buying them for gifts or for themselves. I wanted to type up a tutorial for any who might be interested in making one (or LOTS) also. It’s a great way to use up your existing stash. In fact, I made it my mission to ONLY use what I had on hand…little bits of this, leftovers of that.

M&MMakeCowl The first thing I do is gather up my yarns. Mortimer and Millicent wanted to oversee my photo tutorial efforts, giving invaluable (and sometimes annoying) suggestions and critiques along the way. 🙂 I like to put the yarns in a white bowl so I can see them sitting there together. I pull anything and everything that tickles my fancy: solid yarns, variegated yarns, fibers with a bit of bling, textured yarns, etc. I don’t worry too much at this point whether or not I’ll actually USE them all…this is the fun part of putting color together! There may be a yarn or two that just don’t make it into the finished cowl. Or I may just use them all!

MMCowl1

I choose a bulky yarn as a “base” or anchor. Since I’m using either a size 13 knitting needle or an N crochet hook, I want the stitches and yarns to be rather chunky. But this doesn’t mean I can’t use worsted, DK or even fingering weight yarns. I just have to combine the thinner yarns to approximate a chunky weight. I’ll demonstrate this a bit in the photos.

If I’m knitting a Mixed Media Cowl, I cast on 40-50 sts. This is a wide range that you will have to determine the number based on how thick your yarn choices are AND based on how generous you want your cowl to be. I’ve made them anywhere from neck huggers to cowls with a bit of drape. You choose! The knitted version is simply garter stitch all the way through.

MMCowl12

If I’m crocheting a Mixed Media Cowl, I chain 45-50. Again, this all depends on the above factors. This one is a 50 chain Cowl, which is a bit more generous than some I have made. I use single crochet stitches THROUGH THE BACK LOOP. This allows the crochet to have more drape to it than regular single crochet.

So, here we go:

MMCowl2

I began with the “base” yarn, a chunky yarn combined with a very slim shiny yarn just to add interest. Chain 50.

MMCowl3

Sc in the second chain from hook and in each chain across. I like to crochet into the “butt” of the chain thereby giving a nice edge that looks like bind off in knitting.

MMCowl4

Attach a new yarn or set of yarns. Here I’ve combined two different worsted weight yarns. Together they are somewhat close to the thickness of the “base” yarn. I attach the new yarns just before finishing off the last single crochet stitch. Then, with the new yarn(s), finish the sc, CHAIN 1, and turn your work, ready to go on the next row!

MMCowl5

I work single crochet THROUGH THE BACK LOOPS at the same time crocheting over the ends so that I don’t have to weave them in at the end.:)

MMCowl6

I work two rows of each color or set of yarns. This time there are THREE yarns held together:  a worsted, a textured, and a thin “bling” yarn. Continue working sc tbl, and crocheting over the ends.

MMCowl7

Continue working in this manner until you have the height you desire.

MMCowl9

I worked 7 groupings of yarn, giving me approx. 6″-7″ depending on how much you stretch the fabric out. This crochet stitch looks a bit like sideways ribbing and has a lovely ridge on both sides.

MMCowl10

I end with the “base” yarn again. This is certainly not necessary, but I think it finishes it off. This last time I held a different shiny yarn with it for variety.  I only work one row of this. Weave in all ends.

SelfieMMCowl

The cool thing about this cowl is that you do not need button holes! Place your buttons where you like and you can button it up in two different ways:

MMCowlVertical

With the buttons vertical, straight up and down (as pictured in the selfie above:).

MMCowlDiagonal

Or with the buttons and cowl diagonal, hugging the neck a bit more. Either way is lovely I think!

M&MinMMCowl2

Of course, Mortimer and Millicent had to try it on too! They were so upset that it didn’t fit them! Then they thought perhaps I had made them a cozy blanket, only to be dashed again when I explained this was a Cowl for PEOPLE not mice! (I may need to go make a couple of cowls, mice size, for them as they are a pouting a bit.)

MMCowlEggplant

Choosing the buttons is REALLY fun! Go to your button box, mix and match, or find inexpensive buttons in shops you frequent. They add just the right touch!

Wear, smile, and have a beautiful, artsy day!!

11 thoughts on “Stashbuster Mixed Media Cowl

  1. freebirdsings says:

    I don’t wear scarves or cowls but my granddaughters do if it gets cold. I’ll have to show them this one. I doubt I’ll be able to talk them into learning to crochet but I’ll give it my best shot! I’m waiting to see mouse-sized cowls now.

    Is the healing still going strong? I sure hope so!

    • jenpedwards says:

      Healing is going well…i tend to overdo it though, which means im feeling good! But when i overdo, them im exhausted the mext day. Im grateful for how all has tirned out…much better than the last 6 months! You can knit this cowl Timaree! I dont know if that was very plain or not. But use size 13 needles with chuncky weight yarn or yarns combined. Cast on anywhere from 40-50 sts and just knit garter stitch! Go for as high as you want your cowl! Enjoy!

  2. Cindy Bee says:

    I love this. I have some huge yarn that I didn’t know what I was going to use it for, I think I’ve figured it out! I love the way you hold it together with buttons. I was thinking I’d have to stitch it together in the end, so why not go circular, but now I see your idea! Would be wonderful for gifts! Thanks for sharing.

    Cindy Bee

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *