Tutorial: Crochet Hooded cowl for babies

I created this pattern on the go, for my (then) 12 month old baby boy, but he is 15 mo and still fits. And since it is not very tight (his, I did with the 12 mm hook) I think it will fit this next winter when he turns 2, too.

Catarina asked me to share this pattern with you, and I am very honored and excited to do so. The pattern is very easy and I made lots of photos for you to see what it has to look like in case you are new to crochet. I hope you like it.

You will need these materials:

2 balls of chunky yarn of the color of your choice (100 grs/100 mt each) You use about one ball and a half.

Hook 10 mm for babies, 12 mm for toddlers

tapestry needle

1 big button

Scissors

For starters, you need to know very simple crochet techniques and stitches to do this pattern, here are the common abbreviations you might find while following the instructions:

ch: chain

st: stitch

hdc: half double crochet

dc: double crochet

slst: slip stitch

sc: single crochet

crst: cross stitch

Special stitch: Cross Stitch (crst) (ch 2, *skip first st, dc in next st, dc in skipped st(forms an X), repeat from * across to last, dc in last st.)

This stitch was inspired on this beautiful pattern from Over the Apple Tree blog. http://overtheappletree.blogspot.nl/2014/08/princess-anna-crochet-hat.html#sthash.GAaFWLGu.dpuf

Let's start!

Start with 43 chains

Round 1: Hdc on second ch from hook and across each chain, chain 2 (42)

R2: crst (dc on 2nd ch from hook, dc on 1st ch) repeat to the end, ch 2

R3: hdc on each stitch across, chain 2

R4-R8: repeat Round 3

R9: hdc on first ch, 2 hdc on next ch, hdc on next 38 chains, 2hdc on next, hdc on last one, chain 2, (44)

R10: hdc across (44)

R11: hdc on first stitch, 2 hdc in next, hdc on next 40 chains, 2hdc on next, hdc on last one, chain 2 (46)

R12-R14: hdc across (46)

Cut yarn and fasten off

That was the hood, now to start the cowl, follow the next instructions:

SC across the edge to start forming the cowl and join with slip stitch at the end.

Chain 1, and go in rounds with sc, you can place a marker when you started to count your rounds

R1: sc on first chain, 2 sc on next, *sc on next 10, 2 sc on next* and repeat from * until reaching the marker

R2-R4 sc all around

R5: increase one sc every 15 stitches.

R6-R10: sc all around

fasten off and add the button where you joined the two parts of the hood where the face is suppose to show.

The cowl can be as long or short as you like and you can increase more stitches in case you want to do it cape-ish, like to cover the shoulders of your kid. You can play with the pattern and create your own variations.

I added some ears to the hood. To make them, do as follows two times, to do two ears:

Chain 3 and join to make a circle

R1: Sc 6 times around, chain 2

R2: 2hdc on each of the previous chains, chain 2

R3: sc all around the previous stitches.

fasten off and attach to the hood.

Now make your kids wear it to keep them warm this winter. You can check more of my handmade products on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/handmade.withloveNL and also other of my tutorials on my blog:www.withlovemarcia.blogspot.com

Enjoy crocheting =D

with love, Marcia