When I see this ball of 100% Pure Merino squishiness looking at me in the Hobbycraft aisles I just couldn’t pass it by. So I popped 2 (because one is never enough) in my basket and my internal cogs started turning..

Just looking through Instagram and the yarny blog world at the moment every post is awash with extreme knitting and crochet so not one to feel left out and armed with my 10mm I started to hook.

In my opinion with yarn this luxurious you can’t afford not to have it on full show so I knew I wanted this to be a(nother) super chunky cowl/scarf/loop scarf to add to my ever growing collection.

Even though it can be a bit of a yarn hog I decided on the Zig Zag puff stitch, its a super easy stitch that creates a funky texture and looks intricate but is actually really easy to do.

My cowl is worked in rows to create the Zig Zag look. I tried it in the round to avoid seams but because your work isn’t turned at the end of every row all the stitches turn out to be ‘Zigs’ rather than ‘Zig Zags’ thus ending up being frogged and started again – BIG crochet fail.

If you aren’t familiar with the Zig Zag Puff Stitch there is a great tutorial over at Bella Coco on Youtube. Check out her blog too – such gorgeousness.

Want one yourself? I have added a brief pattern below but if you would like a full written one, let me know in the comments.

I used : –

2 Skeins of Rowan Big Wool in the shade ‘Prize’

10mm Crochet Hook

Large Darning Needle

Scissors.

Abbreviations : –

Ch = Chain

St = Stitch

Sc = Single crochet (UK Double)

Puff St = Puff Stitch (see special stitches)

Hdc = Half Double Crochet (UK Half treble)

YO = Yarn over

FO = Fasten off

WS = Wrong Sides

RS = Right Sides

Special Stitches

Zig Zag puff stitch.

Insert hook straight into designated space and pull up the yarn to the height of your stitch (2 loops),  yo and pull up a loop twice more, you will have 6 loops on your hook. Yo and pull through all 6 loops. Ch 1 to secure.

Notes

The size of the cowl can be adjusted chaining in multiples of 2 +1 for turning.

Gauge isn’t important for this project but try to hold your tension quite loosely.

Pattern is in US terms

Pattern

Ch 51

Row 1. 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook and each st across.

Row2. Ch2, *Sk1, puff st in the next st* repeat from *to* until last st. Hdc in last st.

Row3.  Ch 2, sk 1st puff st. (You will now be working in between each puff st. There will look like there is 2 sp’s, the smaller sp is actually part of the previous rounds puff st. Insert your hook into the larger sp) puff st in each sp to end. HDC in top of ch 2 from previous round.

Repeat row 3 until desired height is reached. FO weave in ends and whip stitch seams together WS facing. Turn RS out. Voila!

I’m never taking it off!

..and with the leftover yarn I made this star  to hang up because *whispers* its Christmas in 7 weeks…

Hope you liked the pattern, don’t forget to let me know in the comments if you have any questions.

Tone