Lavender Mint Waffle Stitch Cowl Free Pattern

Lavender Mint Waffle Stitch Cowl Free Pattern

Introduction

This cozy cowl is a wonderful project for anyone who has mastered single and double crochet and wants to try something with a little more texture. The waffle stitch creates a raised, grid-like surface that looks impressive but is built from just two simple stitches repeated in an easy rhythm. Wide blocks of lavender and mint give it a whimsical, color-blocked look that adds a cheerful pop to any outfit. Worked seamlessly in the round with plain single-crochet bands at both edges, it slips easily over the head and sits comfortably around the neck all season long.

Materials Needed

• Yarn: Worsted weight (category 4) acrylic yarn, approximately 220 yards (200 m) total — about 110 yards (100 m) lavender and 110 yards (100 m) mint.
• Hook: 5.5 mm (I-9) crochet hook.
• Notions: Stitch marker, tapestry needle for weaving in ends, and scissors.
• Finished size: Circumference 28 inches (71 cm), height 10 inches (25 cm).

Abbreviations

• ch — chain: make a loop of yarn and pull it through the loop on your hook.
• sl st — slip stitch: insert hook, yarn over, pull through both the stitch and the loop on your hook.
• sc — single crochet: insert hook, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through both loops.
• dc — double crochet: yarn over, insert hook, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through two loops, yarn over, pull through remaining two loops.
• fpdc — front post double crochet: work a double crochet around the post of the stitch below, inserting the hook from front to back to front so the stitch pops forward.
• st(s) — stitch(es).

Gauge

14 stitches and 8 rows in waffle stitch = 4 inches (10 cm). To check, crochet a small swatch in the waffle stitch pattern and measure a 4-inch section; adjust your hook size if needed to match.

Tips Before You Start

• When you join the starting chain into a ring, double-check that it isn't twisted before working Round 1 — a twist here can't be fixed later.
• Place a stitch marker in the first stitch of each round so you always know where to join.
• The waffle texture comes from alternating fpdc and dc, and the offset every other row is what creates the grid — keep track of which round you're on.
• Change to mint at the end of Round 16 by finishing the last stitch with the new color, so the color line stays clean.

Step-by-Step Instructions

The cowl is worked in the round from the bottom up. Begin with lavender.

Body of the Cowl

Setup: With lavender, ch 98, join with sl st to first ch to form a ring, being careful not to twist.

R1: Ch 1, sc in each ch around, join with sl st to first sc. (98 sc)

R2: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in each st around, join with sl st to top of ch-3. (98 dc)

R3: Ch 3, [fpdc around next st, dc in next st] around, join with sl st to top of ch-3. (49 fpdc, 49 dc)

R4: Ch 3, [dc in next st, fpdc around next st] around, join with sl st to top of ch-3. (49 dc, 49 fpdc)

R5–16: Repeat R3–R4. (98 sts)

Color change: Change to mint.

R17–30: Repeat R3–R4. (98 sts)

R31: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join with sl st to first sc. (98 sc)

R32: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join with sl st to first sc. (98 sc)

Fasten off.

Assembly and Finishing

This cowl is seamless, so there is no seaming to do. Weave in all ends on the wrong side, working the lavender and mint tails in opposite directions so the color change stays tidy. Block lightly by misting with water and smoothing the cowl flat into a tube shape; let it dry completely before wearing. Both open ends are plain single-crochet edges and need no additional border.

Pro Tips and Variations

• Try three narrower color blocks instead of two for a striped effect, keeping the same total row count.
• Use a self-striping or variegated worsted yarn to let the waffle texture do the talking.
• For a longer, drapier cowl, add extra repeats of R3–R4 before the final sc rounds — just add yarn to match.