Valley Yarns Kassar Cowl Crochet Pattern

Valley Yarns Kassar Cowl

What Is Being Made

The Kassar Cowl is a crocheted neck accessory designed by Sara Delaney that measures 12 inches deep by 40 inches around when finished. This cowl features a sophisticated lace construction made from geometric motifs in contrasting hand-dyed colors, creating a visually striking accessory that drapes beautifully around the neck.

Yarn and Materials

This project uses Valley Yarns BFL Fingering Hand Dyed yarn, which is composed of 100% Blue Faced Leicester fiber. The pattern calls for two skeins of this yarn in complementary colorways: one skein in Neptune (main color) and one skein in Rose Gold (contrasting color). Each skein provides 416 yards from 110 grams of yarn, offering plenty of yardage for the finished cowl. The project is worked with a US size G/6 (4.00mm) crochet hook.

Techniques Used

The Kassar Cowl employs several intermediate-level crochet techniques to achieve its elegant appearance. The cowl is worked in the round, meaning each motif is constructed from a central ring and expanded outward with successive rounds of stitches. The design incorporates lace techniques through the use of chain spaces and strategic stitch placement that creates open, airy sections characteristic of lace patterns. The finished motifs are seamed together to form the complete cowl structure, combining multiple geometric pieces into a cohesive garment.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The pattern utilizes fundamental crochet stitches combined in strategic ways to create complex lace effects. The primary stitches employed include:

• Double crochet (dc) — the main structural stitch that forms the foundation of each motif
• Chain stitches (ch) — used extensively to create the open spaces and lace characteristics of the design
• Slip stitch (sl st) — used to join rounds and connect stitches
• Single crochet (sc) — employed in specific sections for shaping and detail
• Picot — a special stitch created by chaining 3 and slipping into the third chain from the hook, adding decorative edging elements

Pattern Structure

The cowl is constructed from three hexagon motifs, each worked individually from the center outward. The hexagon motifs are built over eight rounds, beginning with a chain-10 ring and progressively expanding with increasing chain spaces between double crochets. Early rounds (Rounds 1-4) establish the basic hexagon shape with expanding chain spaces. Middle rounds (Rounds 5-6) add density and definition to the motif structure, incorporating multiple double crochets into chain spaces. Later rounds (Rounds 7-8) refine the lace pattern with alternating double crochets and chain-2 spaces, creating the open, delicate appearance characteristic of the finished cowl.

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern specifies that one completed triangle motif measures 5.5 inches from point to point after blocking. Proper gauge is essential for achieving the intended finished dimensions of 12 inches deep by 40 inches around. Crocheters should work a gauge swatch and block it before beginning the project to ensure their finished cowl matches the pattern specifications.

Difficulty Level

This project is rated as intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for crocheters with some experience beyond basic techniques. The pattern requires familiarity with working in the round, reading multi-round instructions, understanding chain spaces, and the ability to block and seam finished motifs together. The lace construction demands attention to stitch placement and counting, but the repetitive nature of the motif rounds makes the pattern manageable for dedicated intermediate-level crafters.