Free Crochet Katniss Cowl Pattern
EDIT: I HIGHLY recommend you read the FAQ page HERE before you begin this project! Please look at it if you are having any questions… chances are they are answered there!
If you love the look but not the bulk, check out my Ribs and Ridges Scarf. Same pattern, worsted weight yarn!
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When I first watched Hunger Games: Catching Fire and I saw Katniss’s knitted cowl my DIY mind immediately began making a pattern for it. I never attempted it, mostly because I did not feel like I would ever really NEED a one armed vest thing. It just did not seem very practical. (Does her other arm get cold? Is it an archery thing? I just don’t know…)
Then not too long ago, my volleyball coach from the good old days sent me a pin to this scarf and asked if I could whip up something similar. I loved that it is just a giant infinity scarf rather than a one armed t-shirt thing. This means you can wear it multiple ways, but still achieve that “awesome” look sported by the Hunger Games victor. However, that particular pattern was knitted and my knitting skills are sadly lackluster. But I spent some time and developed my own crochet pattern.
This is seriously a mega scarf, measuring just over 60 inches long and 13.5 inches high (this seems to be the magic length for the perfect “wrap”), and made from almost 600 yards of yarn. If you are worried about the length for yourself, measure it by wrapping around yourself after the first row of post stitches because that is essentially the finished length.
This is a beautiful piece with a lot of detail, and can be worn 3 ways!
This is an intermediate pattern, but a beginner could figure it out with some determination.
You will need to know how to front and back post double crochet, front post single crochet and the double crochet. If you don’t know these stitches, there are a lot of great youtube videos to help. (And do not be scared to try them– they are the same basic stitches, just put in a different spot!)
If you want to try out these stitches on an easier (read “smaller”) project try out my Free Katelyn Ear Warmer Pattern.
This scarf is also crocheted in the round to prevent some uneven sewing. The pattern is ridged and so can be hard to make the attached line look very neat. I found it was better to attach in the round. It may still be a little “gappy.” I suggest leaving a long end and sewing the gaps together just a little bit. There is nothing wrong with a little sewing manipulation! And because of the many ways to wrap and wear this, it is easy to hide that section.
Again, please read the FAQ page before you begin!
Ready? Here is what you will need to get started.
Size M Hook (9.0)
**I used to recommend a P hook but the majority do better with an M**
Large sewing needle for sewing in ends
600 yards of size 6 bulky yarn (I used Bernat Collegiate Chunky in Grey)
EDIT: I have had many people end up with scarves that are TOO big when using an extra bulky yarn. I would stay away from thick, wooly yarns like Wool-Ease Thick and Quick. Some size 5 yarns would work, and some size 6 yarns will not. I stay by my recommendation of the Bernat yarn. Also, be sure to try on your scarf after a few rows. Because we are not all the same shape and size, you may need to adjust. And if you need to start over, well better after 2 or 3 rows than after the whole thing. The nice thing with this scarf is that you do not need to have a certain number of chains- you can customize it to your own size!
Row 1: Chain until you reach 65 inches (I am sorry– I could not force myself to make an actual count.) You will want to crochet over the end length of 61 inches because the post stitches pull it together. Connect to form a giant ring.
Row 2: Chain 2, DC across, Join.
Row 3: Chain 2, DC in first stitch, FPDC alternating with BPDC until you reach the last stitch. DC in last St, Join. Chain 2.
Row 4: This next row will depend on the number of stitches you made… But essentially you will FPDC or BPDC on the post crochets you already made. Line up the FPDC with a FPDC and a BPDC with a BPDC (to achieve that nice ridged look!) until you reach the end.Join.
Row 5: Repeat row 4.
Row 6: Chain one, FPSC in every stitch across. Do not alternate like the PDC. This will give you that straight line. Join to the first FPSC when you reach that point.
THEN slip stitch to the DC made in row 5. The FPSC sit in front of those stitches making that pretty line. But you will want to crochet over the DC BEHIND the line made in Row 6. The slip stitch back just helps for a smoother transition.
Row 7: Chain 2, DC in each stitch across, slip stitch. (Remember this row is not done in the FPSC you did in the last row but the DC from Row 5)
Row 8: Chain one, FPSC across. Follow the same technique as in row 6.
Row 9: Chain 2, DC across, slip stitch.
Row 10: Chain one, FPSC across. Follow the same technique as in row 6.
Repeat Rows 2-10 twice more.
Then Repeat Rows 2-5.
Finish off and weave in ends (remember to leave that long tail to weave in between the few gaps of your seam!)
I would love to see any of your finished scarves! Post them to my Facebook page and show them off! And if you would like to see some of my inspiration follow me on Pinterest! Do you prefer Instagram? (So do I!)
I do not have a problem with individuals making and
selling items using this pattern. I do have a problem if you take my
photos and the credit:) No big deal, just use your own pictures and link
back to this page if you are selling online! Thanks so much!
Have any questions?? Please read the FAQ page HERE!
This pattern is influenced by an original copyrighted pattern by Bo Peep’s Bonnets. You can find the original pattern at https://www.etsy.com/listing/170787987/instant-download-knitting-pattern-the?ref=shop_home_active_4 You can also purchase the original product here –https://www.etsy.com/listing/169791485/huntress-cowl-hand-knit-cowl-infinity .
Hello there!! This is a great pattern and i loved it when i saw it.
I started it over the weekend and after failed attempts of including the slip stitch row after a regular row, i've decided to add the slip stitch rows at the end. 🙂
There is no row of slip stitches. You just slip stitch once at the end of a row to attach it to the beginning stitch of that same row, thus making a circle.
I think I will try using 2 strands of carron simply soft to give it a tweed look and still be soft.
Just started this pattern, but I am a bit confused on how you wrapped it like in the 1st photo, could you explain how it's done or post a video
I just finished this beautiful scarf using Lion Brand (5 oz.,acrylic) Hometown USA in color Chicago Charcoal. The yarn package recommended a size N / 9mm hook, so I experimented with the first few rows using both N and P, as Kali recommended. I thought the N made it too stiff, and would require a lot more stitching, so I did the cowl using P. Apparently my yarn was bulkier than Kali's, because I skipped the second repeat of rows 2-10, and my completed project was still 13" wide. In addition, my original 65" did not tighten into 61", as did Kali's. Maybe that was the yarn, or maybe my crocheting. The result is beautiful, but still a little stiffer than I would like for wrapping. I would consider making this again, but using a less bulky yarn.
i use a diferent yarn beacause i cant find the one u use, so my question is how many inches wide do i need to do, sorry mi english is far away from perfect
Thank you so much for the great pattern Kahi! It used up almost 700 yards of yarn, but I prepared for that. It is so thick and such a great look with the stripes!
what is a size P hook in mm?
a US size P is 11.5 mm, but when i tried that it was too lacey for me and i switched to an N/10 mm. when i went to select the hook size on ravelry the hook options included P/N 10 mm. this is my long way of saying 10 mm worked for me. 🙂
Is this starting from the top or the bottom?
once finished i would have to look really hard to figure out which had been the top and the bottom. 🙂
Hi i have a question. So i have red heart yarn i think it's a 4 laying around would that work at all?
thank you so much for the pattern! just finished mine with the lion brand scarfie yarn (tan + charcoal colorway) and a 10 mm hook. your pattern was my favorite of all the ones i saw on ravelry 🙂
Kali–great design BUT I just finished and I realize too late that your instructions must be incorrect in the inches of the beginning chain. We need to chain 125, not 65. You say the finished product is 60 inches long. My finished one is 30 inches long because I chained 65in then joined in the beginning, exactly as the pattern says.–thus causing it to be 30 in long (not 60). Also, I think you should have just said to repeat rows 2-10 once, not twice because it ended up way wider than 13.5 inches. I am very disappointed. It was supposed to be a Christmas gift.
if you read carefully she says 65 inches, not chain
Yes Amy, I hear ya….this is exactly the problem I'm having. Your comment says that you chained 125 so it was 65" long. I chained 120 to make it 65" long. So when I made the chain into a round..it only measured 36" long…not 65…so it won't be long enough to wear the Katniss way which is the way my niece wants to wear it. Don't get me wrong, what I really liked about this pattern was that she'd be able to wear it three different ways, and I also love the pattern. Thank goodness I only did four rows before I realized that it wouldn't be long enough to wear the Katniss way. I will tear it out to start over and will double my beginning chain.
Mine ended up twisty, I'm not sure how this happened….. Any ideas? In new to crocheting, the FPDC also didn't show up well. Other than my mistakes, I love how this turned out!
when you attached the chain you may have had it twisty… you need to double check to make sure the chains are all the same way when you attach. Im sorry that happened, but so glad you still love it!
I am also wanting to do this with a medium/4 yarn rather than a chunky yarn and wondering if anyone has tried it or thinks it will work. If so what size hook do you think a person should work with, recommended hook size is 5mm I stitch a little tight so I was thinking maybe 6. Thanks
it should work, but it will be a little different. I would use a 6 if you stitch tight. LEt me know how it turns out!
can i please recieve some detailed information on how to loom knit this specific scarf i love this cowl design so much .
Kali–do you chain to 65" FIRST, before attaching in a loop, or make it 65" long AFTER attaching to make loop? If the latter is true, then shouldn't we chain about 120" first, then attach? I have made this thing twice. I did it the first way first, and it was too small–it wouldn't twist to go over a head–it was 30" tall because I chained 65" like the pattern said. The second time I made it (just finished), I chained about 120" before attaching. The finished scarf is 65-70" tall–too big/long. I am discouraged.
Amy,
The measurements are a little subjective… Like I said, it should be around 120 stitches but that was my quick estimate. Mine measured about 65 inches before I attached it, but should still measure that as you go around… just in the round. But the pattern will work no matter how long! So you can just go as long as you think it needs to be and then follow the rest of the directions! Hope this helps!
So I think I followed your pattern to a T but my cowl is ENORMOUS. I'm not really sure what went wrong…I don't think my yarn was too chunky. Maybe it's not actually too big and I just don't know how to put it on? Yours appears to sit very snugly around your body and mine kind of looks like a toga. Do you have any tips for how to wrap it around, or could you maybe give some additional measurements? (Such as the width?) This design is gorgeous but right now I'm not sure I can wear it. 🙁
Hi. Thank you for the pattern. I'm wondering, am I suppose to DC the first and last stitch on every row after row 3? Or is that just for row 3?
what's wrong with TOO big? I LOVE TOO big, gives me that much more to cuddle and wrap up in, as I can get very cold. ^_^
a little room helps
i keept reasing the patterrn its easy use your insticts i am full figured so i measure 60 inches plus some more chains wrap around my body, bo peeps video helps. keep practicing instructions was confusing at first. i keept looking at the picture over and over to see what i missed, i suggest usind lion brand wool ease chunky or bernat chunky its soft and it stretches. it does not look bulky used 6 skein 153 yards. look at yds on back of yarn save money.