Sweet Nothings Crochet: FIVE PLAITED INFINITY COWL

Sweet Nothings Crochet free crochet pattern blog, modelled photo of the cowl

FIVE PLAITED INFINITY COWL

This cowl is a fascinating one.. a simple (?) five plait.. how easy is that, right?

A friend gifted me this lovely yarn and I thought I’d make this scarf for her daughter. So as always, here are my notes as I make my own project.

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Materials used : Today I’ve used the superb Bernat Super Value worsted 4-ply acrylic yarn with a 6.5 mm crochet hook.

For Indians : You could use Anchor , Red ros e ; Red rose metallic or unbranded knitting cotton as well as Oswal or Vardhaman acrylic yarns

General yarn info : The yarn used today is not specific to this pattern.

You can use any yarn with a suitable hook to make this project to any size.

International yarns : Among the international yarns I have used in this thickness, I’d suggest Aunt Lydia Cotton 10, Aunt Lydia Bamboo-Viscose 10, DMC Petra, Sullivans knitting cotton (Australia), Milford Soft, Hilaza Rustica Eclat , Alize cotton yarn and Alize bamboo yarn.

Size made : Length : ~ 27”
You can make this to any size you want using any yarn with a suitable hook

Gauge : One fdc strip = 1” wide
Gauge is not important

Stitches used :

Starting slip knot : Here’s how you start with a slip knot. https://youtu.be/lJcqsVcs8cw

Starting slip knot 1 or the Sloppy Slip knot : This is a neat new way to start your work without a slip knot. https://youtu.be/YfC7KmGpifs

What is a slip stitch : Here is a neat video tutorial at https://youtu.be/weB3QNbA8Iw

What is a chain stitch ? Here is an easy video tutorial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXx5ukBjKkY

Foundation double crochet (fdc) : This is a unique way of starting a project directly with a row of double crochet stitches. Here is an easy video tutorial https://youtu.be/hjNUYVvyU9k

How to do a five plait : This is a superb short video to explain this technique. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eehg9k3FYZ0

Abbreviations used :

sc : single crochet dc : Double crochet

ch : chain ch-sp : chain space

sp : space rep : Repeat

hk : hook yo : Yarn over

fdc : Foundation double crochet

Instructions

Please note that I start all my rows with a ch 1, turning chain for ease.

Please check the top of this blog for easy video tutorials on all stitches used in today's pattern.

Please read through all my notes before you pick up your hook, so you know just where we're heading in our pattern.

In my patterns I work with the principle of stitch count and body measurement. This means that you need to work the stitch count in pattern, till you get the measurement (length and/or width) that you need for your project.

Now this is a super easy pattern as all we’re going to do is make five long fdc strips.

We will then weave these into a five plait (video link above) and then we will join the ends to make an infinity cowl.

So I started with 200 fdc as I felt that this was the right length for me.

Now what we need to remember is that on plaiting, we lose length – so the flat length we initially start off with will be slightly reduced. Trial and error to figure out just how long you want yours.. as sorry, I have no formula for this today.

The important thing is not the number of fdc that you need, but to ensure that you work the same number of fdc for all the five strips.

So, I’ve done is make an fdc strip of 200 fdc’s first. I fastened off the first fdc.

When working on the 2^nd fdc, at the end, just before I fastened off, I joined it at one end to the 1^st fdc strip.

The 3^rd fdc was joined at one end of the 2^nd fdc..

So basically, you join all these 5 fdc strips at one end.
So this is the first tricky bit .. joining them and keeping the strips flat.

I then attached the strips down to a board with pins.

Sweet Nothings Crochet free crochet pattern blog, photo of the cowl as the work is in progress

Then working with the video link for the five plait, weave your plait.

This is not that bad.. especially if you’ve done a three or four plait before – just ensure that you keep the plaits flat at the end of each flip from side to side – but you’ll figure that out too.

The last bit, I found was the trickiest.. So once you reach the end of your fdc strips, you need to join the ends up to make it an infinity cowl.

Now after some trial and error, this worked – I first pinned and then ran a thread through the two ends of the plait, holding the five plaits neatly woven. I then tried to figure out which of the five plaits would join up on either end, to try and make it a continuous finish. Pin the two ends down, and then try to join the two plait ends neatly. Phew.. all the best.

1. Start with 200 fdc – or as many as you think you want for your yarn /gauge and length ;

2. Make five such fdc strips ;

3. Attach them at one end first, then pin them down and following the video link, make your five plait ;

4. Try to see if you can neatly figure out which of the plaits join up at both ends, so you get a neat continuous cowl

5. Fasten off and weave in all ends.. and ta da, just like that, we’re done with this super quick cowl