Hat and Cowl Crochet Pattern - Shabby Sheep Apparel

The Snow Howl, is it a beanie? A hat? A cowl? This piece has a multi-personality disorder and can’t make up it’s mind. So I won’t call it a hat or a cowl, it gets a new word a Howl!

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On Christmas Eve day, I had all my presents ready (not quite wrapped yet), including two hats that I made using a pattern that was not quick and easy, all ready for my nieces (10 and 12 years old). I hadn’t seen Hailey and Faith in a few months, so when I did see them that day, I realized that their heads are almost as big as mine! The hats I made for them were too small, ugh!!

This left me staying up late Christmas Eve, crocheting new hats for the girls. I knew I didn’t have time to use the same pattern as before, so I whipped up this pattern. I planned on closing it up at the top, making it a proper hat, but decided to leave it open, making it a multi-purpose piece! You can wear it with a ponytail or bun or fold the top back to (somewhat) cover the hole. If you want to completely close the top hole, you can use the long tail drawstring option. Or you can fold the brim to make it shorter, or even slide it down and wear as a cowl!

Naming the Howl

Now for the name, I love giving names to my designs using names from those who inspired them, such as the Jonathan or Jasmin Messy Bun Beanies. I couldn’t choose between my nieces names, Hailey and Faith, and I wasn’t sure if I should use a combination of both or what!

I asked my husband for suggestions and as we were throwing ideas around, I said the hat has a multi-personality disorder. This sparked an idea in my mind. I’ve been binge-watching The Flash on Netflix lately, so Caitlin Snow/ Killer Frost came to mind. If you’ve never seen the show, Caitlin is a normal person with a meta-human alter-ego/ split personality. I decided to call the Howl after her, originally thinking of calling it the Caitlin Howl, but I believe this hat is versatile enough for boys/men, so I didn’t want to give it such a feminine name and landed on The Snow Howl!

I never got a chance to get a picture of the girls in their new howls, so I made another one, to get some photos of myself and my two year old son, Edward. Granted, it is a bit big on Edward, but it doesn’t slide down, so the Snow Howl really is a one size fits all (it fits my husband too)!

Toddler wearing the Snow Cowl in two ways: with the top folded down, and then with the brim folded up.

Now to what you came for, the free pattern 😉

Pattern

For the inexpensive ad free pdf, you can buy it here!

Materials:

Size 6.5mm crochet hook (or whatever size is required to meet gauge)
Worsted weight yarn (size 4). I used Red Heart Soft Turquoise and Deep Sea.
Yarn needle (for weaving in ends)
Scissors

List ofAbbreviations

Hdc: Half double crochet
Sl st: Slip stitch
St: Stitch
Ch: Chain
Blo: Back loop only

Gauge

12 hdc across x 8 Rows in hdc is 4”x4”

Notes

This pattern uses two strands of yarn at once. You could use one colour, and take from both ends of the skein, or like I did in the examples, I used one strand from each colour, which gives a nice multi-colour effect!
The dimensions are approx. 9 ½” tall and 17” around when laid flat, up to 22” when stretched, making this essentially a one size fits all hat!

The Snow Howl on Snow — I couldn’t name is the Snow Howl and not have a picture of it in the snow!

Directions

Ch. 32

(You could add more or fewer chains here if you wanted to increase or decrease the length).

Row 1) Turn and hdc into the third st from the hook, and hdc across (30).

Row 2) Ch 1, turn, hdc in blo across (30).

Rows 3-32) Repeat row 2 (30).

(If you wanted it tighter or looser, you could add more or fewer rows here).

Fold piece in half and sl st both ends together to join.

Fasten off and weave in ends!

Optional Step:

After fastening off, leave a 26” tail. Weave the tail through the stitches along the top edge. Tie off with a bow to leave it open. To close the top, pull the tail, this will cinch the top together. Tie off with a bow and turn inside out, leaving the long tail in the hat!

**
Please do not copy or claim this pattern or these photos as your own.
Feel free to sell any finished products you make with this pattern,
if you are selling online please link back to
https://shabbysheepapparel.com/snowhowl
I love to see your work, you can share your pictures on
Shabby Sheep Apparel Facebook page or
use the hashtag #thesnowhowl for a chance to be featured on Instagram!**