Bumps and Scales Cowl Crochet Pattern

This post is very late, but it’s finally here! I’m sharing my Bumps and Scales Cowl Crochet Pattern with y’all for Halloween. This is not the usual kind of post for a Wednesday, but I had some bumps & scales to deal with of my own this week. That’s why it’s late & on the wrong day. Anyway, there are a ton of pictures with notes in this post to help understand the construction. I will be making a video tutorial for some of the trickier bits & I hope to have that out by Friday. Hope y’all enjoy the pattern!

Important Notes

This pattern is worked using the corner to corner or C2C method. I always refer people to Make Do & Crew for C2C instructions because they have awesome instructions. The only difference is that I use a treble crochet instead of a double crochet & that’s in the written instructions.

This pattern is different because I’m making some of the squares with a puff stitch and some with a crocodile stitch. The puff stitch is a bump & the crocodile stitch is a scale. There are photos & instructions below for doing these stitches within the C2C stitches. As I said above, I will have a video tutorial out by Friday hopefully. This will be for the first 6 rows of the pattern & that will be linked to this post when it’s finished.

I’m using Caron Simply Soft Tweeds in Gray Heather & a 4.5 mm {G/7 US} hook. Please let me know if you find mistakes or have any issues with the pattern. I’m the only one to look at it so far, so I know there will be some! : )

Making a Bump

In the picture below, I’ve finished the first 2 rows of C2C & I’ve started the 3rd row. Once you finish the first block, slip stitch into the next & chain 4 as usual. You will start the puff stitch in the center of the 3rd chain on the box below.

The puff stitch I’m using has a total of 10 yarn overs to make it nice & fluffy. You can find the complete instructions in the pattern at the bottom of the post. Once you finish all the yarn overs, you’ll have a lot of yarn on your hook. I find smooshing {technical term} it out helps break it up & make it easier to pull the final loop through. Then you just slip stitch into the next box.

Make your last box & the 3rd row is finished!

The next row is just a standard row of C2C. When you get to the puff stitch, you’ll make a box in the chain 4 above the puff stitch.

Then just finish out the row. Time for a row of scales!

Making a Scale

I played around with a crocodile stitch a bit to get the scaly look I wanted. There is a great written & video tutorial for the standard crocodile stitch over at Moogly. For this pattern, I’m using 2 treble crochets & 2 double crochets versus 5 double crochets.

The first scales are on row 5 after the first block is made. Slip stitch to the next block & chain 4.

Next, you’ll make a V-stitch {1 tr, ch1, 1 tr} into the chain 4 of the box below. I like to insert the hook into the 3rd chain for the first treble then go around the chain with the second treble. After the V-stitch is made, you’ll chain 4.

Next you will make 2 treble stitches & 2 double crochet stitches on top of the treble stitch the chain 4 is attached to. This is the 1st leg of the V-stitch.

Once I get to the point of the “V”, I like to rotate my work 180 degrees. Then I chain 1 & have easier access to the 2nd leg of the V-stitch. You will crochet over this leg with 2 double crochet stitches, then 3 treble stitches.

That will bring you back to the top of the V-stitch – crocodile stitch complete. Now you will need to slip stitch your way back to the opposite side of the crocodile stitch.

Once you’re back on the opposite side, you can slip stitch into chain 4 of the box below & make your next box.

Here’s row 5 complete…

Row 6 is just a standard row of boxes. I wanted to show y’all how to work the boxes behind the crocodile stitches. You will slip stitch into the chain 4 behind the crocodile stitch.

You can just make the box as usual and continue on. Or you can follow the instructions below to make the crocodile stitch lay a little flatter. To do that, chain 4 & make one treble stitch.

Then, start the 2nd treble stitch by yarning over twice. Insert the hook into the 3rd chain behind the crocodile stitch.

In this view, I’ve flipped the work forward so the top faces me. You will also insert the hook through the corner of the crocodile stitch. Pull a loop through the crocodile stitch & chain then finish the treble stitch.

In the example below, the crocodile stitch on the left is attached & the one on the right is not.

It really just depends on the look you want! I have some both ways in my finished cowl. : )

Bumps & Scales Cowl – Finished

I like to have the least amount of yarn tails to weave in possible. To do this, I slip stitched across the final box to get to the corner. Then I did a crab stitch along the long side of the work to the opposite corner. At this point, I folded the work in half, right sides together, & slip stitched the ends together. When I reached the other side, I did a crab stitch around that edge. All finished!

I love C2C because of the texture it gives the work. This cowl has even more texture with the special stitches added!

The crocodile stitches remind me of a dragon’s eye…

Here’s the cowl on an actual person – me! : D

This could also double as a funky rock person mask…

Now, here’s a special surprise – I’m giving y’all a PDF version for free! Normally I don’t do that, but this month was my birthday month & today’s Halloween. Plus, this month has been a tough one for me & sometimes you just need to share the love to make your own day brighter!

~>~> Click here for PDF pattern <~<~

I hope y’all enjoy the pattern & if you make one I’d love to see a picture. You can tag it with #bumpsandscalescowl and #teadoddlesmakers on Instagram or Facebook so I can see it. You can also share a picture in my Teadoddles Makers Facebook group if you like!

Y’all have a great Halloween & I hope you get all the treats & no tricks!

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