Skyshard Mosaic Cowl, free overlay mosaic crochet cowl pattern

*This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase following an affiliate link, I’ll receive a small commission. 

This post includes:

◉ FREE Pattern: The entire written pattern for FREE.

The ad-free PDF contains an easy-to-follow crochet chart! Available at mandobug.com and on Ravelry.

◉ Video Tutorial: Helpful video tutorial goes over special stitches used in this pattern.

The Skyshard Mosaic Cowl is an intermediate pattern that uses the overlay mosaic crochet technique. Each row is worked using a single color. Strategically placed single crochets and double crochets create this stunning stained glass crystal design.

Find a printer-friendly, PDF version of the Skyshard Mosaic Cowl at mandobug.com and on Ravelry.

The Cowl’s Construction

Worked from the bottom up the Skyshard Mosaic Cowl starts with a few rows of single crochet in the back loop only using the contrast color. The body of the cowl is worked using an overlay mosaic crochet technique. Each row is worked using a single color. You will either be placing a single crochet in the back loop only or placing a double crochet in the front loop of the row below. When working in the front loop of the row below, skip the corresponding stitches in the current row unless stated otherwise.

 

Choosing the Right Yarn

This project includes instructions for using two different colors of either a category 1 super fine fingering weight yarn OR a category 4 medium worsted weight yarn.

For my fingering weight sample, I used Hobbii Dream Colour, a gradient color-changing blend of superwash merino and nylon, and Hobbii Evergreen, an organic wool solid colored yarn. But if wool is not for you, that’s no problem! This pattern works well in acrylic and cotton yarns as well!

For my worsted weight sample, I used Hobbii Lollipop Melange, a marled striping wool acrylic blend, and Hobbii Amigo XL a soft acrylic solid colored yarn.

What color should I choose?
For this pattern, I highly recommend using contrasting colors. I really like the look of an ombre, gradient, variegated, speckled, or self-striping yarn for the main color and a solid color for the contrast color. You’ll want to choose a contrast color that does not match any of the shades of the main colored yarn to avoid distorting the patterns image. Two solid colored contrasting colors would also be a great choice.


Is there a yarn you would avoid?
The only yarns I would avoid for this pattern are yarns that have a fuzzy halo or have an
inconsistent thickness. These types of yarn have a lot of natural texture that may distort the appearance of the colorwork design.

Skyshard Mosaic Cowl Details

Skill Level

Intermediate (uses basic stitches with complex shaping)

Yarn Requirements

Fingering Weight Version

Main Color (MC) – 225 yds / 206 m

Contrast Color (CC) – 225 yds / 206 m  

Worsted  Weight Version

Main Color (MC) – 180 yds / 165 m

Contrast Color (CC) – 180 yds / 165 m  

Suggested Yarns*

Fingering Weight Version

1 skein Hobbii Dream Colour, 100% Wool, 

437 yds (400 m) / 3.5 oz (100 g) (shown in color 11 as main color)

1 ball Hobbii Evergreen, 100% Organic Wool, 251 yds (230 m) / 1.75 oz (50 g) (shown in color 08 as contrast color)

Worsted  Weight Version

1 cake Hobbii Lollipop Melange, 30% Superwash Wool, 70% Acrylic, 382 yds (350 m) / 7 oz (200 g) (shown in color 08 as main color)

2 skeins Hobbii Amigo XL, 100% Acrylic, 109 yds (100 m) / 1.75 oz (50 g) (shown in color 11 as main color)

*Contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase following a link, I’ll receive a small commission. 

Hook

Fingering weight version 

US size D hook (3.25 mm) or size needed to obtain gauge.

Worsted weight version 

US size H hook (5 mm) or size needed to obtain gauge.

Notions

Tapestry needle for weaving in ends.

Finished Measurements

Fingering weight version 

Circumference – 26” (66 cm)

Length – 9.25” (23.5 cm)

Worsted weight version 

Circumference – 26.25” (66.5 cm)

Length – 11” (28 cm)

Gauge

Fingering weight version 

18 stitches = 3.25” (8.3 cm)

16 rows = 2.75” (7 cm)

in stitch pattern.

Worsted weight version 

18 stitches = 5.25” (13.5 cm)

16 rows = 4.5” (11.5 cm)

in stitch pattern.

Abbreviations  

blo – back loop only

CC – contrast color

CD* – centered double crochet decrease

ch – chain

DD* – diagonal down

dc– double crochet

DU* – diagonal up

flo – front loop only

MC – main color 

sk – skip

st(s) – stitch(es)

* see Special Stitches

Special Stitches

Need help with the special stitches?

Diagonal Up (DU) 

Worked over two stitches.

Sc in blo of indicated st, dc in flo in row directly below sc just made, sk next st.

Diagonal Down (DD)

Worked over two stitches.

Sk first indicated st, dc in flo in next st 1 row below, sc in blo in row directly above dc just made.

Centered Double Crochet Decrease (CD)

Worked over three stitches.

Sc in first indicated st, yarn over, insert hook into front loop in row directly below sc just made, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through 2 loops, sk next st, yarn over, insert hook into front loop of next st 1 row below, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through 2 loops, yarn over and pull through all 3 loops on hook, sc in blo of st in row directly above front loop just worked in.

Find a printer-friendly, charted PDF version of the Skyshard Mosaic Cowl at mandobug.com and on Ravelry.

Skyshard Mosaic Cowl Free Crochet Pattern

Worked from the bottom up the Skyshard Mosaic Cowl starts with a few rows of single crochet in the back loop only using the contrast color. The body of the cowl is worked using an overlay mosaic crochet technique. Each row is worked using a single color. You will either be placing a single crochet in the back loop only or placing a double crochet in the front loop of the row below. When working in the front loop of the row below, skip the corresponding stitches in the current row unless stated otherwise.

Notes  

Pattern is written using US crochet terminology.

Pattern is written and charted. Charted instructions start on page 8.

Pattern is written for fingering weight with worsted weight version in parentheses. Ex: Ch 144 (90)

Pattern repeats are placed within brackets and braces.

When working in the front loop of the row below, skip the corresponding stitches of the current row unless stated otherwise. 

When changing colors, join the new color by completing the final pull-through of the previous stitch using the new color.

Pattern is worked continuously in the round, do not sl st to join.

Bottom Border

If you wish to adjust the circumference of the cowl, add or subtract 18 stitches from the beginning chain. This will adjust your circumference by 3.25” (8.3 cm) for the fingering weight version and by 5.25” (13.5 cm) for the worsted weight version. Please note that it will also affect yarn requirements.

Using CC, chain 144 (90).

Round 1: Being careful not to twist the chain, join to work in the round by placing a sc in the first chain. Sc in each ch around. 

(144 sc (90 sc))

Rounds 2-4: sc in blo around.

Drop CC. Carry CC up on the wrong side here and throughout the body of the cowl.

Body

When starting the body work Setup Round 1. This creates a clean border. This is the only time you will work that round and when you do, skip Repeating Round 1 and continue with Round 2.

Join MC,

Setup Round 1: sc in blo around.

Using MC,

Repeating Round 1: [sc in blo in next 2 sts, dc in flo 1 row below in next 5 sts, sc in blo in next 11 sts] repeat around. 

Drop MC. Carry MC up on the wrong side here and throughout the body of the cowl.

Using CC,

Round 2: [sc in blo in next st, DU over next 2 sts, sc in blo in next 3 sts, DD over next 2 sts, sc in blo of next 5 sts, dc in flo 1 row below in next st, sc in blo in next 4 sts] repeat around.

Using MC,

Round 3: [dc in flo 1 row below in next 2 sts, sc in blo in next st, dc in flo 1 row below in next 3 sts, sc in blo in next st, dc in flo 1 row below in next 4 sts, DD over next 2 sts, sc in blo of next st, DU over next 2 sts, dc in flo 1 row below in next 2 sts] repeat around.

Using CC,

Round 4: [sc in blo in next 2 sts, DU over next 2 sts, sc in blo of next st, DD over next 2 sts, sc in blo in next 5 sts, dc in flo 1 row below in next st, sc in blo in next st, dc in flo 1 row below in next st, sc in blo in next 3 sts] repeat around.

Using MC,

Round 5: [dc in flo 1 row below in next 3 sts, sc in blo in next st, dc in flo 1 row below in next st, sc in blo in next st, dc in flo 1 row below in next 4 sts, DD over next 2 sts, sc in blo in next st, dc in flo 1 row below in next st, sc in blo in next st, DU over next 2 sts, dc in flo 1 row below in next st] repeat around.

Using CC,

Round 6: [sc in blo in next 3 sts, CD over next 3 sts, sc in blo in next 5 sts, dc in flo 1 row below in next st, sc in blo in next 3 sts, dc in flo 1 row below in next st, sc in blo in next 2 sts] repeat around.

Using MC,

Round 7: [dc in flo 1 row below in next 4 sts, sc in blo in next st, dc in flo 1 row below in next 4 sts, DD over next 2 sts, sc in blo in next st, dc in flo 1 row below in next 3 sts, sc in blo in next st, DU over next 2 sts] repeat around.

Using CC,

Round 8: [sc in blo in next 4 sts, dc in flo 1 row below in next st, sc in blo in next 5 sts, dc in flo 1 row below in next st, sc in blo in next 5 sts, dc in flo 1 row below in next st, sc in blo in next st] repeat around.

Using MC,

Round 9:  [sc in blo in next 11 sts, dc in flo 1 row below in next 5 sts, sc in blo in next 2 sts] repeat around.

Using CC,

Round 10: [sc in blo in next 4 sts, dc in flo 1 row below in next st, sc in blo in next 5 sts, DU over next 2 sts, sc in blo in next 3 sts, DD over next 2 sts, sc in blo in next st] repeat around.

Using MC,

Round 11: [dc in flo 1 row below in next 2 sts, DD over next 2 sts, sc in blo in next st, DU over next 2 sts, dc in flo 1 row below in next 4 sts, sc in blo in next st, dc in flo 1 row below in next 3 sts, sc in blo in next st, dc in flo 1 row below in next 2 sts] repeat around.

Using CC,

Round 12: [sc in blo in next 3 sts, dc in flo 1 row below in next st, sc in blo in next st, dc in flo 1 row below in next st, sc in blo in next 5 sts, DU over next 2 sts, sc in blo in next st, DD over next 2 sts, sc in blo in next 2 sts] repeat around.

Using MC,

Round 13: [dc in flo 1 row below in next st, DD over next 2 sts, sc in blo in next st, dc in flo 1 row below in next st, sc in blo in next st, DU over next 2 sts, dc in flo 1 row below in next 4 sts, sc in blo in next st, dc in flo 1 row below in next st, sc in blo in next st, dc in flo 1 row below in next 3 sts] repeat around.

Using CC,

Round 14: [sc in blo in next 2 sts, dc in flo 1 row below in next st, sc in blo in next 3 sts, dc in flo 1 row below in next st, sc in blo in next 5 sts, CD over next 3 sts, sc in blo in next 3 sts] repeat around.

Using MC,

Round 15: [DD over next 2 sts, sc in blo in next st, dc in flo 1 row below in next 3 sts, sc in blo in next st, DU over next 2 sts, dc in flo 1 row below in next 4 sts, sc in blo in next st, dc in flo 1 row below in next 4 sts] repeat around.

Using CC,

Round 16: [sc in blo in next st, {dc in flo 1 row below in next st, sc in blo in next 5 sts} twice, dc in flo 1 row below in next st, sc in blo in next 4 sts] repeat around.

Rounds 17-48 (32): Work repeating round 1- round 16 twice (once).

Fasten off MC.

 

Top Border

 

Using CC

Rounds 1-4: sc in blo around.

Fasten off CC.

Finishing

Weave in ends. Block using preferred method, if desired.

Questions or Comments? 

Please email me at info@mandobug.com if you need additional pattern support.

Share your finished object in the Mandobug Crafters Corner FB Group or on social media using @mandobug #skyshardmosaiccowl

Thank You!

Thank you for supporting me as a designer and a huge thank you to my tech editor Fiat Fiber Arts!