Missing Links Crochet Cowl

The Missing Links Cowl is a lovely combination of structure and drape. Stripes of regular double crochet add flexibility and texture on a grid-like field of linked stitches. Worked in the round with just 2 stitches, it’s a great weekend or travel project, and ideal for adventurous beginners. This cozy crochet cowl may be the missing link that ties your winter wardrobe together!

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Scarf and Hat of the Month Club

I designed this cowl for the 2026 Scarf and Hat of the Month Club crochet along (CAL). This year-long event is hosted by Rhondda from Oombawka Designs and Amy from The Stitchin Mommy. Follow along for 3 new scarf and 3 new hat patterns every month!

The other two scarf patterns this month are the Textured Rows Scarf by Rhondda and the October Harvest Cowl by Amy.

The matching Missing Links Hat will be out on October 25, 2026 for the Hat of the Month Club. Get both and make a set!

Free PDF with Coupon Code!

As part of the CAL, you can get the pdf version of this striped crochet scarf pattern for FREE on Ravelry with a coupon code! But hurry, this code is only valid for a short time and then it’s gone!

Coupon Code: OctoberCowl

Terms: This code expires at 11:59pm Eastern time on Monday, October 19, 2026. Please make sure the discount shows in your cart before completing checkout. Due to the fees involved, I cannot refund accidental purchases.

Premier Yarns Superwash Worsted Yarn

I made this crochet cowl with some leftover Superwash Worsted yarn that Annie’s Attic had sent me for a previous project. It’s a buttery soft wool that feels smooth and silky while working with it. It feels a bit on the light side of worsted, so may work up a bit smaller than other worsted yarns. The yarn comes in 2-packs on the Annie’s Attic site, which is more than enough to make both the cowl and the matching hat!

Linked Double Crochet

Linked double crochet stitches are the foundation of this pattern. Each stitch is linked to the stitch before it by connecting to the horizontal bar in the middle. Instead of starting the stitch with a yarn over, pull up a loop in the horizontal bar of the previous stitch, treat that loop as a yarn over, and finish your stitch like normal. For a closer look, see this Linked Double Crochet tutorial.

Invisible Joins

This crochet cowl uses 2 different invisible (or at least, less visible) joining techniques. Both techniques are commonly called invisible joins, but they work very differently. To distinguish between the 2 within the pattern, I have referred to the second technique as a finishing join.

The first technique joins the beginning and end of each round without using a slip stitch. This avoids the extra little bump of the slip stitch along the seam line.

The second type of join connects the beginning and end of the final round only, after fastening off. This join uses a tapestry needle to mimic the shape of the top of a stitch, creating a completely seamless top edge for the cowl.

Missing Links Cowl

Yarn weight and project level images source: Craft Yarn Council

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Project Level

Easy: Linked double crochet and regular double crochet stitches worked in the round.

Size

Circumference: 25″ / 37.5 cm

Height: 5.5″ / 13.5 cm

Gauge

In pattern: 12 ldc = 4″ / 10 cm after blocking, 9 rnds (7 ldc rnds and 2 dc rnds) = 4″ / 10 cm after blocking.

Abbreviations used

This pattern uses US terms.

Recommended Resources

• How to Crochet into the Back Bump of a Chain
• Linked Double Crochet (ldc)*
• Join Crochet Rounds Without a Slip Stitch (Invisible Join)
• Invisible Join for Crocheting in the Round (Finishing Join)

*In the Linked Double Crochet tutorial, the turning ch-3 is counted as the first st. In this pattern it is not.

Special Stitch / Techniques

Linked Double Crochet (ldc): Insert hook in 2nd ch of turning ch-3 (for first ldc of rnd) or in horizontal bar of previous ldc (for all remaining ldc), yo and pull up a loop, insert hook in next st, yo and pull up a loop, [yo and pull through 2 loops on hook] twice.

See this Linked Double Crochet tutorial for a closer look. Note that in the tutorial, the ch-3 counted as the first st, but in this pattern it does not.

Invisible Join: Remove working loop from hook. Insert hook from back to front through first st of rnd, place working loop back on hook and pull through from front to back. See this Joining Rounds tutorial for a closer look.

Finishing Join: This is used for the last rnd only and creates a seamless top edge with no joining bump. After fastening off, thread tail onto tapestry needle. Insert needle through both loops at top of first st of rnd and draw through. Insert needle down through center of last st of rnd and draw through. See this Invisible Join for Finishing Crochet in the Round tutorial for a closer look.

Instructions

The cowl is first joined at the end of Rnd 1, not at the starting chain. This makes it easier to join without twisting. This will leave a small gap at the bottom edge, which will be sewn shut at the end, using the tail.

All rnds are worked on the RS. Do not turn at the end of rnds.

There is no required stitch multiple for this pattern, so you can adjust the starting chain to any desired length. Adjusting size will affect yarn usage.

Ch 76.

Rnd 1: Sc in back bump of 2nd ch from hook and each ch across, join with invisible join (see Special Stitch / Techniques). (75 sts)

Rnds 2-4: Ch 3 (does not count as a st throughout), ldc in each st around, join with invisible join.

Rnd 5: Ch 2 (does not count as a st throughout), dc in each st around, join with invisible join.

Rnds 6-12: Rep Rnds 2-5, then rep Rnds 2-4 once more.

Rnd 13: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Fasten off, finish with finishing join (see Special Stitch / Techniques)

Optional Join/Seam Finishing

This covers up the visible line where the rnds of ldc were joined by creating the missing “link” between the first and last st of each rnd.

Thread a length of yarn at least 3 times the height of the cowl onto a tapestry needle. Secure yarn by weaving in a tail at either end of the join line. Sew horizontal bars between first and last st of each ldc rnd as follows: Bring needle up below horizontal bar of st on left side of join, and down above horizontal bar of st on right side of join. Repeat for each following ldc rnd. When crossing over a dc rnd, weave yarn through st at back of work to get to next ldc rnd.

Finishing

Since the first row of the cowl was worked into back bumps only, the remaining loops of the starting chain should form V-shapes that look like the tops of stitches. Using the starting tail, sew the bottom edge of the cowl closed with the finishing join technique, working through the V-shapes at the bottom edge as though they were tops of stitches.

Weave in all ends.

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I hope you enjoyed this crochet cowl pattern! A downloadable pdf of this pattern is available on Ravelry for a small fee.

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