Make a Sunny Crochet Lace Cowl With This Free Pattern

Updated: 8 October 2026 by Sylwia (MyCrochetory)

Meet my crochet lace cowl, the Sunny Lace Cowl!

I made it after a long run of warm shawls and blankets, when I suddenly wanted something light and airy instead. So I grabbed a skein of lace weight merino in ochre, my all-time favorite color, and started working on this long, lightweight lace infinity scarf.

And guess what? One skein is all you need, because the whole cowl takes only 40g of yarn. You work it flat in an easy two-row repeat, so after a few rows you’ll barely need to look at the pattern.

Once it’s long enough, you block it and sew the ends together into a loop. Then you can wear it long or wrap it twice around your neck. And because it weighs almost nothing, it’s great for cool summer evenings too!

Scroll down for the free crochet lace cowl pattern.

Want a printable version? Get the ad-free PDF with a stitch chart on Etsy or Ravelry.

How this lace infinity scarf is made

This lace infinity scarf is worked flat in rows, and then you sew it into a loop. The best news? After Row 1 you just repeat Rows 2 and 3 until your cowl is as long as you like.

Because the repeat is so simple, the pattern is a great pick for a confident beginner. You only need to know how to make chains, single crochet and double crochet.

When you finish the last row, don’t sew the loop just yet! Block your cowl first, because a long flat strip is so much easier to pin than a loop. This way the lace opens up evenly from one end to the other.

Malabrigo Lace is 100% merino, and I always wet block animal fibers. So I soak the cowl in water, stretch it gently, pin it to a mat and let it dry completely.

Once it’s dry, it’s time for the last step. Join the two short ends with mattress stitch, and you’ll get a flat, almost invisible seam. Nobody will ever guess where your loop starts!

Why I love crocheting with lace weight yarn

I love crocheting with lace weight yarn, even though it has a bit of a scary reputation! And I totally get why. It’s as thin as thread, and with a tiny 2.5 mm hook each row adds only about a quarter of an inch.

But for me, that’s exactly what makes it so satisfying. Every single row counts, so finishing a whole crochet lace cowl feels like a real win. Then you block it, the lace opens up, and suddenly all those tiny stitches make sense!

How to change the size of your lace cowl

My cowl is about 62 inches long before seaming and 7 inches wide, but you can easily make yours bigger. For a wider cowl, add more stitches to your starting chain in multiples of 18. Every extra 18 stitches gives you about 2 more inches of width.

Want it longer instead? Just keep repeating Rows 2 and 3, because every 16 rows add about 4 inches. That makes it super easy to plan the exact length you want.

Just keep an eye on your yarn while you add rows. The original size leaves you about 10 g (around 90 yards) from one skein, so there’s room for some extra length. A wider cowl, though, will need a second skein.

Two ways to wear your crochet lace cowl

You can wear your crochet lace cowl in two ways, and you can switch whenever you like. Wear it long, and the loop hangs all the way down to your hips. This way, you can see the whole lace pattern from top to bottom.

Want a warmer look? Then wrap it twice around your neck for a shorter, fuller cowl. The double layer of lace gives you a bit more warmth, but it still feels light and airy.

And here’s a little styling tip from my photos. The bright ochre color really pops against a simple black top, so it’s an easy way to add some color to your outfit!

Crochet lace cowl FAQ

Can I use a different yarn weight for this crochet lace cowl?
Yes, you can! Fingering weight yarn works great too, just pick a bigger hook to keep the lace open. Your cowl will come out wider and longer, so plan for more yarn than one skein of lace weight.

Is this lace cowl pattern good for beginners?
It’s a Beginner + pattern, so it’s a great next step once you know the basic crochet stitches. The two-row repeat is easy to remember. The only tricky part is the thin yarn, so give yourself a few rows to get used to it.

Can I make a regular scarf instead of an infinity scarf?
Of course! Just skip the seaming at the end. You’ll get a long, light lace scarf, about 62 inches long, that you can wrap or knot any way you like.

Why does my cowl look crumpled before blocking?
Don’t worry, that’s totally normal with lace! Thin yarn and open stitches always look a bit messy straight off the hook. Blocking stretches the lace and opens up every hole, so wait for it before you judge your work.

Ready to grab your hook and that skein of lace yarn? Then let’s make your crochet lace cowl! Just pin this pattern first, so you can find it again whenever you need it.

And when you finish, I’d love to see your cowl! Share it on Instagram with #mycrochetory and #sunnylacecowl, so I can find it and cheer you on.

Free crochet lace cowl pattern (Sunny Lace Cowl)

• Purchase the ad-free, printable PDF with a stitch chart here on Etsy or here on Ravelry.
• Add this pattern to your Ravelry Queue HERE.
• Pin it for later.

Copyright 2018–2026 MyCrochetory. All rights reserved. This pattern is property of Sylwia Kawczyńska @MyCrochetory. Please DO NOT sell the pattern and claim this pattern as your own. The pattern is for personal use only and may not be translated or reproduced in another language. Please respect my rights, DO NOT share or publish this pattern anywhere without my permission.

The crochet lace cowly ou make following this pattern is yours, and you are free to sell it, as long as you credit MyCrochetory as the original designer. For more information, please read the Terms Page.

As a bonus I have included a stitch chart in the ad-free, printable PDF crochet pattern for anyone who wants to support my work and purchase this crochet pattern HERE on ETSY or HERE on Ravelry.

Materials & tools

1. Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Lace 50g = 430m (470 yd), 100% Wool – Baby Merino, 1 skein. Total use 40g. For the cowl sample I used Frank Ochre colorway.
2. Hook size 2.5 mm. Adjust hook size if necessary to obtain correct gauge.
3. Tapestry needle (to weave in yarn ends and to seam).
4. Scissors.

Level

Beginner +

Gauge after blocking

After 16 rows the cowl is approx. 10 cm/4 in long.

Gauge is not important for this project. However, changes might result in different yardage requirements and a different finished size.

Size after blocking

158 cm/62 in long (before seaming into a loop), 18 cm/7 in wide.

Notes

• The pattern uses US terminology.
• The cowl is worked flat and seamed to create a loop.
• Ch1 and ch3 at the beginning of each row do not count as stitches (except the ch3 in Row 1), so the first single crochet or double crochet of each row is made in the last stitch of the previous row.
• To increase the width of this cowl, add multiples of 18 stitches.
• To increase the length of this cowl, add more rows.

Stitches & abbreviations (US terms)

• ch – chain stitch
• tch – turning chain stitch (doesn’t count as a sc)
• tch3 – turning 3 chains stitch (doesn’t count as a dc)
• st(s) – stitch(es)
• sc – single crochet
• dc – double crochet
• rep – repeat

Instructions in square brackets […] are worked as many times as indicated.

Pattern

Chain 60.

Row 1: dc in 5th ch from hook (the tch3 at the beginning of this row works as the first dc, in this row only), dc in next ch, [ch3, skip 2ch, sc in next ch, ch5, skip 3ch, sc in next 3ch, ch5, skip 3ch, sc in next ch, ch3, skip 2ch, dc in next 3ch] rep 3 times in total. Turn. (11dc and tch3, 15sc, 6 ch-3 spaces and 6 ch-5 spaces)

Row 2: tch1 (doesn’t count as a sc here and throughout), sc in 3dc, [ch5, sc in ch-5 space, ch3, dc in 3sc, ch3, sc in ch-5 space, ch5, sc in 3dc] rep 3 times in total. Turn. (9dc, 18sc, 6 ch-3 spaces and 6 ch-5 spaces)

Row 3: tch3 (doesn’t count as a dc here and throughout), dc in 3sc, [ch3, sc in ch-5 space, ch5, sc in 3dc, ch5, sc in ch-5 space, ch3, dc in 3sc] rep 3 times in total. Turn. (12dc, 15sc, 6 ch-3 spaces and 6 ch-5 spaces)

Repeat Rows 2–3 until Row 244 or desired length.

Fasten off yarn, weave in all ends and block your cowl. Then seam the two short ends with mattress stitch to create a loop.

If you have any suggestions or have found any mistakes, please feel free to email me at mycrochetory@gmail.com.

Got stuck on a row, or want to show off your finished cowl? Come say hi in my Facebook Group or Ravelry Group, where crocheters help each other every day.

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More free crochet infinity scarf patterns

Loved making a loop? Here are three more free infinity scarf patterns, each with a very different look.

• Valentina Infinity Scarf. Brand new to crochet? Valentina uses just single and double crochet in a one-row repeat, so it’s super easy to learn. It’s made with worsted weight yarn, so it grows fast and feels warm.
• Havra Infinity Scarf. Want something bold? Havra has a chevron lace pattern in six striped colors. Just like Sunny, it’s worked flat and then sewn into a loop.
• Lilac Moebius Cowl. Here’s a loop with a twist, literally! Lilac is a moebius cowl with a knit-look texture made with half double crochet.

More lace crochet patterns

Caught the lace bug? These three patterns are a great next step after your cowl, with bigger lace designs to play with.

• Greta Lace Shawl. Still have lace weight yarn in your stash? Greta is a light triangle shawl made with lace weight yarn, with lacy clusters all over.
• Nightfall Shawl. Nightfall is one of my most popular lace shawls. It’s a big triangle, about 83 inches wide, made with a soft silk and alpaca yarn.
• Meadow Lace Shrug. Ready to wear lace on your shoulders? Meadow is one big lacy rectangle that you fold and sew into a shrug, with no shaping at all. It’s made with cotton yarn, so it’s light enough for summer, just like your cowl.

Looking for more? Browse all my free crochet cowl patterns.

So, which color are you picking for your Sunny Lace Cowl? Tell me in the comments! And if any row gives you trouble, ask me there too, so the next person with the same question finds the answer right away.