The Herringbone Cowl, a Beautiful Crochet Neck Warmer in Alpaca

Updated: 11 November 2026 by Sylwia (MyCrochetory)

This herringbone cowl is my favorite stitch worked in beige alpaca. The fabric is thick and warm, and the cowl is tall enough to pull up over your nose on a cold day.

There’s no shaping in it at all. You work one long strip of herringbone, sew the short ends together, and the cowl is ready to wear.

Jump to the free Herringbone Cowl pattern. Prefer to print it? Grab the ad-free PDF, with a stitch tracker to tick off your rows, on Etsy or Ravelry.

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Why I made a herringbone cowl

Of all the stitches I know, herringbone is the one I keep coming back to, and a cowl shows it all the way around. Every row is a line of small slanted stitches, and the rows switch direction, so the texture looks almost woven.

This cowl was my very first herringbone pattern on the blog. After it came the Diana Shawl, then a headband, a hat, a drawstring bag and a coaster, so herringbone clearly stayed with me.

A herringbone cowl in warm alpaca

I made my herringbone cowl in DROPS Puna, a 100% alpaca DK yarn, in the colorway Beige. It’s warm and light, and it shows every stitch of the herringbone clearly.

I still recommend Puna for this cowl, and you’ll need 5 balls, about 600 yards. Just know that it’s a little prickly, so if your neck is sensitive, go for a merino or a merino blend instead.

I wet block this cowl, because alpaca relaxes a lot in water. I block the flat piece before seaming, so the rows line up and the seam is easier to sew.

Other yarns for your herringbone cowl

If you want a different yarn, look for a smooth DK in a soft fiber, like merino, alpaca or a blend of the two. Smooth yarn shows each slanted stitch, while very fuzzy yarn hides the texture.

Solid and semi-solid colors show the texture best. Hand-dyed yarn works too, but the zigzag looks softer, so make a swatch before you buy all 5 balls.

Whatever you pick, check your gauge after blocking. Herringbone in a different fiber can come out a bit bigger or smaller than mine.

Yarn substitutes

Can’t get DROPS Puna, or want something softer on your neck? Malabrigo Arroyo is a superwash merino with 335 yards in a 100 g skein, so 2 skeins cover the whole cowl.

Arroyo is a light DK, a little thinner than Puna. Make a swatch first, and go up a hook size if your stitches come out too small.

How the herringbone cowl is made

The herringbone cowl is worked flat, so there’s no joining in the round. You work it sideways, which means the starting chain sets the height and every row adds to the length around your neck.

When the piece is long enough, block it and sew the last row to the first one. The mattress stitch works well here, because the seam is almost invisible.

To make it taller, add 2 chains for about 3/8 inch of height. To make it roomier, add 14 rows for about 4 inches around.

How hard is this herringbone cowl?

The pattern is marked intermediate only because of the herringbone stitch itself. Once you know it, the cowl is the same two rows on repeat.

If it’s your first time with herringbone, keep my herringbone crochet stitch tutorial open next to you. It has a photo for every step and a video.

Count your stitches now and then, because one missing stitch shows in this texture. Every row has 86 stitches, so check the count at the end of a row.

Not starting yet? Pin this herringbone cowl to your Pinterest board, so it’s easy to find later.

Free herringbone cowl pattern

• Get the ad-free, printable PDF on Etsy or Ravelry.
• Add this pattern to your Ravelry queue.
• Pin it for later.

Copyright 2021–2026 MyCrochetory. All rights reserved. This pattern is the property of Sylwia Kawczyńska @MyCrochetory. Please DO NOT sell the pattern or claim it as your own. The pattern is for personal use only and may not be translated or reproduced in another language. Please respect my rights, and DO NOT share or publish this pattern anywhere without my permission.

The herringbone cowl you 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.

Materials & tools

• Yarn: DK weight yarn, about 550 m (601 yd). Shown in DROPS Puna (100% alpaca, 50 g = 110 m / 120 yd), colorway Beige, 5 skeins. Substitute: Malabrigo Arroyo (100% superwash merino, 100 g = 306 m / 335 yd), 2 skeins.
• Hook: 5 mm (US H-8). Adjust the hook size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.
• Notions: tapestry needle, scissors.

Level

Intermediate, because of the herringbone crochet stitch. The rows themselves are easy.

Size after blocking

One size, adjustable: 43 cm (17″) high and 64.25 cm (25.25″) around.

Gauge after blocking

20 sts × 14 rows = 10 × 10 cm (4 × 4″) in herringbone stitch. Block your swatch the same way you will block your cowl before you measure.

Notes

• The pattern uses US terms.
• The cowl is worked flat, in rows back and forth, and seamed at the end.
• The ch 1 at the beginning of each row does not count as a stitch.
• The chain sets the height of the cowl and the rows set the circumference. Each extra 2 chains add about 1 cm (⅜″) of height, and each 14 rows add about 10 cm (4″) around.
• Any change to the size changes the yardage, too.
• New to the herringbone stitch? My herringbone crochet stitch tutorial shows every step.

Stitches & abbreviations (US terms)

• ch – chain
• st(s) – stitch(es)
• sc – single crochet
• yo – yarn over
• rep – repeat
• RS – right side
• WS – wrong side
• Hsc (herringbone single crochet, worked on RS) – insert hook in the left leg of the previous st, then in both loops of the next st from front to back, yo and pull up a loop, yo and pull through all 3 loops on the hook.
• RHsc (herringbone single crochet, worked on WS) – insert hook in the left leg of the previous st, then in both loops of the next st from back to front, yo and pull up a loop, yo and pull through all 3 loops on the hook.

Pattern

Read all Notes before you start.

Foundation: Ch 87. You can make any number of chains for a higher or lower cowl.

Row 1 (RS): Sc in the 2nd ch from the hook, working in the back bump of the ch, [insert your hook in the left leg of the previous st, then in the back bump of the next ch, yo and pull up a loop, yo and pull through all 3 loops on the hook] rep to end. Turn. (86 sts)

Row 2 (WS): Ch 1 (doesn’t count as a st here and throughout), sc in the first st, inserting the hook from back to front, RHsc to end. Turn. (86 sts)

Row 3 (RS): Ch 1, sc in the first st, inserting the hook from front to back, Hsc to end. Turn. (86 sts)

Rows 4–90: Rep Rows 2–3 until your work is about 64.25 cm (25.25″) long, ending with a Row 2. (86 sts in every row)

Finishing

Fasten off and weave in all ends. Block the piece, then seam the last row to the foundation edge to make a tube. Use your favorite seam, or the mattress stitch.

To change	Do this	Each step adds
Height	2 more chains	1 cm (⅜″)
Circumference	14 more rows	10 cm (4″)

Finished your cowl? I’d love to see it, so share it on Instagram with #mycrochetory and tag @mycrochetory.

Stuck on a row or found a mistake? Ask in my Facebook Group or Ravelry Group, or email me at mycrochetory@gmail.com.

More free herringbone patterns

Fell for the stitch? These patterns of mine are all herringbone too.

• Diana Herringbone Shawl. The big tip-to-tip triangle that came right after this cowl.
• Siri Herringbone Hat. My favorite hat design, worked flat and seamed, with a pom pom.
• Twisted Herringbone Headband. One ball of yarn and a twist at the front.
• Herringbone Drawstring Bag. A small cotton bag with embroidered daisies.
• Round Crochet Coaster. A quick herringbone coaster for your table.

More crochet cowl patterns

Building a cowl collection? These are all my designs and free on the blog.

• October Cowl. My first crochet cable design, a great first try at cables.
• Greus Cowl. An asymmetric cowl in moss stitch.
• Namari Mosaic Cowl. Two colors of mosaic worked in the round.
• Duende Cowl. A mosaic cowl that matches the Duende Hat.
• Ombre Moss Stitch Cowl. Soft moss stitch with a gentle color fade.

Herringbone cowl FAQ

Why does my herringbone cowl look different on the inside?

That’s normal. The outside shows the diagonal texture and the inside shows straight ridges, so seam it with the textured side facing out.

Can I make it longer, like an infinity scarf?

Yes. Keep adding rows until it’s long enough to loop twice around your neck, and plan extra yarn for every 4 inches you add.

Is the herringbone cowl unisex?

Yes. A neutral color and a simple shape suit anyone, which makes this crochet neck warmer an easy gift.