Category Archives: 2025

The Favorite Things Cowl Pattern

Posted in April 2025, The Favorite Things Cowl by


Change is inevitable, whether we want it or not, and embracing it allows us to move forward with enthusiasm. Whenever I face challenges in decision-making, thinking about my favorite activities brings me joy. I like exploring the yarn aisles at arts and craft stores and choosing beautiful yarn. Spending time knitting or crocheting is also a favorite thing of mine. While it’s true that Jo-Ann stores are closing, I will cherish the memories of browsing their colorful yarn selections. I’ve created some wonderful patterns using Jo-Ann yarns, like The Long Striped Crochet Scarf and The Unexpected Find Wrap. I, of course, had to stock up on some Jo-Ann store-brand yarn before the store closes. Every time I knit or crochet with these yarns, I will fondly remember the joy of exploring their yarn aisles.

The Favorite Things Cowls are bandana-style cowls crocheted flat with a variation of the crochet moss stitch pattern. One uses K + C yarn and the other uses Loops and Threads yarn. Both start with a chain of 2 and are increased every other row to form a triangle. The cowl lengths are then extended without any row increases. One cowl is extended over 2 inches long, and the other over 3 inches. The edges of the extended section are joined, and a fringe is added at the end. These cowls are quick one-skein projects, perfect for keeping the neck warm and cozy.

The Favorite Things Cowl Pattern

Materials Needed:
Yarn: Cowl 1 – K + C Botanical yarn in Colorway: Feather Gray (one skein of yarn from Jo-Ann store)
Yarn: Cowl 2 – Loops and Threads® Luxe Merino™ Wool Blend Colorway: Raindrops
Gauge: 4.0 stitches per inch for Favorite Things Cowl 1 and Favorite Things Cowl 2 in the variation crochet moss stitch pattern (gauge not necessary)
Crochet hook: US size H-8 (5.00 mm) for Favorite Things Cowl 1 and US size 7 (4.5 mm) for the Favorite Things Cowl 2
Tapestry needle to weave in ends

Abbreviations:
sc: single crochet (Tutorial Series: How to Single Crochet)
[…]: pattern repeat
Skill Level: Beginner friendly pattern with single crochet and crochet chains

The Favorite Things Cowl Pattern (images and text for personal use only)

Crochet Foundation Chain:

For Favorite Things Cowl 1: Chain 2 using the US size H-8 (5.00 mm) and K + C Botanical yarn
For Favorite Things Cowl 2: Chain 2 using the US size 7 (4.5 mm) and Loops and Threads® Luxe Merino™ Wool Blend

Increase Section:

  • Row 1 (RS): Single crochet, chain 1 in the second foundation chain stitch from the crochet hook, sc, chain 1 again in the same second stitch and turn
  • Row 2 (WS): Single crochet in the second stitch from the crochet hook, chain 1, skip a stitch and sc in the last stitch, chain 1 and turn (4 stitches)
  • Row 3 (RS): Single crochet in the second stitch from the crochet hook, chain 1, sc in the same stitch again, chain 1, skip a stitch, and sc in the last stitch, chain 1, sc in the same last stitch again, chain 1 and turn 
  • Row 4 (WS): Single crochet in the second stitch from the crochet hook, chain 1, [skip a stitch, sc in the next stitch, chain 1], repeat […] till the last stitch, sc in the last stitch, chain 1 and turn (8 stitches)
  • Row 5 (RS): Single crochet in the second stitch from the crochet hook, chain 1, sc in the same stitch again, chain 1, [skip a stitch, sc in the next stitch, chain 1], repeat […] till the last stitch of the row, sc in the last stitch, chain 1, sc again in the same last stitch, chain 1 and turn 
  • Row 6 (WS): Single crochet in the second stitch from the crochet hook, chain 1, [skip a stitch, sc in the next stitch, chain 1], repeat […] till the last stitch, sc in the last stitch, chain 1 and turn (12 stitches)

Repeat Rows 5 and 6 till the cowl is wide enough to fit around the neck with some positive ease. For both cowls I repeated the rows till I reached 92 stitches (Cowl 1 is between 26 – 27 inches and Cowl 2 is between 22 to 23 inches after blocking)

Cowl Length Extended:

  • Row 1 (RS): Single crochet in the second stitch from the crochet hook, chain 1, [skip a stitch, sc in the next stitch, chain 1], repeat […] till the last stitch, sc in the last stitch, chain 1, and turn

Repeat Row 1 till the preferred length reached. Cowl 1 is a little over 3 inches and Cowl 2 is a little over 2 inches.

Joining the Extended Section:
For Cowl 1, I used size H-8 (5.00 mm) crochet hook and the zig zag crochet slip stitch method to join the two edges. For Cowl 2, I just seamed the two edges together with a tapestry needle.

Weave in the ends, wash and block the Favorite Things Cowls

Optional: Add a fringe of preferred length to the foundation chain edge

Continue reading →

The February 2025 Earwarmer Pattern

Posted in March 2025, The February 2025 Earwarmer Pattern by
February 2025 Earwarmer 1
February 2025 Earwarmer 2


Hello folks, it’s been a while since my last pattern post. A bad case of the flu at the end of January, the passing of my adorable pet dog in mid-February, and other personal issues needed my time. I started working on the February 2025 Earwarmer crochet pattern a few days before my beloved dog passed away. I am grateful that my knitting and crocheting hobby gave me much-needed comfort. It supported me during this difficult period of grief and reflection. I am also thankful to all the readers and subscribers of this blog. I appreciate the knitting and crocheting community for their support and understanding.

The February 2025 Earwarmer is crocheted flat and then the two ends are joined together with slip stitch crochet. The construction of this Earwarmer pattern is comparable to the “Goes with Everything Earwarmer” knitted version. It starts with a chain of eight stitches and ribbing. Then, it goes through a series of increases and length extension. It ends with a series of decreases and ribbing. The two ends are then joined together with a slip stitch crochet. A variation of the crochet moss stitch pattern is used for both earwarmers. February 2025 Earwarmer 1 is made with a cotton blend yarn and measures about 4.5 inches x 20 inches. February 2025 Earwarmer 2 is made with a merino wool blend yarn and measures about 4 inches x 19 inches.

The February 2025 Earwarmer Pattern

Materials Needed:
Yarn: Earwarmer 1 – Caron Blossom Cakes® yarn in Colorway: Bark
Yarn: Earwarmer 2 – Loops and Threads® Luxe Merino™ Wool Blend Colorway: Raindrops
Gauge: 5.5 stitches per inch for Earwarmer 1 and 5.0 stitches per inch for Earwarmer 2 in the variation crochet moss stitch pattern
Crochet hook: US size H-8 (5.00 mm) for February 2025 Earwarmer 1 and US size 7 (4.5 mm) for the February 2025 Earwarmer 2
Tapestry needle to weave in ends

Abbreviations:
sc: single crochet (Tutorial Series: How to Single Crochet)
scbl: single crochet in the back loop (insert crochet hook in the back strand of the stitch only)
[…]: pattern repeat
Skill Level: Beginner friendly pattern with single crochet, single crochet in the back loop, and crochet slip stitch)

The February 2025 Earwarmer Pattern (text and images for personal use only)

The February 2025 Earwarmer pattern is made up of the following sections:

      • Foundation Chain 
      • Ribbing
      • Increase
      • Length Extension
      • Decrease
      • Ribbing
      • Joining of the foundation row and the last (bind off) rows

Foundation Chain:

For February 2025 Earwarmer 1: Chain 8 stitches using crochet hook size H-8 (5.00 mm)
For February 2025 Earwarmer 2: Chain 8 stitches using crochet hook size 7 (4.50 mm)

Foundation Chain Set up and Ribbing Section:

  • Row 1 (RS): Skip the first stitch, [single crochet the purl bump in the back the next stitch], repeat […] till the last stitch, sc the purl bump in the back of the last stitch (on the slip knot side), chain 1 and turn

  • Row 2 (WS): Skip the first stitch, sc under both strands of the next stitch, [scbl (single crochet in the back loop) in the next stitch], repeat […] till the last stitch, sc under both strands of the the last stitch, chain 1 and turn 
  • Row 3 (RS): Repeat Row 2
  • Row 4 (WS): Repeat Row 2
  • Row 5: Repeat Row 2
  • Row 6: Repeat Row 2
  • Row 7: Repeat Row 2
  • Row 8: Repeat Row 2

Increase Section:

  • Row 9 (RS): Skip the first stitch and sc in the next stitch, chain 1 and sc again in the same stitch, chain 1, [skip a stitch, sc in the next next stitch, chain1], repeat […] till 2 stitches left, sc in the last stitch, chain 1, sc again in the same stitch, chain 1 and turn
  • Row 10 (WS): [Skip the first stitch, sc in the next stitch, chain 1], repeat […] till the last stitch, sc in the last stitch, chain 1 and turn – 12 stitches
  • Row 11 (RS): Repeat Row 9
  • Row 12 (WS): Repeat Row 10 – 16 stitches
  • Row 13 (RS): Repeat Row 9
  • Row 14 (WS): Repeat Row 10 – 20 stitches
  • Row 15 (RS): Repeat Row 9
  • Row 16 (WS): Repeat Row 10 – 24 stitches 

Customization Option: Repeat Rows 9 and 10 to increase the number of stitches to preferred size

Length Extension Section:

  • Row 17 (RS): [Skip the first stitch and sc in the next stitch, chain 1], repeat […] till 2 stitches left, sc in the last stitch, chain 1, and turn
  • Row 18 (WS): Repeat Row 17

Repeat Rows 17 and 18 till preferred length reached. The length extension for Earwarmer 1 is about 12 inches and for Earwarmer 2 it’s almost 11.5 inches

Decrease Section:

  • Decrease Section Row 1 (RS): Skip the first stitch, insert crochet hook into the next stitch, yarn over and pull the loop under and through that stitch (there are 2 loops on the crochet hook), skip a stitch and insert hook in the next stitch (4th stitch from the beginning), yarn over and pull the loop under and through that stitch (three loops on the hook now), yarn over and pull loop through the three loops on the hook, chain 1, [skip a stitch, sc in the next stitch, chain 1], repeat […] till 4 stitches left, insert crochet hook into the next stitch, yarn over and pull the loop under and through that stitch (there are 2 loops on the crochet hook), skip a stitch and insert hook in the last stitch, yarn over and pull the loop under and through that stitch (three loops on the hook), yarn over and pull loop through the three loops on the hook, chain 1 and turn
  • Decrease Section Row 2 (WS): [Skip the first stitch and sc in the next stitch, chain 1], repeat […] till 2 stitches left, sc in the last stitch, chain 1, and turn – 20 stitches left
  • Decrease Section Row 3 (RS): Repeat Decrease Section Row 1
  • Decrease Section Row 4 (WS): Repeat Decrease Section Row 2 – 16 stitches left
  • Decrease Section Row 5 (RS): Repeat Decrease Section Row 1
  • Decrease Section Row 6 (WS): Repeat Decrease Section Row 2 – 12 stitches left
  • Decrease Section Row 7 (RS): Repeat Decrease Section Row 1
  • Decrease Section Row 8 (WS): Repeat Decrease Section Row 2 – 8 stitches left

Customization Option: Repeat Decrease Section Rows 1 and 2 if there are more than 24 stitches 

Ribbing Section:

  • Decrease Section Row 9 (RS): Skip the first stitch, sc under both strands of the next stitch, [scbl (single crochet in the back loop) in the next stitch], repeat […] till the last stitch, sc under both strands of the the last stitch, chain 1 and turn 
  • Decrease Section Row 10 (WS): Repeat Decrease Section Row 1
  • Decrease Section Row 11 (RS): Repeat Decrease Section Row 1
  • Decrease Section Row 12 (WS): Repeat Decrease Section Row 1
  • Decrease Section Row 13 (RS): Repeat Decrease Section Row 1
  • Decrease Section Row 14 (WS): Repeat Decrease Section Row 1
  • Decrease Section Row 15 (RS): Repeat Decrease Section Row 1
  • Decrease Section Row 16 (WS): Repeat Decrease Section Row 1

The finished pieces:

Crochet Slip Stitch Join of the Last (Bind-off) and the Foundation Rows:

The earwarmer pattern is reversible so either sides can be used for joining. As in the image above, insert the crochet hook into the first stitch of the foundation row first, then insert it into the last stitch of the last (bind off) row, yarn over and pull the loop through both stitches for a slip stitch join, repeat to the last stitches of both ends and pull yarn through (see video below)

The joined foundation and last row of the earwarmers:

Weave in the ends, wash and block the February 2025 Earwarmers

Comment below if you also find knitting and crocheting therapeutic?

Keep on knitting and crocheting!

~coffeeteaknits.com

© 2025 Coffee Tea Knits. All text and images for personal use only. All Rights Reserved.

Tutorial Series: Slip Slip Knit (SSK)

Posted in 2025, Slip Slip Knit, Tutorial Series by

Another way to decrease a stitch in knitting is to do a “Slip Slip Knit (SSK)”. In SSK, a stitch is decreased when two stitches are slipped and then knit together through the back loop. Decreasing stitches like increasing stitches are techniques in knitting used to give shape to knitted items. Unlike K2tog (Tutorial Series: K2tog and P2tog) technique which forms a right-leaning decrease, SSK technique forms a left-leaning decrease. The written instructions and video below show how to decrease one stitch for right handed knitting.

Slip Slip Knit (SSK):


The Steps for Slip Slip Knit (SSK):

  1. Slip the first two stitches knitwise (one at a time) on the left knitting needle to the right knitting needle
  2. Transfer the two slipped stitches (one at a time) now on the right knitting needle back to the left knitting needle
  3. Insert the right knitting needle through the back loop of those two slipped stitches on the left knitting needle
  4. Knit (Tutorial Series: Knit and Tink) the two stitches together through the back loop (one stitch decreased)
  5. Repeat steps 1 to 4 as needed for a knitting pattern

~coffeeteaknits.com

© 2025 Coffee Tea Knits. All text and images for personal use only. All Rights Reserved.

Tutorial Series: The Provisional Cast-On Method

Posted in January 2025, The Provisional Cast-On Method by

The provisional cast-on is a temporary cast on method. With this technique, the “live” stitches on the waste yarn are picked up later. They are then knit in the opposite direction. A common way to make a provisional cast on is to make a crochet chain from waste yarn first. Then, with the project yarn, make stitches using the purl bumps of the crochet chain. Later, remove the crochet chain waste yarn by picking up the “live” stitches and knitting them in the opposite direction. For example, I use provisional cast on to start a top down sweater. Once the body of the sweater is finished, I pick up the “live” stitches. Then, I knit the collar in the opposite direction. There are several different kinds of knitting projects that use the provisional cast on method. The written instructions and video on how to do the provisional cast on is shown below for right handed knitting.

The Provisional Cast-On Method:


The Provisional Cast-On Stitches:


The Steps for the Provisional Cast-On Method:

  1. Using a waste yarn (or a yarn different from the knitting project yarn), make a crochet chain (Tutorial Series: How to Crochet Chain) with the number of stitches specific for a project
  2. [Tip: chain a few extra stitches than needed for the project]
  3. Turn the crochet chain so that the purl bumps are facing you (image below)
  4. Insert a knitting needle into the purl bump (image below)
  5. Make a loop with the project yarn and slide it onto the knitting needle
  6. Tighten and secure the project (working) yarn as needed
  7. Bring the project yarn loop through the purl bump and onto the needle
  8. Insert the knitting needle into the next purl bump
  9. Bring the project (working) yarn around the knitting needle (counterclockwise), catch and pull the yarn loop through the purl bump and onto the needle
  10. Repeat Steps 8 and 9 till you have all the stitches needed for a knitting project

~coffeeteaknits.com

© 2025 Coffee Tea Knits. All text and images for personal use only. All Rights Reserved.