Midnight Garden Tapestry Cowl

Use your pink, purple and black medium (4) acrylic yarn to make a dark, graphic tapestry cowl that combines skull and butterfly motifs without stripes. This is tapestry crochet worked in joined rounds so you can use all three colors in the same round and carry floats on the inside for a clean look.

Materials

• Yarn: Worsted/Medium (Category 4) acrylic. Suggested amounts (adjust to your stash and final size): Black 200 yd (183 m), Pink 80 yd (73 m), Purple 80 yd (73 m). Total approx 360 yd (329 m).
• Crochet hook: US I-9 (5.5 mm); UK (old) 5.5 mm; Metric 5.5 mm. (If you prefer a tighter fabric use 5.0 mm; for a looser, drapier fabric try 6.0 mm.)
• Notions: tapestry needle, stitch marker, scissors, optional small bobbins or clothespins to manage multiple active color ends, scrap yarn for provisional marker.

Finished measurements

Approx 24 in (61 cm) circumference unstretched and 10 in (25 cm) height. Because tapestry crochet fabric is dense you can stretch circumference up to 28 in comfortably. To change size, alter foundation chain in multiples as described in Structure and Stitch Counts.

Gauge

With 5.5 mm hook in single crochet tapestry: 13 sc x 14 rounds = 4 in (10 cm). Always make a gauge swatch; adjust hook size to match gauge if you want the shown finished size.

Abbreviations

sc single crochet, ch chain, st stitch, sl st slip stitch, RS right side, WS wrong side.

Notes & technique overview

This pattern uses tapestry single crochet worked in joined rounds. You will carry unused colors along the inside of the cowl as floats. Read the color chart/row sequence right-to-left on every round because each round is worked in the same direction. Trap floats every 4 to 6 stitches by crocheting over the carried yarn when possible. When changing colors twist the new yarn around the last loop of the old yarn to prevent holes. Small bobbins or short lengths of yarn make three-color rows much easier to manage. If an unused color needs to span more than 6-8 sts, consider cutting and rejoining on the WS.

Structure & stitch counts

Default circumference is 120 stitches, a value chosen so motif panels fit neatly. Motif sizes used in this pattern: Skull panel 22 stitches wide x 18 rounds tall; Butterfly panel 20 stitches wide x 18 rounds tall. Chart height for this cowl = 18 rounds; to make a taller cowl repeat vertical chart rounds or add a solid-color band.

Layout around the 120-st foundation (one full round = 120 sc): Skull 22 sts + spacer 9 sts + Butterfly 20 sts + spacer 9 sts + Skull 22 sts + spacer 9 sts + Butterfly 20 sts + spacer 9 sts = 120 sts. This equals 2 skulls and 2 butterflies arranged evenly; you can move panels or add extra spacers if you adjust total circumference.

Foundation

With Black, ch 120. Take care not to twist the chain and join to first ch with a sl st. Option: ch 121 and join then work 1 round of sc in back bumps only to create a neat edge. Place a stitch marker in round start and move it each round.

How to read the motif charts

Each square on your chart = one sc worked in that color. Charts are read from right-to-left for every round. Round 1 is the first round of colorwork after the foundation. The chart height is 18 rounds; repeat those rounds vertically if you want a taller cowl. Use graph paper or a digital charting tool to map each 18-round motif in the stitch widths given above.

Working tapestry single crochet

1. Insert hook into the specified st, yarn over and pull up a loop (you now have two loops on the hook).
2. Change color if required before finishing the stitch: drop the old color behind your work and pick up the new color, completing the sc with the new color. This traps the float behind the stitch.
3. Carry unused colors loosely along the inside. If you are carrying multiple colors across long stretches, loop them into a small yarn bobbin or secure with a clothespin, and trap the floats under sc every 4 to 6 sts.
4. When changing from Color A to Color B and then back to Color A within a short distance, do not cut A; bring it along as a float. If floats exceed 6-8 sts, cut and rejoin on WS.

Color suggestions

Use black as the dominant background to keep a dark aesthetic. Work skull features in pink with purple shadowing or vice versa. For high contrast, use pink for skull highlights and purple for butterfly wings against black.

Pattern: Round-by-round overview

The cowl is worked in 18 rounds of charted colorwork for one vertical repeat. Repeat Rounds 1-18 until piece reaches 10 in (approx 18 rounds = 10 in with gauge above). Then work a finishing round and border.

Round 1 (establish)

With Black, sc in each st around (120 sc). Join. This creates a base round and evens tension for chart reading. Place marker at start.

Rounds 2-19 (chart repeat rounds 1-18)

Work using your skull and butterfly charts in the layout given under Structure & stitch counts. Example mapping for one 18-round vertical repeat: Round 2 you will begin the first chart row at the marked start. For each stitch follow chart color. Keep floats tidy. At the end of Round 19 you will have completed one full 18-round charted band.

Repeat

Repeat Rounds 2-19 until the cowl reaches your desired height. For the sample height stop after completing 18 rounds total (one chart band) or repeat for a taller cowl.

Finishing

1. After last chart round, work one round of sc in Black to even the top edge.
2. Fasten off, leaving a 12 in tail for weaving. Weave in all tails on the WS using a tapestry needle. Weave each color separately and bury carried floats every few inches to secure.
3. Optionally add a single crochet round in Black around both raw edges for stability: sc evenly around the top and bottom edges, join with sl st, fasten off.
4. Block very lightly if needed. Acrylic doesn’t block open but a light steam will even stitches; do not over-heat.

Charting tips for skulls and butterflies

Skull motif, suggested width 22 sts and height 18 rounds. Center the skull vertically and use negative space of black to form eye sockets; place pink for skull face and purple for shading pixels. Butterfly motif suggested width 20 sts and height 18 rounds; use symmetric wing shapes in pink and purple with black center body. If you want both motifs in a single panel, design a combined 40-st width chart to swap between motifs every vertical repeat.

Managing three colors at once

• Use short lengths of yarn wrapped around small bobbins or use a yarn organizer to keep floats short and manageable.
• Twist yarns once when changing color to anchor and avoid loose loops.
• If a color is unused for more than 6-8 stitches, cut it and re-join later on the WS to avoid long floats.

Customization ideas

• Swap background to pink for an inverted, lighter take but keep black outlines for contrast.
• Make a matching hat: take the same charts and work in the round decreasing into crown after completing the band.
• Add a zipper or buttoned flap and convert the cowl into a short neck-warmer with an opening.

Troubleshooting

If the fabric cups or warps: your tension is uneven or floats are too tight. Loosen your floats and/or use a slightly larger hook. If motifs look distorted horizontally, check that you maintained correct stitch counts each round: always count to 120 sts before joining.

Support and resources

For PDF, printable chart examples, or help adapting panel placement to a different circumference email team@verde.uk. Visit https://purljam.verde.uk for more pattern ideas and motif charts. Socials: #purljam.

Happy stitching — keep the floats tidy and the color swaps dramatic for the best Midnight Garden effect.

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