Handmade Gift Ideas – Crochet Cowl

Handmade Gift Ideas

It is freeeeeezing cold this week and it has me house hunting in every location that it rarely snows. Phoenix, Hawaii, there has to be a house and a job waiting for me somewhere right?  In the meantime I have been spending my cold nights watching netflix and crocheting. I feel like that should have its own thing, netflix and craft.  Right now I am obsessed with all the bulky yarns and I really want to try the super bulky yarns. Arm knitting is a fun method, but I like the idea of arm or jumbo crochet because you can leave it and pick it up again, unlike arm knitting where it is literally on your arms.

After a weekend in Radium where we had a crochet craft night, a few friends all started chatting crochet.  We share pictures of our yarn hauls, promising you can never have enough yarn.  We help with pattern questions and mostly share our projects.  The yarn that has become everyone’s favorite is the Lion Brand Thick N Quick in the Hudsons Bay colorway.  What can I say, the HBC brand is so Canadian. Its just so fun.

ANYWAYS… this chunky yarn is a dream to work with and it works up really quickly.  I decided to make some cowls and scarfs for some friends and family members gifts this year.  I was making one on a plane and the flight attendant stopped and asked for the pattern and took a picture!

Here is a quick phone shot of the cowl. 

There really isn’t a pattern.  I chained until it was long enough to wrap around my neck twice and still slip it over my head.  Then I did a HDC into the 2nd chain from the hook, continuing all the way down.  For the next row you do a HDC into the 3rd back loop.  Repeat this row until it is as tall as you would like it.  I love this stitch because it looks like a knit stitch.  With the Thick N Quick yarn it works up really fast.  This cowl took 2 skeins, but I wish I had a third to make it a bit looser.

This cowl would make an awesome gift!  Give it an added touch by packaging your handmade gifts with a custom label – you can make your own using a free program like PicMonkey.  Include care instructions or your contact information for friends to ask for more!  Wrap your crochet and handmade gifts and use these funny gift tags.  I find the “this took freaking forever so you better pretend to love it” would work perfectly here.

Now it’s time to see the rest of the DIY YARN project ideas from my Canadian blogging friends.

From the top left, they are:

Crochet Cowl from Brooklyn Berry Designs
DIY Chain Yarn Garland from Woman In Real Life
Easy Arm Knit Reading Blanket from Heather in Heels
Creative DIY Art Using Yarn from Love Create Celebrate
Easy DIY Faux Macrame with Wool from Vin’yet Etc.
DIY Pom Pom and Tassel Stockings and Tree Skirt from PMQ for Two
Free crochet coaster pattern for beginners from Sustain My Craft Habit
Beginner Crochet Infinity Scarf from Fresh Crush
DIY Yarn Wall Hanging from Lifeovereasy
How to Make an Arm Knit Blanket with a Fringe from The DIY Mommy
Make Embellished Yarn Wrapped Glass Bottle Vases from Time With Thea
Christmas Front Porch from Life Is A Party