On The Tiles Cowl - Free Cowl Crochet Pattern For Women in Paintbox Yarns Cotton DK by Paintbox Yarns

On The Tiles Cowl – Free Crochet Pattern for Women by Paintbox Yarns

The On The Tiles Cowl is a striking, colourful women's cowl designed by Cassie Ward for Paintbox Yarns. This free downloadable PDF crochet pattern produces a finished cowl measuring approximately 84.5 cm (33¼ in) in circumference and 35 cm (13½ in) in height — generous proportions that make it a cosy, statement-making accessory for cooler weather. The design is rated advanced in difficulty, making it an exciting challenge for crocheters who are ready to move beyond standard crochet and explore the world of Tunisian crochet.

What Is Being Made

The finished project is a cowl — a closed loop of fabric worn around the neck and shoulders. The On The Tiles Cowl is notable for its bold, tile-inspired colourwork, achieved through the use of multiple carefully chosen shades worked together. The cowl's substantial height and circumference mean it can be worn draped loosely or doubled up for extra warmth and visual impact.

Techniques Used

This pattern uses two key construction techniques that set it apart from a typical beginner crochet project:

• Worked flat: The cowl panels are crocheted back and forth in flat rows rather than in the round, giving the crocheter precise control over the colourwork and stitch structure.
• Seamed construction: Once the flat fabric is complete, the pieces are joined using a seam to create the finished cowl shape. This approach is common in garment-style crochet and produces a neat, structured finish.
• Tunisian crochet: The primary technique used throughout this pattern is Tunisian crochet, a hybrid method that sits between traditional crochet and knitting. Unlike standard crochet, Tunisian crochet uses a longer hook — sometimes called an Afghan hook — and works in two passes per row: a forward pass, during which loops are picked up and held on the hook simultaneously, and a return pass (RP), during which those loops are worked off the hook one by one. This creates a dense, slightly textured fabric with excellent stitch definition, ideal for colourwork patterns like the tile motif featured here.

Stitches Used

The pattern relies on a focused set of stitches, all clearly defined within the PDF using UK terminology with US equivalents provided in round brackets:

• Tunisian simple stitch (Tss): The foundation stitch of this pattern. The hook is inserted under the vertical bar of the stitch below, a loop is drawn up and held on the hook during the forward pass, then worked off during the return pass. Repeated consistently, Tss creates a smooth, grid-like fabric that is perfect for geometric colourwork.
• Return pass (RP): Worked as 1 chain, then yarn round hook and pull through 2 loops repeatedly to the end of the row. This is the second half of every Tunisian row and is essential to the technique.
• Slip stitch (sl): Used selectively — worked by inserting the hook under the next vertical bar from right to left without drawing a loop through. This creates a tighter, flatter stitch used for specific design or structural purposes within the pattern.
• Chain (ch): Standard crochet chain stitches used for foundation rows and turning.

Colourwork and Yarn

The colourwork is one of the most eye-catching aspects of the On The Tiles Cowl. The pattern calls for six colours of Paintbox Yarns Cotton DK, a 100% cotton yarn sold in 50g balls. The recommended shades are:

• Colour A – Vanilla Cream (3 balls): the primary background colour used throughout
• Colour B – Lipstick Pink (1 ball)
• Colour C – Blood Orange (1 ball)
• Colour D – Buttercup Yellow (1 ball)
• Colour E – Grass Green (1 ball)