Two years ago, I purchased this vibrant autumn yarn because it reminded me of a friend who had suddenly passed away. I immediately caked the yarn and started this pattern, but it took over two full years to finish. Each time I picked up the hook, I was reminded why I purchased this yarn. This project was truly a healing process - not only from the death of our friend, but from the grief and pain of the last two years.

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Design Inspiration

I wanted this pattern to evoke the promise of new vibrancy after autumn. The easy shell stitches in the middle section of the cowl remind me of the piles of maple and oak leaves in my yard, while the creeping vines on each side represent the ivy and virginia creeper glaring crimson in the autumn sun. The Autumn Ivy Cowl pictures not just the fading colors of what appears to be death at the end of each year, but also the promise of new life when leaves grow again each spring. Kind of like growing through grief.

Yarn Options

I used a hand dyed skein of yarn that I purchased from the ND Yarn Company. My goal was to only use one 100g skein to make this crochet lace cowl, so you could easily pull a single hank of yarn from your stash or easily fit this pattern into your budget.

Inexpensive Yarn Substitution

Lion Brand Summer Nights is a fantastic, inexpensive substitution for this pattern. The Summer Nights yarn is a blend of Acrylic and Polyester, so you won’t get quite the same bounce and warmth that wool brings, but you will definitely have a beautiful project. At $4.99 a skein, you only need one 100g skein to make this pattern. At that price, this would be an affordable and beautiful gift option.

Lion Brand Yarn 511-301 Summer Nights Yarn, Treasure Island Buy on Amazon

Middle Budget Yarn Substitution

We Crochet’s Hawthorne Fingering Multi has several beautiful colorways that mimic this hand dyed yarn that I used. This yarn is 80% Highland wool and 20% Nylon, similar to the yarn that I used. At $13.99 per hank, you only need one to complete this pattern.

High End Yarn Substitution

Any hand dyed skein of fingering weight wool will perfectly work with this pattern. I used the ND Dream Fingering in a discontinued colorway (I mean, it was two years ago), but the ND Yarn Company has several other colorways that are similar. You really can’t go wrong with any of her beautiful yarns. At $34 per 100g hank, this is definitely the high end yarn choice for this beautiful crochet lace cowl pattern.

Crochet Hook

I used the Furls Alpha hook in the size G/4.0mm. The Alpha hooks are definitely a high end, luxury hook, but any 4.0mm hook should work for this pattern. I highly recommend using an ergonomic hook for your hand health, especially if you are using anything smaller than an 8.0mm hook. If the Furls hooks (my favorite) are out of your budget, I also recommend the Boye ergonomics as a starter hook. They are comfortable and well made. They range from $25 - $35 for the entire set, depending on the time of year and normal price fluctuations. The Furls Alpha hook pictured is an $85 investment.

Boye 3396270001 Ergonomic Crochet Hook Set Buy on Amazon

YouTube Help

In this video, I walk you through an overview of the pattern, demonstrate the stitches, and also teach you an easy way to block the lace cowl so those leaf stitches pop!