The wool used in these patterns is from Kate at Northern Yarn. She carefully gathers fleeces from her local areas of Lancashire and Cumbria, and transforms the fibre into lovely yarn.

To make the most of Kate’s local wool, Faern Cowl is written for three sizes. So, whether you like a tight-fitting cowl, a long loop cowl you can double over, or something in between, I’ve got you covered.

The mittens are written for six sizes and cover children up to XL adult. Instructions are also given for fingerless mitten options.

As for the name? Faern is the Dwarven word for ‘home’. It is perfect for this snuggly crocheted cowl, which was heavily inspired by the angles of Dwarf concept artwork and runes, as well as Kate’s passion for turning home-grown fleeces into yarn.

The cowl is worked in a spiral after the starting chain is joined.

The pattern and charts are set up for right-handed users. I place my yarn over the hook (not under) as I create stitches throughout this pattern.

Yarn: Mamó by Northern Yarn, 50g/ 110m/ 120yds, a blend of Poll Dorset and Bluefaced Leicester in shade ‘The Shannon’.

Hooks: 4.5mm (US 7) & 5mm (US H/8) hooks

Terminology: UK terminology

Gauge/tension:

Cowl - Using a 5mm (US H/8) hook, unblocked straight FP pattern of 18 sts and 14 rounds over 10cm/ 4”. Blocked straight FP pattern of 16.5 sts and 14.5 rounds over 10cm/ 4”.

Mittens - Using a 4.5mm (US 7) hook, unblocked straight FP pattern of 18 sts and 14 rounds over 10cm/ 4”. Blocked straight FP pattern of 16.5 sts and 14.5 rounds over 10cm/ 4”.

Stitches used: ch - chain, dc - double crochet (US single crochet), FP - front post, FPhtr - front post half treble (US front post half double crochet), FPhtr2tog - front post half treble two together (US front post half double two together), htr - half treble (US half double crochet), sk - skip, ss - slip stitch, starting htr - starting half treble (US starting half double crochet)

Yarn substitutions: Any DK weight yarn that gets tension/gauge and offers good fabric structure and stitch definition.

Pattern format: Faern DK Cowl & Mittens pattern is a ten-page, A4 document with large, clear text.