Welcome to my crochet cowrie shell pattern. This is what the finished cowrie shell applique will look like.
There’s also a video tutorial for this pattern available on my YouTube channel at crochet cowrie shell tutorial.
To view this pattern for free, continue to scroll down this page. If you would like to download the ad-free version, it’s available on my Ravelry store for $1 at crochet cowrie shell pattern and on LoveCrafts at crochet cowrie shell pattern.
I’ve also made a golden cowrie shell version of this pattern.
This pattern will be using US terminology. If you would like to view the UK version go to crochet cowrie shell pattern (UK version).
Crochet Cowrie Shell Pattern
Abbreviations
- st – stitch
- sts – stitches
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
Materials Used
- Any thickness crochet cotton or yarn, for the tiger cowrie I used Scheepjes Maxi Sweet Treat 2 ply crochet cotton colors (162) Black Coffee, (404) English Tea and (242) Metal Gray.
- For the golden cowrie I used (281) Tangerine, (105) Bridal White and (242) Metal Gray.
- A crochet hook, I used a 1mm hook.
- A darning needle to weave in ends.
- Sewing thread and needle to stitch the spots to the tiger cowrie.
- Scissors.
Size
Large cowrie shell (Using 8 ply yarn & a 3mm hook)
11cm wide x 7cm high or 4.25” wide x 2.75” high
Medium cowrie shell (Using 4 ply crochet cotton & a 1.5mm hook)
7.5cm wide x 5cm high or 3” wide x 2” high
Small cowrie shell (Using 2 ply crochet cotton & a 1mm hook)
6cm wide x 4cm high or 2.25” wide x 1.5” high
Tiger Cowrie
Using (162) Black Coffee work 8 ch.
Row 1: Miss 1st ch, work 1 sc in each of next 2 ch, 1 hdc in following ch, 1 dc in next ch, 1 hdc in following ch, 1 sc in each of last 2 ch. Turn. (7 sts)
Row 2: 2 ch, work 1 hdc and 2 sc in 1st st, 1 sc in each st to last st, 2 sc and 1 hdc in last st. Turn. (11 sts)
Row 3: 2 ch, work 2 hdc in 1st st, 1 sc in each of next 3 sts, 1 hdc in each of following 3 sts, 1 sc in each of next 3 sts, 2 hdc in last st. Turn. (13 sts)
Row 4: 1 ch, work 2 sc in 1st st, 1 sc in each st to last st, 2 sc in last st. Turn. (15 sts)
Row 5: 2 ch, work 1 hdc and 1 sc in 1st st, 1 sc in each st to last st, 1 sc and 1 hdc in last st. 4 ch. (17 sts + 4 ch)
Row 6: Miss 1st ch, work 1 sc in each remaining ch, a joined sc over 1st 2 sts of row 5, 1 sc in each st to last st, 2 sc in last st. Turn. (20 sts)
Row 7: 1 ch, work 1 sc in each of 1st 15 sts, a joined sc over next 2 sts. Turn. (16 sts)
Row 8: 1 ch, work 1 sc in each st to last st, 2 sc in last st. Turn. (17 sts)
Row 9: 1 ch, work 2 sc in 1st st, 1 sc in each of next 15 sts. 2 ch. (17 sts + 2 ch)
Row 10: Miss 1st ch, work 1 sc in last ch, and each st to end. Turn. (18 sts)
Row 11: 1 ch, work 1 sc in each st to end. Turn. (18 sts)
Row 12: 1 ch, work a joined sc over 1st 3 sts and a joined sc over next 2 sts, 1 sc in each st to last 2 sts, a joined sc over last 2 sts. Turn. (14 sts)
Row 13: 1 ch, work a joined sc over 1st 3 sts, 1 sc in each of next 10 sts. Turn. (11 sts)
Row 14: 1 ch, work a joined sc over 1st 2 sts, 1 sc in next st, 1 hdc in each of following 2 sts, 1 dc in next st, 1 hdc in each of following 2 sts, 1 sc in next st, a joined sc over last 2 sts. Fasten off.
Bottom of Shell
Join (404) English Tea 6 sts up from the bottom on the side with less shaping where shown.
Sl st in next st, a joined hdc over following 2 sts, 2 ch, sl st in same st as last part of joined hdc, 2 ch, 1 dc in next st, 1 ch, 1 hdc in same st, 1 hdc in each of following 2 sts, 1 hdc and 1 sc in next st, 1 sc in each of following 7 sts, 1 sc and 1 dc in next st, a joined dc over following 2 sts, 2 hdc in next st, 2 dc in following st, 1 hdc in next st, a joined dc over next 4 sts, 1 hdc in each st to end of the point, 5 ch, miss 1st ch, 1 sc in each ch to last ch, 2 sc in last ch.
Join in (162) Black Coffee and work 1 sl st in each st until you reach the English Tea. Fasten off.
Join (242) Metal Gray across from the point of English Tea where shown.
Work 1 sl st in each st around to end of the point. Fasten off leaving a long tail to stitch the two sides together.
Spots (Make 10)
Using (404) English Tea make a magic loop.
I made 7 spots of 1 ch, into circle work 1 sc, 1 hdc, 1 sc and 1 hdc. Pull circle tight and join with a sl st in top of 1st st. Fasten off.
I made 3 spots of 1 ch, into circle I worked 3 sc. Pull circle tight and join with a sl st in top of 1st st. Fasten off.
To Make Up
Weave in ends. Stitch the grey sides together.
Sew the spots to the tiger cowrie.
Golden Cowrie
Using (281) Tangerine work the same as the tiger cowrie until the end of row 14.
Bottom of Shell
Join (105) Bridal White 6 sts up from the bottom on the side with less shaping where shown and work the bottom of the shell the same as the tiger cowrie joining in the (281) Tangerine to neaten the top.
Join (242) Metal Gray across from the point of Bridal White where shown.
Work 1 sl st in each st around to end of the point. Fasten off leaving a long tail to stitch the two sides together.
To Make Up
Weave in ends. Stitch the grey sides together.
And there’s the finished cowrie shell applique. I’ve also made it in different sizes and colors.
I hope that you’ve enjoyed the pattern. If you’ve liked this you may also like some of my other patterns including the crochet coral, crochet turtle, the crochet clown fish, the goldfish, the angelfish or the tropical fish.
