Once you start making cowls, there are never enough of them! This cowl came into being due to me being in the cowl making mood, having some left over yarn from my Watermelon Cowl and learning some beautiful Tunisian crochet stitches. And voila! This is my latest crochet baby!
You can purchase the add free PDF version of the pattern at LoveCraft here and Ravelry here.
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Tunisian Crossed Basketweave Cowl is warm loosely fitted Tunisian crochet cowl that is the perfect accessory for cold autumn and winter days. It is made of medium thick baby alpaca and merino wool that is surprisingly light due to the special manufacturing technique; the fibres of yarn are blown into a tube together rather than spun. This makes garments made of this yarn beautifully soft to touch while warm and cosy.
Skills required
To create this beautiful crochet cowl you will need to master (or already know) these stitches and techniques:
Chain, Tunisian crochet technique (alternating forward and backward passes), Tunisian simple stitch (tss), Tunisian purl stitch (tps), Tunisian knit stitch (tks), Tunisian two stitches together (t2tog), Tunisian crossed lattice stitch (tls), end row changing colours, binding off in Tunisian crochet, blocking, locking mattress stitch
Skill level
Size
Small adult
Finished measurements
The final crochet cowl measurements (blocked):
66 x 20 cm (approx. 26 x 8 in)
Materials and tools
To get the exact look as on the pictures of my crochet cowl, you will need:
Drops Air (65% Alpaca, 28% Polyamide, 7% Wool | 10 ply, aran, worsted | 50 g (1.8 oz) = 150 m (164 yds)), Moss Green (A) #12, Red Brick (B) #28
Approx. 66 g; 1 ball of Red Brick, 1 ball of Moss Green
Tunisian crochet hook size 6 mm (J-10) with cable (at least 40 cm (16 in)) or size to obtain the gauge
Tapestry needle
Scissors
You can get your craft supplies here.
Gauge
Blocked Gauge:
15 sts x 14 rows = 10 x 10 cm (4 x 4 in)
Gauge helps you to understand how the project turns out in terms of the final size. If you would like to achieve the exact size of the final project as in the instructions above, you gauge needs to match exactly to the above.
If you get more stitches and/or rows than stated above using the exact hook size as per instructions, your final project will turn out smaller. Conversely, if you get less stitches and/or rows than stated above using the exact hooks size as per instructions, your final project will turn out bigger.
To make adjustments, if you get more stitches and/or rows, you can try using bigger hook size to get closer to the desired size. Conversely, if you get less stitches and/or rows, you can try using smaller hook size to get closer to the desired size.
It may take trial and error to try out a few hook sizes to achieve the exact size.
Alternatively, if you really don’t want to make several samples to achieve the desired size, you can try to alter your tension as you work the project. However, I would advise to try this out once you master the basics of Tunisian crochet as it may be a bit tiresome to try to master the basics of Tunisian crochet and focus on alternating your tension while working the project.
Stitch guide
Tunisian crochet stitches are worked in forward and return pass from right to left, with the number of stitches (loops) increasing on the hook during forward pass and decreasing during the return pass.
Return pass is worked in the same way for all stitches used in this project as follows: 1 ch, *yrh, draw through 2 loops on hook, rep from * until 1 loop on hook.
Edge stitches:
Right edge stitch- This is the first stitch and is not usually worked into because there is one loop on the hook left after completing the return pass of the previous row. This one loop corresponds to the first stitch of the new row.
Left edge stitch- This stitch is referred to in the pattern as the End Stitch and is crocheted as follows: Rotate the end of the fabric towards yourself, insert the hook under both bars (left and right) of the last st, yrh and pul.
- First row of Tunisian crochet: Insert the hook in the back bump of second ch from hook, yrh and pul across. Standard return pass.
- Tunisian simple stitch: Insert the hook from right to left under front vertical bar of the next st, yrh and pul. Standard return pass.
- Tunisian purl stitch: Bring yarn to the front on the work and hook, insert the hook from right to left under the front vertical bar of the next st, yrh and pul. Standard return pass.
- Tunisian knit stitch: Insert the hook from front to back between the front and back vertical bar, yrh and pul. Standard return pass.
- Tunisian two together (T2tog): Insert hook from right to left under the front vertical bars of next 2 stitches, yrh and pul
- Tunisian crossed lattice stitch: This stitch is worked over odd number of stitches and 2 rows as follows:
- Row 1: *T2tog, tss into the first st of t2tog; rep from * to last 2 sts, tss in the next st, ES. Standard return pass.
- Row 2: Tss, * t2tog, tss into the first st of t2tog; rep from * to last st, ES. Standard return pass.
Bind off: Insert hook from right to left under front vertical bar of the next st, yrh, pul and pull through the loop that is on the hook. One loop remains on the hook.
End row changing colours in Tunisian crochet: The new colour is added when finishing the return pass of the previous row and 2 loops are remaining on the hook. Yrh with the new colour and draw through 2 loops.
If this crochet cowl is your first Tunisian crochet project and are not sure if this blanket matches your skills, I have a Tunisian crochet masterclass tutorial that will jump-start your Tunisian crochet journey!
Stitch charts:
Tunisian rib and basketweave stitch
Tunisian crossed lattice stitch
Notes
The Tunisian Crossed Basketweave crochet cowl is worked flat, RS facing from right to left, and assembled using the locking mattress stitch along the short sides of the project.
Instructions
With A, Chain 95.
Row 1 FP: Insert the hook in the back bump of second ch from hook, yrh and pul across. 95 loops on hook.
Row 1 RP and all other RPs: Standard RP.
Row 2: *Tps, 2 tks; rep from * to ES, ES.
Row 3: As Row 2.
Row 4 FP: As Row 2.
Row 4 RP: Standard RP to last 2 lps on hook, change to B, yrh and draw through 2 lps.
Row 5: 4 Tks, 5 tps, *5 tks, 5 tps;rep from * to last 5 sts, 4 tks, ES.
Rows 6-8: As Row 5.
Row 9: 4 Tps, 5 tks, *5 tps, 5 tks; rep from * to last 5 sts, 4 tps, ES.
Rows 10- 11: As Row 9.
Row 12 FP: As Row 9.
Row 12 RP: Standard RP to last 2 lps on hook, change to A, yrh and draw through 2 lps.
Row 13: Tss across to last st, ES.
Row 14: *T2tog, tss into the first st of t2tog; rep from * to last 2 sts, tss, ES.
Row 15: Tss,*t2tog, tss into the first st of t2tog; rep from * to last st, ES.
Row 16 FP: As Row 14.
Row 16 RP: Standard RP to last 2 lps on hook, change to B, yrh and draw through 2 lps.
Rows 17-24: Rep rows 5-12.
Rows 25-28: As Row 2.
Row 29: Bind off.
Finishing
Weave in ends and block to final measurements.
Join two short sides by locking mattress stitch (See Special techniques).
I would love to see and share your work on social media, use #crossedbasketweavecowl or #exquisitecrochetuk.
Pattern support: exquisite.crochet.uk@gmail.com
Special techniques
Locking Mattress Stitch
- Place the cowl RS down with edges aligned side by side. Stitches will be worked through the top loops of each edge.
- Start the seam by inserting the needle from left to right through the first stitches of both panels at the bottom.
- Move one stitch up on the right side, insert the needle from right to left and continue to the first stitch on the left side (the one already worked into).
- Move one stitch up on the left side, insert the needle from left to right and continue to the last stitch worked into on the right side.
- Repeat steps 3 and 4 to end.
- Weave in ends.
Abbreviations
Ch- chain
st(s)- stitch(es)
sl st- slip stitch
ES- end stitch
tss- Tunisian simple stitch
tps- Tunisian purl stitch
tks- Tunisian knit stitch
tcs- Tunisian crossed stitch
yrh- yarn round the hook
lp(s)- loop(s)
pul- pull up a loop
RS- right side
WS- wrong side
FP- forward pass
RP- return pass
approx.- approximately
rep- repeat
t2tog- Tunisian 2 together
tls- Tunisian crossed lattice stitch
Further resources:
If you are just starting with Tunisian crochet, there is a wealth of great resources, such as this article on 5 things you need to know about Tunisian crochet.
If you prefer to have all your craft inspiration in one place, FaveCrafts is definitely the place to go. Why not subscribe to their newsletter here so you would not miss a thing!
You can purchase the add free PDF version of the pattern at LoveCraft here and Ravelry here.
Did you enjoy my Tunisian crossed Basketweave Cowl Pattern? Then you will love my other Tunisian crochet Accessories patterns:
Sky Walk Tunisian Chevron Shawl
Thank you so much if you got this far in the pattern! I hope you got inspired for your own version using various colours. I can’t wait to see it! Don’t forget to tag me on Instagram and let me know in the comment section below how you got on with it! As always, if you have any pattern query, the quickest way to get it answered is by emailing me on the pattern support email address above.
Happy crocheting!
