Free pattern for leaf lace Tunisian crochet bandana

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Here’s another pretty bandana pattern with a cute lace motif for the summer months. You can also use it as a neck kerchief by skipping the ties, or you can even make a bandana for your dog.

There are many uses for this beautiful Tunisian crochet leaf motif. Because of the shaping inherent in the lace motif, I was able to easily turn it into a triangle.

I’ve also used this motif previously in a lovely baby blanket pattern that is also free on the blog.

You can even make a large shawl out of this pattern, if you use thicker yarn, a larger hook, and continue the pattern repeat until you reach the desired size.

Let me know in the comments if you want a separate pattern for that. I may have the perfect yarn set aside for it.

Dark green triangle bandana folded with the ends over the front, with a leaf lace motif, curly ties and a tassel with a bead attached to the point at the bottom, over a black background.
Full view of the bandana, showing the front fabric in the middle and the back of the fabric on the sides.

About the pattern

This is an intermediate Tunisian crochet lace pattern triangle-shaped bandana with ties. It is built from the tip at the bottom.

The size is variable and you can make it cover a larger or smaller area by changing the number of rows you work. The ties are practical and light.

It is made of light cotton yarn, which makes it ideal for wearing on the beach, in place of a hat.

The simple lace pattern makes this a fun project for a few hours of relaxing Tunisian crochet.

The name comes from the German name of the Sargasso Sea.

Size and measurements

When meeting gauge and working all rows in the pattern, the triangle measures 60 cm across the top and 28 cm in depth, due to the slight elasticity of the lace pattern.

Dark green triangle bandana laid flat, with a leaf lace motif, curly ties and a tassel with a bead attached to the point at the bottom, over a black background.
Full view of the triangle bandana, showing 6 full rows of leaves.

Gauge

Gauge is not essential in this pattern, as you work to your desired measurements.
If you do want to work to the provided size, make a gauge swatch by following these instructions.

Row 1. Ch 25, pick up 25 loops in the back bumps of the chains, R (26 loops)

Row 2. 24 Tss, Ls, R (26 loops)

Repeat Row 2 24 more times for a total of 26 rows.

Block the swatch by washing it and laying it flat to dry.

Measure a 10 by 10 cm (4″ by 4″) square in the middle of the swatch and count the stitches and rows.

18 stitches and 18 rows should measure 10 by 10 cm (4″ by 4″).

If you get fewer stitches and rows, go down a hook size (0.5 mm), if available, and make another swatch.

If you get more stitches and rows, go up a hook size (0.5 mm), if available, and make another swatch.

Repeat the swatching process until you reach the recommended gauge. Make a note of the hook size used.

Skill level

Intermediate – you will work with yarn overs (eyelets), increases, decreases, easy repeats of lace patterns.

You need to be able to keep consistent tension in cotton yarn.

Notions

  • Yarn – 50 g or 125-160 meters of size 2 cotton yarn at about 250-340 meters per 100 grams – for example 8/4 cotton yarn;
  • Hook – Tunisian crochet hook with cable or straight, 5 mm or hook size that gets you gauge; 3.5 mm regular crochet hook for binding off and ties;
  • Tapestry needle, scissors, tape measure;
  • Optional. stitch markers;
  • Tools for blocking (iron with steam or other steamer), blocking mats and pins.
Close-up of dark green triangle bandana folded with the ends over the front, with a leaf lace motif, over a black background.
Using a light cotton yarn is perfect for summer because it’s so easy to wash.

Observations

This is a Tunisian crochet pattern worked flat, which means you always work on the right side of the fabric (the side that will be towards the outside).

Each row of symbols in the chart is independent of the previous row. You read each row of the chart as if reading a row of instructions.

When you encounter an eyelet and need to make a Tss, insert the hook through the eyelet and draw up a loop.

After a YO, you only skip a stitch when specifically instructed.

You can stop whenever you like and continue with the ties and binding off row to finish the bandana.

Stitch makers are useful for keeping track of pattern repeats.

Repeats are shown in [square brackets].

At the end of each row, after the—symbol, you have the loop counts for the current row after the forward pass.

After finishing the bandana, wash it and lay it flat to dry. Then press it with an iron, on the wrong side, to open up the lace and give it the triangle shape.

You can make a tassel to attach at the bottom. Attach it after washing and pressing the bandana.

Abbreviations

  • BO – Bind off;
  • Ch – Chain;
  • Fs – First stitch;
  • Ls – Last stitch: insert hook behind the two vertical bars at the end of the row, YO and pull up a loop;
  • R – Regular return pass: Ch 1, Rep [YO and pull through 2 loops on hook] until 1 loop is left;
  • Rep – Repeat;
  • Sc – single crochet (US) or double crochet (UK);
  • Sk – Skip;
  • Sl St(s) – Slip stitch(es);
  • St(s) – Stitch(es);
  • Tfs – Tunisian full stitch: insert the hook in the space before the next St, YO and pull up a loop;
  • Tps – Tunisian purl stitch: YU, insert the hook under the vertical bar of the next St, YO and pull up a loop;
  • Tss – Tunisian simple stitch: insert the hook under the vertical bar of the next St, YO and pull up a loop;
  • Tss3Tog – Tunisian simple stitch 3 together: insert the hook under the front vertical bars of the next 3 Sts, YO and pull up a loop;
  • YO – Yarn over;
  • YU – Yarn under: bring the yarn under and to the front of the hook.

Video tutorial for the leaf lace motif

This tutorial only comes with a right handed version for now, but if you are OK with seeing the text mirrored, let me know and I’ll export a left handed version for you and embed it below.

Instructions

Start with a slip knot on the Tunisian crochet hook.

Row 1. 1 Tss, Ls, R—3 loops

Row 2. Tfs, 1 Tps, Tfs, Ls, R—5 loops

Row 3. Tfs, 1 Tps, 1 Tss, 1 Tps, Tfs, Ls, R—7 loops

Row 4. Tfs, 1 Tps, 1 Tss, YO, Sk 1, 1 Tss, 1 Tps, Tfs, Ls, R—9 loops

Row 5. Tfs, 1 Tps, Rep [1 Tss, YO, Sk 1] 2 times, 1 Tss, 1 Tps, Tfs, Ls, R—11 loops

Row 6. Tfs, 1 Tps, 1 Tss, YO, Sk 1, 3 Tss, YO, Sk 1, 1 Tss, 1 Tps, Tfs, Ls, R—13 loops

Row 7. Tfs, 1 Tps, 1 Tss, YO, Sk 1, 5 Tss, YO, Sk 1, 1 Tss, 1 Tps, Tfs, Ls, R—15 loops

Row 8. Tfs, 1 Tps, 1 Tss, YO, Sk 1, 7 Tss, YO, Sk 1, 1 Tss, 1 Tps, Tfs, Ls, R—17 loops

Row 9. Tfs, 1 Tps, 1 Tss, YO, Sk 1, 9 Tss, YO, Sk 1, 1 Tss, 1 Tps, Tfs, Ls, R—19 loops

Row 10. Tfs, 1 Tps, 1 Tss, YO, Sk 1, 11 Tss, YO, Sk 1, 1 Tss, 1 Tps, Tfs, Ls, R—21 loops

Row 11. Tfs, 1 Tps, 1 Tss, YO, Sk 1, 1 Tss, YO, 4 Tss, Tss3Tog, 4 Tss, YO, 1 Tss, YO, Sk 1, 1 Tss, 1 Tps, Tfs, Ls, R—23 loops

Row 12. Tfs, 1 Tps, 1 Tss, YO, Sk 1, 3 Tss, YO, 3 Tss, Tss3Tog, 3 Tss, YO, 3 Tss, YO, Sk 1, 1 Tss, 1 Tps, Tfs, Ls, R—25 loops

Row 13. Tfs, 1 Tps, 1 Tss, YO, Sk 1, 5 Tss, YO, 2 Tss, Tss3Tog, 2 Tss, YO, 5 Tss, YO, Sk 1, 1 Tss, 1 Tps, Tfs, Ls, R—27 loops

Row 14. Tfs, 1 Tps, 1 Tss, YO, Sk 1, 7 Tss, YO, 1 Tss, Tss3Tog, 1 Tss, YO, 7 Tss, YO, Sk 1, 1 Tss, 1 Tps, Tfs, Ls, R—29 loops

Row 15. Tfs, 1 Tps, 1 Tss, YO, Sk 1, 9 Tss, YO, Tss3Tog, YO, 9 Tss, YO, Sk 1, 1 Tss, 1 Tps, Tfs, Ls, R—31 loops

Row 16. Tfs, 1 Tps, 1 Tss, Rep [YO, Sk 1, 11 Tss] 2 times, YO, Sk 1, 1 Tss, 1 Tps, Tfs, Ls, R—33 loops

Row 17. Tfs, 1 Tps, 1 Tss, YO, Sk 1, Rep [1 Tss, YO, 4 Tss, Tss3Tog, 4 Tss, YO] 2 times, 1 Tss, YO, Sk 1, 1 Tss, 1 Tps, Tfs, Ls, R—35 loops

Row 18. Tfs, 1 Tps, 1 Tss, YO, Sk 1, Rep [3 Tss, YO, 3 Tss, Tss3Tog, 3 Tss, YO] 2 times, 3 Tss, YO, Sk 1, 1 Tss, 1 Tps, Tfs, Ls, R—37 loops

Row 19. Tfs, 1 Tps, 1 Tss, YO, Sk 1, Rep [5 Tss, YO, 2 Tss, Tss3Tog, 2 Tss, YO] 2 times, 5 Tss, YO, Sk 1, 1 Tss, 1 Tps, Tfs, Ls, R—39 loops

Row 20. Tfs, 1 Tps, 1 Tss, YO, Sk 1, Rep [7 Tss, YO, 1 Tss, Tss3Tog, 1 Tss, YO] 2 times, 7 Tss, YO, Sk 1, 1 Tss, 1 Tps, Tfs, Ls, R—41 loops

Row 21. Tfs, 1 Tps, 1 Tss, YO, Sk 1, Rep [9 Tss, YO, Tss3Tog, YO] 2 times, 9 Tss, YO, Sk 1, 1 Tss, 1 Tps, Tfs, Ls, R—43 loops

Row 22. Tfs, 1 Tps, 1 Tss, Rep [YO, Sk 1, 11 Tss] 3 times, YO, Sk 1, 1 Tss, 1 Tps, Tfs, Ls, R—45 loops

Row 23. Tfs, 1 Tps, 1 Tss, YO, Sk 1, Rep [1 Tss, YO, 4 Tss, Tss3Tog, 4 Tss, YO] 3 times, 1 Tss, YO, Sk 1, 1 Tss, 1 Tps, Tfs, Ls, R—47 loops

Row 24. Tfs, 1 Tps, 1 Tss, YO, Sk 1, Rep [3 Tss, YO, 3 Tss, Tss3Tog, 3 Tss, YO] 3 times, 3 Tss, YO, Sk 1, 1 Tss, 1 Tps, Tfs, Ls, R—49 loops

Row 25. Tfs, 1 Tps, 1 Tss, YO, Sk 1, Rep [5 Tss, YO, 2 Tss, Tss3Tog, 2 Tss, YO] 3 times, 5 Tss, YO, Sk 1, 1 Tss, 1 Tps, Tfs, Ls, R—51 loops

Row 26. Tfs, 1 Tps, 1 Tss, YO, Sk 1, Rep [7 Tss, YO, 1 Tss, Tss3Tog, 1 Tss, YO] 3 times, 7 Tss, YO, Sk 1, 1 Tss, 1 Tps, Tfs, Ls, R—53 loops

Row 27. Tfs, 1 Tps, 1 Tss, YO, Sk 1, Rep [9 Tss, YO, Tss3Tog, YO] 3 times, 9 Tss, YO, Sk 1, 1 Tss, 1 Tps, Tfs, Ls, R—55 loops

Row 28. Tfs, 1 Tps, 1 Tss, Rep [YO, Sk 1, 11 Tss] 4 times, YO, Sk 1, 1 Tss, 1 Tps, Tfs, Ls, R—57 loops

Row 29. Tfs, 1 Tps, 1 Tss, YO, Sk 1, Rep [1 Tss, YO, 4 Tss, Tss3Tog, 4 Tss, YO] 4 times, 1 Tss, YO, Sk 1, 1 Tss, 1 Tps, Tfs, Ls, R—59 loops

Row 30. Tfs, 1 Tps, 1 Tss, YO, Sk 1, Rep [3 Tss, YO, 3 Tss, Tss3Tog, 3 Tss, YO] 4 times, 3 Tss, YO, Sk 1, 1 Tss, 1 Tps, Tfs, Ls, R—61 loops

Row 31. Tfs, 1 Tps, 1 Tss, YO, Sk 1, Rep [5 Tss, YO, 2 Tss, Tss3Tog, 2 Tss, YO] 4 times, 5 Tss, YO, Sk 1, 1 Tss, 1 Tps, Tfs, Ls, R—63 loops

Row 32. Tfs, 1 Tps, 1 Tss, YO, Sk 1, Rep [7 Tss, YO, 1 Tss, Tss3Tog, 1 Tss, YO] 4 times, 7 Tss, YO, Sk 1, 1 Tss, 1 Tps, Tfs, Ls, R—65 loops

Row 33. Tfs, 1 Tps, 1 Tss, YO, Sk 1, Rep [9 Tss, YO, Tss3Tog, YO] 4 times, 9 Tss, YO, Sk 1, 1 Tss, 1 Tps, Tfs, Ls, R—67 loops

Row 34. Tfs, 1 Tps, 1 Tss, Rep [YO, Sk 1, 11 Tss] 5 times, YO, Sk 1, 1 Tss, 1 Tps, Tfs, Ls, R—69 loops

Row 35. Tfs, 1 Tps, 1 Tss, YO, Sk 1, Rep [1 Tss, YO, 4 Tss, Tss3Tog, 4 Tss, YO] 5 times, 1 Tss, YO, Sk 1, 1 Tss, 1 Tps, Tfs, Ls, R—71 loops

Row 36. Tfs, 1 Tps, 1 Tss, YO, Sk 1, Rep [3 Tss, YO, 3 Tss, Tss3Tog, 3 Tss, YO] 5 times, 3 Tss, YO, Sk 1, 1 Tss, 1 Tps, Tfs, Ls, R—73 loops

Row 37. Tfs, 1 Tps, 1 Tss, YO, Sk 1, Rep [5 Tss, YO, 2 Tss, Tss3Tog, 2 Tss, YO] 5 times, 5 Tss, YO, Sk 1, 1 Tss, 1 Tps, Tfs, Ls, R—75 loops

Row 38. Tfs, 1 Tps, 1 Tss, YO, Sk 1, Rep [7 Tss, YO, 1 Tss, Tss3Tog, 1 Tss, YO] 5 times, 7 Tss, YO, Sk 1, 1 Tss, 1 Tps, Tfs, Ls, R—77 loops

Row 39. Tfs, 1 Tps, 1 Tss, YO, Sk 1, Rep [9 Tss, YO, Tss3Tog, YO] 5 times, 9 Tss, YO, Sk 1, 1 Tss, 1 Tps, Tfs, Ls, R—79 loops

Row 40. Tfs, 1 Tps, 1 Tss, Rep [YO, Sk 1, 11 Tss] 6 times, YO, Sk 1, 1 Tss, 1 Tps, Tfs, Ls, R—81 loops

Row 41. Tfs, 1 Tps, 1 Tss, YO, Sk 1, Rep [1 Tss, YO, 4 Tss, Tss3Tog, 4 Tss, YO] 6 times, 1 Tss, YO, Sk 1, 1 Tss, 1 Tps, Tfs, Ls, R—83 loops

Row 42. Tfs, 1 Tps, 1 Tss, YO, Sk 1, Rep [3 Tss, YO, 3 Tss, Tss3Tog, 3 Tss, YO] 6 times, 3 Tss, YO, Sk 1, 1 Tss, 1 Tps, Tfs, Ls, R—85 loops

Row 43. Tfs, 1 Tps, 1 Tss, YO, Sk 1, Rep [5 Tss, YO, 2 Tss, Tss3Tog, 2 Tss, YO] 6 times, 5 Tss, YO, Sk 1, 1 Tss, 1 Tps, Tfs, Ls, R—87 loops

Row 44. Tfs, 1 Tps, 1 Tss, YO, Sk 1, Rep [7 Tss, YO, 1 Tss, Tss3Tog, 1 Tss, YO] 6 times, 7 Tss, YO, Sk 1, 1 Tss, 1 Tps, Tfs, Ls, R—89 loops

Row 45. Tfs, 1 Tps, 1 Tss, YO, Sk 1, Rep [9 Tss, YO, Tss3Tog, YO] 6 times, 9 Tss, YO, Sk 1, 1 Tss, 1 Tps, Tfs, Ls, R—91 loops

Row 46. Tfs, 1 Tps, 1 Tss, Rep [YO, Sk 1, 11 Tss] 7 times, YO, Sk 1, 1 Tss, 1 Tps, Tfs, Ls, R—93 loops

Row 47. Tfs, 1 Tps, 1 Tss, YO, Sk 1, 85 Tss, YO, Sk 1, 1 Tss, 1 Tps, Tfs, Ls, R—95 loops

Row 48. Tfs, Rep [1 Tps, 1 Tss] 46 times, 1 Tps, Tfs, Ls, R—97 loops

Row 49. Tfs, Rep [1 Tps, 1 Tss] 47 times, 1 Tps, Tfs, Ls, R—99 loopsRow 50. Tfs, Rep [1 Tps, 1 Tss] 48 times, 1 Tps, Tfs, Ls, R—101 loops

Chart

How to use the charts

This pattern can be made by following along with the instructions, following the chart or both at the same time.

The next page includes the full chart in an A3 format and landscape orientation. Follow the stitches for each row individually.

The full chart shows the intended shape and layout of the final project, but when working from the chart you should only look at the stitches on the current row.

Start working from the bottom and reading each row from right to left, even if you are left handed.

The return pass rows are represented on the chart with the symbol R.

The first loop (which you don’t work with in this pattern) is not represented in the chart.

Everything else is represented in the legend.

Tunisian crochet chart for triangle bandana with leaf lace motifs.

Legend

Tunisian crochet lace chart legend with the different symbols used in the chart.

If you want to try out other Tunisian crochet bandana patterns, check these out below:

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and that you will try out the other patterns or learn from all the Tunisian crochet resources I’ve compiled for you.

Hugs,

Andrea

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