Free Tunisian crochet stitch pattern - Silver Spruce cowl

Make a cowl using a new and interesting Tunisian crochet stitch pattern that looks like sprigs of silver spruce. This stitch pattern is not only perfect for a warm cowl, but also blankets or even rugs.

About the Tunisian crochet stitch pattern

This is a cowl pattern with 6 sizes from child to adult made in a novel Tunisian crochet stitch pattern inspired by knit stitch patterns with slip stitches.

It features elegant texture made up of special Tunisian crochet clusters that are disposed in columns divided by reverse stitches.

A novel Tunisian crochet stitch pattern used to create textured on the outside of this gray cowl made with roving-style chunky wool yarn — Size C cowl showing 5 columns of surface stitches that look like spruce sprigs, divided by columns of textured reverse stitches

The overall effect of spruce branches is enhanced when using a roving-style yarn that shows of the clusters.

In knitting, similar stitches are creating by slipping some stitches over your needles, but in Tunisian crochet you use the handy hook to pick up these loops wherever you want.

Sizes for this Tunisian crochet cowl

Check out the table for head sizes and finished sizes. The sizes range between head sizes of 41 and 69 cm (between 16″ and 27″) with about 4 cm or 1.5″ ease.

Size table

Pick your size based on your measurements and desired ease.

Size	A	B	C	D	E	F
Head (cm)	41	46	52	58	63	69
Cowl size (cm)	45	50	56	62	67	73
Head (inches)	16 1/8	18 1/8	20 1/2	22 7/8	24 3/4	27 1/8
Cowl size (inches)	17 3/4	19 7/8	22	24 1/4	26 3/8	28 1/2
Beginning chain	49	55	61	67	73	79
Cast on	50	56	62	68	74	80

Table with different sizes for heads and corresponding cowl sizes.

PDF version of this Tunisian crochet cowl pattern

If you’d rather work from a PDF file, check out the buttons below to buy a PDF copy (including a regular version and an easy read version that is also mobile friendly.

Here is where you will find the PDF pattern on different platforms.

Skill level

Intermediate in Tunisian crochet, due to working in different rows and creating clusters.

Crochet terminology

This pattern uses Tunisian crochet terminology. All abbreviations are explained below. There is no difference between US and UK terminology in this case.

Gauge

12 TKs and 13 rows for a 10 cm by 10 cm square (4″ by 4″). Keep in mind that TKs are shorter than Tss.

Notions

Yarn: worsted weight or Aran weight yarn, with 120 meters per 100 grams or about 131 yards per 3.5 ounces; between 100 and 240 meters (or more, if you intend on making your cowl taller);
Hook – 8 mm Tunisian crochet hook with cable or long hook;
Tapestry needle;
Scissors.

Observations

Curly brackets at the end of the row hold loop counts for the specific row (only in this pattern).
Stitch counts should not change from one row to the next, so the counts are given only for the first row.
You can make the cowl taller or shorter by varying the number of main pattern row repeats that you do. Do not remove the 5 rows at beginning and 4 at the end of the pattern (counting the cast on row as well).
The fabric of this cowl is relatively stiff, so for a more relaxed cowl choose the next size up from your regular measurement.
Make a gauge swatch before you start.
This pattern is worked over a multiple of 6 stitches. Each size has 6 more starting stitches than the previous one.

Abbreviations

Reverse direction for left-handed

Ch – chain;
Ls – Tunisian last stitch – put hook behind the 2 vertical loops at the end of the row, YO and pull up a loop;
R – regular Tunisian crochet return: Ch1, repeat [YO and pull through 2 stitches on hook] until you are left with only one stitch;
Sl St – slip stitch;
St – stitch;
TCls – special Tunisian cluster stitch – insert hook into TKs 2 rows below (3rd row) and 2 Sts before, pull up a tall loop; TKs into next St on current row; insert hook into TKs 2 rows below (3rd row) and 2 Sts forward, pull up a tall loop; YO and pull through 3 loops on hook;
TKs – Tunisian knit stitch – insert hook between the 2 vertical bars of the next St and pull up a loop;
TPs – Tunisian purl stitch – bring yarn to the front of the hook, insert hook from right to left behind the next vertical bar and pull up a loop – the easiest way to do this is by first wrapping the yarn around the hook clockwise, then pulling this loop through;
TRs – Tunisian reverse stitch – insert hook in the back vertical loop of the next St, pushing the horizontal part of the St to the front of the work and pull up a loop;
Tss – Tunisian simple stitch – insert hook from right to left behind the next vertical bar, YO and pull up a loop;
YO – yarn over.

Instructions

All sizes include 4 rows of honeycomb stitch at the bottom and top of the cowl to prevent curling.

Bottom edge

Row 1. Ch 49 (55, 61, 67) (73, 77), pick up 49 (55, 61, 67) (73, 79) loops, R {50 (56, 62, 68) (74, 80)}

Row 2. Repeat [1 Tss, 1 TPs] until the end of the row, Ls, R

Row 3. Repeat [1 TPs, 1 Tss] until the end of the row, Ls, R

Row 4. Repeat rows 2-3.

Body

Row 6. Repeat [5 TKs, 1 TRs] 8 (9, 10, 11) (12, 13) times, Ls, R

Row 7. Repeat [5 TKs, 1 TRs] 8 (9, 10, 11) (12, 13) times, Ls, R

Row 8. Repeat [2 TKs, TCls, 2 TKs, 1TRs] 8 (9, 10, 11) (12, 13) times, Ls, R

Repeat rows 6-8 3 (4, 6, 7) (8, 9) more times or until you reach the desired height of the cowl (excluding the last 4 rows).

Top edge

Row 1. Repeat [1 Tss, 1 TPs] until the end of the row, Ls, R

Row 2. Repeat [1 TPs, 1 Tss] until the end of the row, Ls, R

Rows 3-4. Repeat rows 1-2 one more time.

Bind off with Sl St in each St across, in pattern.

In Tss, insert hook as if to make a TPs, but instead of leaving the loop on the hook, slip it. In TPs, insert hook as if to make a Tss and slip the loop.

Leave a long tail for seaming.

Seaming the cowl

Fold the cowl with the right side facing you, aligning the two sides to prepare them for sewing.

Make an invisible join where the two sides meet.

Go with the needle around the first St on the other side, then return to the same point and go back through the fabric.

Tunisian crochet textured cowl invisible join seen from above — Top of the cowl showing the invisible stitch created with the needle

Use a mattress stitch to seam up the sides.

Needle with the tail through it, going through the horizontal parts of 2 rows on the right side of the gap

Go with the needle first through stitches on the edge of one side, picking up the horizontal part of the row.

Needle with the tail through it, going through the horizontal parts of 2 rows on the left side of the gap, starting at the exit point of the previous step — needle with the tail through it, going through the horizontal parts of 2 rows on the left side of the gap, starting at the exit point of the previous step

Then go with the needle through the corresponding loops on the opposite side, also through the horizontal part.

The inner side of the cowl, showing the seam that is turned towards the inside, plus the texture that the cluster stitches create on the "wrong" side of the fabric — The inner side of the cowl, showing the seam that is turned towards the inside, plus the texture that the cluster stitches create on the “wrong” side of the fabric

The seam should be towards the inside (see above) and it should not show on the outside (see below).

The outer side of the cowl, showing the seam that is nearly invisible, between a column of clusters and a column of reverse stitches, seen upside down from the way the fabric is worked

The cowl is finished and ready for gentle washing, blocking and wearing.

Enjoy!

Video tutorials for the Tunisian crochet stitch pattern

Check out the video tutorials I created, in which I show two variations for this Tunisian crochet stitch pattern.

One of these variations is more suitable for rugs and other such functional items, so I will prepare a pattern for that as well.

Right handed video

Left handed video

Final thoughts

If you enjoyed this tutorial and would like to make it again, please pin or bookmark this page.

If you want to try out other Tunisian crochet patterns, check out my other Tunisian crochet stitch patterns that are also free on the blog, some more difficult than others, but all of them unique.