The Cassandra Cowl

The Cassandra Cowl is a textured Tunisian crochet cowl pattern designed to help you explore more advanced Tunisian crochet stitches while creating a cozy, wearable accessory. Originally created for Tunisian Crochet Weekend at Warm and Wooly in Minnesota, Cassandra was designed as a skill-building project using three of the techniques taught in my Advanced Stitches class: Tunisian Post Stitch, Arrowhead Stitch, and Smock Stitch. Rather than practicing each stitch in a separate swatch, Cassandra brings them together in one fabric. The Tunisian Post Stitches create dimensional ribbed texture, the Arrowhead Stitch adds an open, lace-like section, and the Smock Stitch creates a raised textured fabric. The cowl is worked flat from the top down, with ribbed borders added after the main body is complete. It is then seamed only halfway down, creating a cozy cowl at the neck while allowing the lower portion to open over the shoulders. Because the different Tunisian crochet stitch patterns have different natural row heights, the pattern also incorporates short rows to balance the sections and create a more even finished fabric. Techniques used include: Tunisian Post Stitch Arrowhead Stitch Smock Stitch Tunisian knit stitch Tunisian purl stitch Tunisian reverse stitch Tunisian simple stitch Tunisian decreases Yarn overs and yarn unders Short rows Tunisian bind off Seaming Pattern details: Yarn: DK weight yarn, approximately 315 yards Hook: 7 mm Tunisian crochet hook with a 16" cable, or size needed to meet gauge Gauge: 14.5 sts x 15.5 rows = 4" x 4" Construction: Worked flat, top down, then partially seamed Skill level: Best suited for crocheters comfortable with the fundamentals of Tunisian crochet and ready to explore more advanced stitches The sample shown was made with Sunshine Queen Fiber Arts Cruella DK in the colorway Blue Hydrangea, a 60% Fine Non-Superwash Merino / 40% Silk blend. Video support is included. The pattern contains links to tutorials for the Arrowhead Stitch, Smock Stitch, and the adapted Tunisian Post Stitch used in Cassandra. If you know the basics of Tunisian crochet and are looking for a project that will help you expand your stitch repertoire, the Cassandra Cowl was designed to be that next step.