Bettie Bobble Tunisian Cowl

Bettie Bobble Tunisian Cowl by KnotBadBritt

Project Overview

The Bettie Bobble Tunisian Cowl is a crocheted cowl designed by Brittany Garber of KnotBadBritt. This downloadable PDF pattern creates a finished cowl measuring 14 inches wide by 10 inches tall (35cm x 25cm). The cowl is worked flat along the short side and then blocked to minimize curl before being seamed together, making it an ideal project for crocheters looking to explore Tunisian techniques.

Craft and Construction Technique

This pattern utilizes Tunisian crochet, a hybrid technique that combines elements of crochet and knitting. Tunisian crochet creates a denser, more fabric-like texture compared to traditional crochet. The Bettie Bobble Tunisian Cowl is worked flat in rows, meaning you create a rectangular piece that is later blocked and seamed into a circular cowl shape. The blocking step is essential to this design, as it helps minimize natural curl and achieves the intended finished dimensions.

Stitches and Stitch Techniques

This pattern features two primary Tunisian stitches:

• Tunisian Knit Stitch (tks): The foundational stitch used throughout most of the pattern, abbreviated as "tks" in the pattern instructions. This stitch creates a knit-like appearance and forms the base structure of the cowl.
• Tunisian Bobble Stitch (tbs): A decorative stitch that adds textural interest and visual dimension to the cowl. Bobble stitches create raised, bumpy details that give the design its distinctive name and appearance.

The pattern also uses standard crochet abbreviations including Chain (ch), Yarn Over (yo), and the Last Tunisian Stitch (lts) and Return Pass (RetP) which are specific to Tunisian crochet construction.

Yarn and Materials

The Bettie Bobble Tunisian Cowl is designed using DK weight yarn. The recommended yarn is Farm Twist DK by Madeline Tosh, though any DK weight yarn of your choice will work with this pattern. The project requires 420 yards of yarn total.

Essential tools include a 5.5mm Tunisian crochet hook (with a 5-inch cord or a straight Tunisian crochet hook), a tapestry needle for seaming and weaving in ends, and scissors. The recommended gauge is 16 Tunisian knit stitches by 14 rows over a 4-inch by 4-inch swatch (10cm x 10cm) when unblocked.

Difficulty Level and Pattern Format

This pattern is rated as Advanced Beginner difficulty, making it suitable for crocheters who have mastered basic crochet techniques and are ready to explore Tunisian methods. The pattern is written in US crochet terminology using standard crochet shorthand abbreviations. For example, "tks 2" means to work a Tunisian knit stitch in each of the next two stitches. The pattern is provided as a downloadable PDF created by independent designer KnotBadBritt (Brittany Garber).