Winter Winds Neck Warmer
Free Crochet Pattern by Amanda Schaefer (Muttikam)

Time to get a head start on our winter wardrobe! Tunisian knit stitch mixed with crochet lace gives this neckwarmer an elegant air, while maintaining its functional use as a neckwarmer. Consider this pattern an etude in mixing conventional and Tunisian crochet techniques.

TECHNIQUES & DIFFICULTY

Tunisian crochet
Tunisian knit stitch
Tunisian Tss3tog (shell) stitch
Ball stitch
V-stitch
Reverse single crochet (AKA crab stitch)

The neckwarmer is worked in three separate stages:
Tunisian knit stitch back panel
Two crochet lace side panels
Edging and finishing off

During the last stage, the neckwarmer is joined in the round, and a length of chain stitches is used to lace it up the front like a corset, allowing the user to simply pull it over their head.

I recommend this pattern for intermediate crocheters and above. Tunisian crochet is very simple to learn, however, the construction of the neckwarmer may be a bit confusing to someone who is new to crochet.

MATERIALS

1 skein of worsted weight yarn
My recommendation: Caron Simply Soft, White
Size J (6mm) hook
Size F hook


PATTERN
*A photo tutorial will be posted as soon as I can put it together*

"KNIT PANEL"
With J Hook

Some Terms Used:
YO - Yarn over

Chain 34.
Insert hook in second ch from hook, YO, pull the yarn through (you now have two loops on your hook).
*Insert hook into the next ch, YO, pull the yarn through (this adds one more loop onto your hook). Repeat from * until the end. You should have 34 loops on your hook.

YO, pull through the first loop on your hook.
*YO, pull through the next two loops on your hook.* Repeat from * to * until you have one loop left on your hook.

You should now have a strip of what look like vertical bars. As you can probably tell by now, Tunisian crochet is the process of pulling loops up onto your hook (known as forward pass), and then working them off in pairs of two (known as return pass). Each "row" of Tunisian crochet is comprised of one forward and one return pass, and you always work in the same direction (i.e. you never turn the work as you would in conventional crochet or knitting).

Examine one of the vertical bars closely. Notice that there is a bar in the front (facing you), and a bar behind it. When you are pulling up loops of Tunisian knit stitch onto your hook, you want to pierce in between the front and back bar, so that your hook comes out the back of your work. Please use the following image for reference.


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Skip the very first vertical bar. Insert your hook into the second bar from your hook and pull up a loop. Repeat this process until you reach the end. Do not forget to pull up a loop through the stitch on the edge as well!

YO, pull through the first loop on your hook (this counts as a turning chain).
*YO, pull through the next two loops on your hook.* Repeat from * to * until you have one loop left on your hook.

Work a total of 17 rows of Tunisian knit stitch. One row is comprised of one forward and one return pass. You should be able to count 17 rows of "v" shaped stitches and 34 columns of the same.

"LACE PANEL"
With J Hook

Some Terms Used:
BALL STITCH
*YO, draw up a loop,* repeat a total of 4 times, YO, draw through all loops on hook.
SHELL STITCH
(2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in specified st.

1: Working down the short side of the knit stitch panel, sc in every stitch across (you should have a total of 17 sc, one sc in the side of every row of knit stitch). Turn.

2: Ch 2, *skip 2 sts, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in next st [shell made], skip 2 sts, hdc in next st* repeat from * to * 2 more times. Turn.

3: Ch 3, 1 dc in same st. *Ball st in next ch 1 space, shell in next hdc,* repeat from * to * once. Ball st in next ch 1 space, 2 dc in top of ch 2.

4: Ch 2, *shell in top of next ball st, ball st in next ch 1 space,* repeat from * to * once, shell in top of next ball st, 1 hdc in last dc.

5: Ch 3, dc in same st. *Ball st in next ch 1 space, shell in top of next ball,* repeat from * to * once. Ball st in next ch 1 spaxce, 2 dc in top of ch 2. Turn.

6: Sc in every st across. You should have 17 sc. Fasten off.
Repeat "Lace Panel" on the other side of the knit panel.

"EDGING"
With F hook

"Eyelets"
Join yarn with sl st to first sc of Row 6. Pull up a loop in every st as if you were working a row of Tunisian crochet.
*YO, pull through 1 loop, YO, pull through 3 loops,* repeat to end. You should have 6 open spaces.

Fasten off and repeat on other side of piece.

"Reverse Single Crochet"
Join yarn in corner of "Eyelets." Work reverse sc down the side of lace panel, across the bottom row of knit st, and continue to the other end of the lace panel and Eyelets. Join to other side. Fasten off and repeat for bottom edge.

With F hook, chain 150. Fasten off. Use this length of stitches to lace through the eyelets if desired (a ribbon of choice may also be used).

I do not have my patterns tested by other crocheters before I publish them. Feel free to contact me with any and all pattern-support questions at the following email: art@muttikam.com.