If you’re a regular reader of this here weblog, you know that I love to spin yarn and that recently I’ve been spinning a lot of art yarns full of glorious lumpy texture: slubs, coils, beehives, and locks! It’s these crazy textures that make stitching with art yarns almost as fun as making them.

However, there really aren’t a lot of crochet patterns out there that feature art yarns – most example projects I come across are knits, and for good reason. Knit stitching is generally easier to use when working up these super-lumpy strands because it involves less wrapping around and pulling through. But there is one form of crochet I’ve been doing a lot lately that really lends itself to using art yarns : TUNISIAN, yeah buddy!

UPDATE 8/2020: Never tried Tunisian before? There is now a growing playlist full of Tunisian Crochet video tutorials over on the Morale Fiber YouTube channel – check it out!

Tunisian tends to trap textures on the nubby, bumpy wrong side… so with a little special trickery, I created this fantastical hood that showcases the all the art yarn awesomeness (and uses as little as 30 yds of it!).  Check out the Trickster Hood pattern now in my Etsy Shop or Ravelry Pattern store for 5.95 USD!

Trickster Art Yarn Hood

The Trickster Hood is a fantastical fae accessory with a long point, deep hood, and a ton of possibilities! This bad boy comes in Large and Small sizes and can be trimmed with any novelty yarn or just 30-50 yards of handspun art yarn!

The hood is worked flat in Tunisian crochet and then seamed up the bottom side. The main body uses a mix of worsted weight yarns with blended color changes and the trim alternates bulky yarn with novelty or art yarns. The front of the bonnet-style hood is fastened with a button so you can wear it up around the face or down on the shoulders.

Isn’t it too dang cute?!

Don’t know Tunisian crochet? This pattern comes with the Tunisian Primer as a bonus PDF file, with all the basics of Tunisian techniques that you will need to work this pattern. The pattern itself includes photo-tutorials on color changing, construction, and stitching with art yarn.

Back to front – Large size hoods Bonfire (with Teeswater locks art yarn), Mabh (with novelty fur yarn Romance), and Magnolia (with handspun beehive yarn). Very front: Small hood Pagan Santa (with novelty fur yarn Romance)

Requirements:
6.50 mm Tunisian hk, 5.00 mm regular crochet hk
About 320 yds total #4 weight yarn (I used Lion Brand Heartland – lengths for specific colors are given in the pattern)
200-250 yds #5 or #6 weight yarn
30-50 yds Super Bulky weight hand spun Art Yarn OR 50-60 yds novelty fur or eyelash yarn (I used Lion Brand Romance)

In the spirit of doing holiday stuff way too early, I made the smallest size pictured as a non-traditional winter holiday hat!

Sort of reminds me of those old-fashioned Santa Clauses that I always preferred over the weird bloated Coca-Cola version of Santa. I dunno, he just looks much less manic than modern Santa, with his faraway look and basket full of branches.

Like he’s really just an old, confused guy and can’t remember whether he’s delivering presents or trimming people’s hedges.

-MF