Today I am excited to debut my third Tunisian crochet coat design – the Priestess Coat! To be honest, I did not think that I would ever publish a written pattern for this design, the first draft of which appeared in my blog 3 years ago.
It was originally an attempt at a fuller, more feminine coat, based off of my already-existing Shaman Coat written pattern. Deciding that I needed to start from the ground up to get what I really wanted, the redesign eventually led to the Elf Coat, which is totally different in appearance and construction.
I had posted some pictures of this original draft (above), and linked to them when I talked about the process of dreaming up the Elf Coat, and do you know what? Lots of people actually followed that link, and read the original post, and still wanted a pattern for the first attempt! So many people asked over the years that I decided to go ahead and just finally write a full pattern for that coat as well!
What can I say? I’m a people-pleaser at heart 😀
With the help of a stellar team of pattern testers, the Priestess Coat design has been written for SIX sizes and includes all the usual bells and whistles – read on for more details or get the pattern directly from my Etsy Shop , Ko-fi Shop, or Ravelry Pattern Store. Scroll all the way to the bottom to hear about the BIG SALE!
Priestess Coat Tunisian Crochet Pattern
Create a prismatic rainbow robe or a shimmering mantle dark as a raven’s feather with the imaginative Priestess Coat, a full-length Tunisian Crochet pattern written for six sizes (XS-2XL). Expanding on the ideas of my simpler Shaman Coat design, this all-new pattern combines the ease of construction with flattering flair using corset lacing and graceful pointed panels.
You’ll want to find any reason to wear this glorious garment – the monkishly wide, lightly flared sleeves are great for tucking in nippy hands while the hood keeps the neck and head toasty. Easy corset lacing in the back creates structure and adds interest, leading down to the stars of the show – the diamond panels, stitched individually into openings left in the pattern of the main coat!
Though it looks complex, the Priestess Coat is crocheted with just Tunisian Simple Stitch and a few other basic techniques. The pattern includes written instructions for sizes XS-2XL, detailed tutorial photographs, schematics, and how-to’s for all the special stitches needed to create this magical mantle.
The PDF files also include a Tunisian Primer for those that have never worked Tunisian crochet before, and links to my video resources made specifically for my Tunisian coat patterns!
Materials Needed:
Main Hook: 6.50 mm Tunisian hook (or size needed to obtain gauge) – straight Tunisian single ended hook or single-ended Tunisian cabled hook is fine
Border & Laces : 5.50 mm regular crochet hook
Fur Trim: 11.5 mm regular crochet hook
or sizes needed to obtain gauge
Main Yarn: Lion Brand Shawl in a Ball (#4 weight, 150 g / 481 yds, Cotton/Acrylic): 4 (4, 5, 5, 6, 6) skeins, 1900 – 2900 yds total
Accent Yarn: Lion Brand Go for Faux Thick & Quick (#7 weight, 120 g / 24 yd, Polyester): 2-3 skeins (48-72 yds total)
Yarn needle, Tapestry needle, Scissors
Length of Ribbon / Yarn / Fabric (for back lacing)
Buttons or lacing for the front (optional)
**Lots of people have asked about the specific yarn and quantities I used for the coat pictured – here’s the answer!** – I used a lot of different colors of the recommended Shawl in a Ball because this coat was made from scraps – the main body is Feng Shui Gray, and the Medium size uses 2.5 skeins of that for the entire body. One entire skein of that same yarn makes about 2.5 of the diamond panels (which will take the same amount of yarn no matter the size), and I mixed and matched the colors a lot for those but the ones I used are Metallic Prism, Metallic Moonstone, Peaceful Earth, and Calming Desert 🙂 The Hood is also mixed and matched and includes some Metallic Namaste Neutrals as well.
Written in English using US crochet terminology.
All my life I’ve loved mythology, history, and fantasy – so of course it comes out in my art, as I express whatever spirit I’m trying to capture in fabric. Whether it’s priestesses and valkyries or shamans and tricksters – I hope it’s a story that empowers people. People tell stories and stories change people; I want to tell the right ones so I can help change the world, even if it’s only a tiny part of it.
So the release of this pattern I’m offering a rare BOGO deal through my Ravelry Pattern Store only – buy the Priestess Coat pattern, get the Shaman Coat pattern for free with the code “STORIES” for the first full WEEK of the new pattern debut (through the end of 10/22). Just put them both in your cart and enter the code during checkout! Since I consider the Shaman Coat the simpler, beginner sister to the Priestess Coat, I wanted to make sure everyone had a chance to access both patterns in case they wanted to practice with the easier one first!
You can also get the 2-pattern Priestess Coat / Shaman Coat bundle in my Etsy Shop and save $2, or save $3 with the 3-pattern bundle which includes the Elf Coat PDF as well. These bundles are everyday deals and aren’t going anywhere! Also, don’t forget about my multi-pattern discount codes – listed in the header of my Etsy Shop and in every paid pattern description in my Ravelry Store:
Pattern Store Discount Codes:
15% off of 2: MF15OFF
20% off of 3-4: MF20OFF
25% off of 5-6: MF25OFF
30% off of 7: MF30OFF
I say this a lot but I could never do my art without those that buy from me and support me, so THANK YOU!! From the bottom of my heart – and stay tuned because my gratitude is alchemically turned into more patterns for you! 😉 <3
-MF
Some costume credits go to two of my favorite shops! The comfy stretch knit dark blue dress I’m wearing is the Fit & Flair dress from Elven Forest Creations on Etsy.
The gorgeous Luna Moth hair clip is from The Forest Fae, find their Etsy shop here.
I highly recommend both shops!
P.S – My brother once asked (in actual curiosity) what I did for my business besides twirl around in fields. 😀 The answer is A LOT of different stuff – geometry and math and accounting and graphic design and writing and editing and troubleshooting – the twirling is only about 5% of it. But MAN it is the best 5%!
Wow! Such a beautiful coat! I’ve bought the pattern straight away, yarn shopping this weekend 🙂
I am just finishing the elf coat, it’s looking fabulous, such good timing now that I’m ready to start a new project.
Thank you for your creative and ‘different’ patterns, the fantasy theme is just what I’m looking for and I particularly love Tunisian crochet now that I’ve got knack of it.
Wish me luck! 🙂
Aww hooray! That just makes my day to hear 🙂 Bless you and thank you so much for the awesome feedback! <3
Hi,
It’s been a while but I’m just finishing my priestess coat. All the quarantine overeating has taken it’s toll and it looks like it will be a bit small. Rather than unpick and start again, do you have any tips on adding a border to the front to add width please? Perhaps the border used on the elf coat would work? (I have that pattern too)
I’d appreciate your ideas.
Many thanks
Suzi
Hi Suzi! Yes, adding more rows to each side of the front border will work to widen the front of the coat. The Priestess design itself isn’t really designed to close efficiently (its more of an open front garment) but I’ve seen lots of people just add multiple straight rows on either side of the front opening to create a better panel for closing and adding fastenings 🙂
Bought the beautiful pattern but nowhere in the instructions can I find what colors of Shawl in a Ball were used. Please advise.
Hi Joy! The main model for this coat was created with lots of scraps of the recommended yarn, so that makes it hard to determine quantity for each color. Here’s the best summary I have (which is listed in the Item Description in my Pattern stores but not unfortunately on this blog post so far:
I used a lot of different colors of the recommended Shawl in a Ball – the main body is Feng Shui Gray, and the Medium size uses 2.5 skeins of that for the entire body. One entire skein of that same yarn makes about 2.5 of the diamond panels (which will take the same amount of yarn no matter the size), and I mixed and matched the colors a lot for those but the ones I used are Metallic Prism, Metallic Moonstone, Peaceful Earth, and Calming Desert 🙂 The Hood is also mixed and matched and includes some Metallic Namaste Neutrals as well.
Love it! Such impressive design skills!! Yay for Tunisian Crochet!!👌🏻👌🏻👏🏻
Aw, thank you so much! Yay for Tunisian Crochet! <3
time for me to finally practise my tunisian crochet (don’t really get the hang of it) but I need to have this coat 😀
Aww yay! Don’t forget my YouTube playlist for Tunisian Techniques (I’m really not great at videos yet but I hope they are helpful!)
https://youtu.be/_i8JEaMwoXg
the start wasn’t easy but now I have it. I’m in row 22 of the coat now. Thanks für the videos
You are so welcome, I’m glad they helped! If you have any questions at all just let me know <3 <3
I’m so excited to start 🙂
Can you please share which colours you used in the Lion Brand shawl in a ball, the ratio of how many skeins for the main body and how many for the diamonds etc (I’ll do the maths to get to my size Large- assuming you made the small size?)
Also, have you tried this with Tunisian knit stitch? I’m guessing it would give a tighter fabric?
Yay I am excited too!
Yep I made the size Small, and the main body + sleeves took about 2 – 2.5 skeins of Shawl in a Ball in Feng Shui Gray. Each of the Diamond Panels are about 2.5 panels from one skein of Shawl, give or take a little, but I mixed and matched heavily for all the panels because I was using scrap yarns mostly – here are the colors I used, but some of the panels have multiple colorways (the hood is also made of a bunch of small scraps from different colorways): Calming Desert, Moonstone, and Namaste Neutrals, and Prism ( I think Prism might have disappeared since I bought mine)
One of my testers did try this out in TKS, and yes, it shrinks the fabric a bit and makes a slightly tighter coat 🙂 I hope that helps and thanks so much for visiting!
I should mention, the diamond panels do not get smaller or bigger for the sizes, so for 6 diamond panels you’ll need 2.5-3 skeins no matter what size you’re making, unless you modify 🙂
Thank you, lucky me- I can get all colours in the UK 🙂 I think I’ll check the gauge and maybe make one size bigger but using TKS, it’s cold here in the winter and a tighter weave makes for a warmer coat!
Oh awesome! Prism is my favorite but I couldn’t find it on the official LB website. 🙂 Good luck! I’d love to see how it turns out!
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I just purched the priestess coat pattern. Am excited to get started! My question to you is do I have to use a wool blend yarn? Do you think this would work up as nicely as yours if I used a regular yarn?
Hi Kim! It really depends on what yarn you are using, and you’ll have to meet the gauge in the pattern to ultimately determine whether or not a yarn is right for the project 🙂 What is the brand and the specs for the yarn you have in mind?
I’ve decided to use the wool blend.
Using the pattern I purchased, can I leave out the two front diamond panels and keep a straight front as pictured in the coddlestone colored coat? That is beautiful 😍
Yes definitely! That was the way the first coat was made and I do think it’s very charming that way too! Just skip working the two front panel splits and I think that’s all you’ll have to change for that 🙂
Hey! I found your site by doing a reverse-image search on photos of this coat.
An ad popped up on FB today for a store filled with beautiful handmade textiles at ridiculously cheap prices. They’re “selling” this coat for about $40. I knew that was impossible, so I did a reverse-image search and wound up here.
I suspect they’re stealing photos and descriptions off Ravelry? Who know what — if anything — they’re actually selling. If I were you, I’d want to know… so here’s the link. https://vivianini.com/collections
Hi Lauren! Thanks so much for letting me know :/ That sucks but I appreciate you taking the time to find me and tell me!
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I’ve loved looking through your patterns! Gorgeous! I noticed you frequently use the faux fur yarn on your edges – do you have any advice for weaving in the ends? I’m finding that no matter what I do they always end up working and slipping their way out.
Hi Noelle, thank you so much! Unfortunately I always have that same issue with the jumbo fur yarn, it just doesn’t seem to want to stay put, lol! I leave a really long length (12″ or more) to weave in as that seems to help some 🙂
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Amazing!!! I love all of your patterns
Hi. I just bought this fabulous pattern without any code at all! 🙁 Silly of me.
The message said that I could contact you with any question regarding the pattern, but the message went away and I couldn’t see where to, so here I am,
The problem is swatching. I want to use my Mandala Stash. The gauge I like for the texture and the fabric created is with hook 5.5. This gives me a swatch of 2″ x 2″ with 10 stitches and 8 rows, instead of 7 stitches and 6 rows.
What shall I do? I also made swatches with a 7 mm for an 8st x 7 rows and with an 8 mm for 7.5 st x 6 rows, but it is too open, My favorite swatch is the first one.
Thank you for your help.
Hi Mariela! The Priestess Coat pattern includes schematics that list the total length (in rows) of each portion of the pattern, so you should be able to use your favorite gauge swatch and just add or subtract rows to match the listed lengths 🙂 You can find the lengths of each section of listed rows by plugging in the math from the gauge – so for instance a 30 row section in the pattern would mean at 6 rows per 2 inch to the listed gauge, that section should be 10 inches long – from there you can figure that if you have a gauge that is 8 rows per two inches, your 10 inch long section would need (8 rows x 5) = 40 rows instead of 30 🙂
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