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The Five Peaks Tunisian Crochet Shawl: Class Resources

5 views of Five Peaks Tunisian Crochet shawl
I created this resource list for my students & others to explore the Five Peaks Tunisian crochet shawl, and similar start-in-a-corner, edge-as-you-go L-shaped wraps. This extra information didn’t fit into a standard three-hour class. Some items are names of designers, books, etc., that I may have mentioned in class.
Below I also include a complete list of my downloadable patterns for Tunisian crochet shawls and accessories. In classes I show a huge amount of published and unpublished crochet designs. They illustrate what we learn in class, and what can happen when we take it further.              — Vashti Braha

The Five Peaks Tunisian Crochet Shawl design

All about the “Half-Hitch” stitch

Vashti’s Crochet Inspirations newsletter: Recommended Issues

{This is 2020 Vashti popping in to say that these are in the process of being uploaded to this blog and updated. Links available soon.}

  • Issue #48: “Diagonal Tunisian Crochet Discovery”
  • Issue #44: “Dainty Eyelets for Winter Lace”
  • Issue #64

View all of my downloadable Tunisian crochet shawl patterns

Diagonal striping of corner-to-corner wide wool scarf

This is the Four Peaks Scarf, a stepping-stone version of the Five Peaks Shawl. It starts in one corner and increases at both edges, just like Five Peaks starts. Then you decrease along one side while increasing along the other for as long as you like. When you decrease along both sides, you’ll eventually create the opposite corner—or the “fourth peak”.

All of these steps are used for the Five Peaks too, but…differently enough to get five corners instead of four.

Isn’t it beautiful what this construction method does with a self-striping yarn?

Getting Geeky About the Geometry of the Five Peaks

Inspiring Features, Examples, and Variations of the Five Peaks L-Shape

Try this self-updating Ravelry search. When I tried it, 32 results came up and it seems most of them are true L-Shaped shawls. (Some V-shaped ones are too, but many V’s are not right angles like the bottom point of an L-shaped shawl is.)


Five Peaks Tunisian Crochet Shawl Class was held September 12, 2012 at the CGOA ‘Knit and Crochet Show’ conference in Reno, Nevada (Grand Sierra Resort). 

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Summer-Fall 2012 Crochet Class Schedule

I’ll Be Teaching Crochet Classes and Meeting Up with Fellow Crocheters at these National 2012 Events

Class: Tunisian Crochet Meshes: The Weightless Wrap & Variations
Class: Tunisian Crochet Meshes: The Weightless Wrap & Variations

  1. June 27 – July 1 in Manchester, New Hampshire: Summer Chain Link Conference produced by the Crochet Guild of America (CGOA); register at The Knit and Crochet Show site. Classes are already selling out and a second hotel has been added!
  2. September 12 – 16 in Reno, Nevada: Fall Chain Link CGOA Conference; registration will open in July here.

 

Classes Listed by Topic

See event links above for class descriptions

Slip Stitch Crochet Classes:

Combines two basic Slip Stitch types
Class: Introduction to Slip Stitch Technique (Slip Tectonics Cowl)

  1. Introduction to Slip Stitch Crochet Technique: June 28th in Manchester NH (SOLD OUT), and September 13 in Reno NV (see registration link above)
  2. Class: Advanced Slip Stitch Technique (Slip Swoop Loop, forthcoming design)
    Class: Advanced Slip Stitch Technique (Slip Swoop Loop, forthcoming design)

    Advanced Slip Stitch Technique: June 28th in Manchester NH (SOLD OUT)

 

Tunisian Crochet Classes:

  1. Tunisian Crochet Lace 101: June 29th in Manchester NH (SOLD OUT)

    Class: Tunisian Crochet Lace 101 (Quartz, class project version of Aero)
    Class: Tunisian Crochet Lace 101 (Quartz, class project version of Aero)
  2. The Five Peaks Shawl: September 12 in Reno NV (see registration link above)

    Class: The Five Peaks Wrap (Tunisian crochet on the bias with lacy eyelets for a shape that stays on your shoulders)
    Class: The Five Peaks Wrap (Tunisian crochet on the bias with lacy eyelets for a shape that stays on your shoulders)
  3. Tunisian Crochet Meshes: The Weightless Wrap: September 14 in Reno NV (see photo at top of screen and registration link above)

 

More Crochet Class Topics for 2012:

  1. Embracelet
    Class: Creating Crochet Jewelry (Embracelet)

    Love Knot Adventures: June 29th in Manchester NH (SOLD OUT)

  2. Creating Crochet Jewelry: September 13 in Reno NV (see registration link above)
  3. Class: Love Knot Adventures (Nakshatra, forthcoming)
    Class: Love Knot Adventures (Nakshatra, forthcoming)

    How to Prepare a Design Proposal, presentation for Professional Development Day: September 12 in Reno NV (see registration link above)

 

Regional Crochet Events

I’m honored to be leading the Annual Crochet Retreat of the Northern Illinois CGOA Chapter in Oregon, IL (Chicago area), October 26-29 2012. Retreat topics (more details to come):

  1. Special Topics in Slip Stitch Crochet
  2. Advanced Tunisian Crochet Lace

More Relevant Photos:

Retreat Topic: Advanced Tunisian Crochet Lace (Rivuline, preview of forthcoming design)
Retreat Topic: Advanced Tunisian Crochet Lace (Rivuline, preview of forthcoming design)

Class: Advanced Slip Stitch Technique (new stitch combos, forthcoming design)
Class: Advanced Slip Stitch Technique (new stitch combos, forthcoming design)

Class: Creating Crochet Jewelry (Cabochon Braid, forthcoming design)
Class: Creating Crochet Jewelry (Cabochon Braid, forthcoming design)

Pullover Shrug

The most elementary and historic of crochet stitches – the Slip Stitch – has modern effortless style. As a “pullover shrug” the stitch has a stretch and drape to rival knits, and works up quickly with a large hook.

This pattern is a new, enhanced version of one that was published as CGOA pattern #028, when the Crochet Guild of America had their own pattern line. I’m now free to offer this design here at my own pattern site and the pattern now encompasses a range of crochet skill levels.

Customizing options are included for more experienced crocheters. For less experienced crocheters, the main pattern is written with few abbreviations.

Skill Level

Easy-Intermediate because a bit of increasing is used for the mock cowl neck. It’s otherwise an Easy-level pattern due to the elementary stitch and simple folded rectangle design. (It’s mindless enough that I can make it while talking on the phone until I get to the cowl neck and beaded trim.) The looser gauge and larger-than-normal hook size might require practice for some crocheters.

International English equivalents for American measurements, yarn weights, and stitch terms are provided in brackets.

After using this pattern you will know (if you didn’t already):

  • How to make the simplest fabric-quality slip stitch
  • The importance of a hook-led stitch gauge
  • A fun, easy beaded chain fringe that adds drape to a sleeve
  • An easy way to construct a shrug or cropped pullover (a.k.a. “micro-shrug”)

Finished Dimensions

Center Back Neck-to-Cuff Measurement:

  • XSmall-Medium: 27”-29”
  • Large-2XLarge: 30”-32”
  • 3XLarge-5XLarge: 32”-33” 

Options for customizing the fit are provided within the pattern for Intermediate-level crocheters.

Materials

  • Crochet Hooks: Sizes M/9mm and L/8mm or sizes needed to obtain gauge.
  • Yarn: 525 yds (630 yds, 735 yds) of a CYC #4 medium weight yarn {UK: between DK and Aran}. Yarn shown: Berroco Denim Silk (80% Rayon, 20% Silk, 105yds/96m per 1.75oz/50g skein), color #1415 Mystic. This yarn has been discontinued. It is a ribbon yarn with a knitted tube construction, but many types of yarn will look great. This simple stitch showcases a yarn with subtle color or texture variation, making a wide range of fashion looks possible. The sleek tonal silk-flecked yarn pictured here has a casual chic look that pairs well with jeans. A metallic yarn, for example, would give a dramatically different look.
  • Two stitch markers
  • Beads: 60 to 70 medium-sized assorted glass beads that have holes large enough for yarn to pass through. Shown: Cousin Corporation of America’s “Rainbow Glass Beads!” One 360g box of mixed colors used.
  • Bead stringing needle (or a stiffener for the yarn end to aid stringing, such as glue, nail polish, beeswax, etc.)

About the Stitch Technique

For some reason, the slip stitch in English-language crochet books is rarely featured as a stitch for making fabric, even as late as 2010. Yet, an all-slip stitch fabric has important qualities for crochet. The often underestimated slip stitch is an antique form of crochet. It is often called “Bosnian Crochet” but is found in many cultures by many names, and is created with sometimes unusual crochet hooks.