I’m excited to share this free Tunisian crochet pattern for a boxy summer top, the Oblique Shell. First published in Crochet Foundry magazine, this pattern is deceptively simple and worked up in luscious cotton yarn. Perfect for the office, by the pool, or on vacation, this versatile shell will quickly become a wardrobe staple.
With its easy-to-memorize combination of basic Tunisian crochet stitches and minimal shaping, you’ll be ready to wow everyone in no time.
Oblique Shell
Materials
WeCrochet Cotlin 50 g (123 yd/112 m) 70% Tanguis cotton, 30% Linen
7 (8, 9, 10, 12) (13, 14, 15, 16) balls
Colourway in picture : Marina
Hook
8 mm Tunisian crochet hook (straight, or with shortest cable)
Notions
Gauge
16 sts x 11 rows = 4 in (10 cm), blocked
To check your gauge
Make a gauge swatch to measure against information above. Adjust hook accordingly.
TO MAKE YOUR GAUGE SWATCH
Foundation Row – FP: Chain 24. Insert hook in back bump of the 2nd ch from the hook, yo, pull up a loop, [insert
hook in the back bump of the next ch, yo, pull up a loop] keeping all loops on hook repeat in all chs across.
RP (throughout). Yo, pull through 1 loop on hook, [yo, pull through 2 loops on hook] repeat until 1 loop remains on
hook.
Row 1 – FP: [Tps2tog with next 2 sts, tls] repeat across, work last st. RP.
Row 2 – FP: Tss in next st, [Tps2tog with next 2 sts, tls] repeat until 2 sts remain, Tss in next st, work last st. RP.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 ten more times. Fasten off. Wet block your swatch and leave to air dry before checking
measurements against information herein.
Available sizes
Bust circumference:
30 (34, 38, 42, 46) (50, 54, 58, 62) in
76 (86, 96.5, 117) (127, 137, 147, 157.5) cm
Includes 2 in (5 cm) positive ease
Stitch guide
ch… chain
FP… forward pass
fr… foundation row
hdc… half double crochet
RP… return pass
sc… single crochet
sl st… slip stitch
st… stitch
tls… top loop stitch
Tps2tog… Tunisian purl 2 stitches together
Tss… Tunisian simple stitch
yo… yarn over
Notes
In Tunisian crochet, the loop that remains on the hook after the return pass is the 1st st of the next row; begin rows in the 2nd st, unless otherwise indicated.
Two panels are crocheted from the bottom up, with decreases at the underarms.
Panels are blocked before seaming.
Panels are seamed from bottom to underarm, and from shoulder to top of collar.
Tunisian stitches explained
Foundation row – forward pass (Fr-FP). Chain as specified. Insert hook in back bump of the 2nd ch from the hook,
yo, pull up a loop, [insert hook in the back bump of the next ch, yo, pull up a loop] keeping all loops on hook repeat
in all chs across.
Return pass (RP). Yo, pull through 1 loop on hook, [yo, pull through 2 loops on hook] repeat until 1 loop remains on
hook.
Tunisian Simple Stitch – forward pass (Tss-FP). [Insert hook under the front vertical bar of the next st, yo, pull up a
loop] keeping all loops on hook repeat in all sts across, insert hook under both vertical bars at the edge of the row,
yo, pull up a loop – last st made.
Return pass (RP). Yo, pull through 1 loop on hook, [yo, pull through 2 loops on hook] repeat until 1 loop remains on
hook.
Tunisian purl 2 stitches together (Ts2tog): Bring yarn to front of work and behind head of hook, insert hook under
vertical bar of next 2 stitches, yarn over, pull up a loop.
Top loop st (tls): Insert hook through horizontal loop between last st made and next stitch, yo, pull up a loop.
Binding off in Tunisian crochet. Bind off last row sts by making a sl st in each st.
I highly recommend New Stitch a Day tutorials for those who need a more visual explanation.
Instructions
Pannel (make 2)
Foundation Row – FP. Ch 62 (70, 78, 86, 94) (102, 110, 118, 126). Insert hook in back bump of the 2nd ch from the hook, yo, pull up a loop, [insert hook in the back bump of the next ch, yo, pull up a loop] keeping all loops on hook repeat in all chs across.
RP (throughout). Yo, pull through 1 loop on hook, [yo, pull through 2 loops on hook] repeat until 1 loop remains on hook. 62 (70, 78, 86, 94) (102, 110, 118, 126) sts
Row 1 – FP: [Tps2tog with next 2 sts, tls] repeat across, work last st. RP.
Row 2 – FP: Tss in next st, [Tps2tog with next 2 sts, tls] repeat until 2 sts remain, Tss in next st, work last st. RP
Rows 3-40 (40, 40, 38, 38) (38, 36, 36, 36). Repeat Rows 1-2.
Next row – FP (underarm decrease). Sl st in next 3 sts, Tps2tog with current and next st, tls, [Tps2tog with next 2 sts, tls] repeat until 3 sts remain, leave remaining sts unworked. RP. 56 (64, 72, 80, 88) (96, 104, 112, 120) sts
Armhole – Rows 1-19 (21, 21, 23, 25) (25, 27, 29, 29). Repeat Rows 2-1. Place a marker on either side of last row worked to mark end of armhole section (shoulder).
Collar – Rows 1-26 (28, 28, 28, 30) (30, 30, 32, 32). Repeat Rows 2-1.
Last row. Repeat Row 2 once more.
Bind off by making a sl st in each st across. Fasten off. 56 (64, 72, 80, 88) (96, 104, 112, 120) sts
Join yarn to first unworked stitch at end of underarm decrease row. Bind off 3 unworked sts. Fasten off.
Weave all ends in.
Finishing
Wet block panels, pin in place according to schematic on next page, and leave to air dry.
With right sides facing each other, sew panels together as follows:
- From Bottom to underarm decrease row.
- From marked point at shoulder to top of collar.
Repeat on second side.
Join yarn to underarm bottom seam, ch 1, sl st in each row end, sl st in first st, fasten off. 42 (46, 46, 50, 54) (54, 58, 62, 62) sts
Repeat on second side.
TIPS
For a boxier fit, work the same number of rows as written, but do not decrease at underarms and omit the sl sts around the armholes at finishing.
As written, the Oblique shell sits at or just above the hips. For a waist-length top, work 16 fewer rows before the underarm decreases.
Sleeve caps
For fluttery sleeve caps, instead of working a round of slip stitches at underarms do this:
Join yarn to underarm bottom seam.
Row 1. Ch 1, sc in next 12 (13, 13, 15, 16) (16, 17, 18, 18) sts, hdc in next 12 (14, 14, 14, 16) (16, 18, 20, 20) sts, sc in last 12 (13, 13, 15, 16) (16, 17, 18, 18)
sts, turn. Repeat Row 1 twice more, fasten off and weave ends in.
Tightening the neckline
If you want to be able to tighten the neckline, make a crochet cord 3x the width of the shell, and weave the cord through the stitches 3 rows above the top of
the armhole. Tighten as desired and tie a bow with the ends of the cord.
Love this pattern? Share THE LINK to my website with your friends: accrochet.com!
Julie xo
