Hello everyone! Tara here—

I’ve been on a bit of a Tunisian crochet kick lately and I’ve really been enjoying the projects I’ve been working on (one of which you’ll be seeing in a future issue)!

If you’re just learning Tunisian crochet, the below stitches are really great to know because they’re some of the most common Tunisian stitches used.

In this post, I wanted to go over the stitches a few different ways since everyone learns differently. You’ll see the illustrations and explanations we typically use in our magazines and kit clubs below, but you can also click the name of the stitches and be taken to our Stitch Guide, where you can also see a short video of each stitch being worked.

Let’s get started!

With Tunisian crochet, each row is separated into two parts: a forward pass, where you work from right to left (or left to right if you’re left-handed) and pick up a loop for each of your stitches, and a return pass, where you begin to remove all of the loops on your hook.

You don’t turn your work like you do in regular crochet.

# 1: Foundation Row

The first thing you need to know when you’re starting a project with Tunisian crochet, is how to actually begin. With Tunisian crochet, most projects begin by pulling up loops in the back bar of your chain.

After you make your chain, you’re going to flip it over and work your hook under the bumps there. You’ll yarn over and pull up a loop, then move to the next chain and repeat the process until you reach the end of the chain.

Once you complete this first Forward Pass (FP), you have to complete your first Return Pass (RP), also known as working the loops off of your hook.

# 2: Return Pass (Working Loops Off of Your Hook)

While this step doesn’t have its own video, it can be seen at the end of the Foundation Row video, as well as at the end of each of the following videos.

Once you work the last stitch of the row and have it on your hook, you want to yarn over and pull through the first loop on your hook. This is your chain 1. Then you’re going to yarn over and pull through the next two loops on your hook, repeating that step until you have one single loop remaining on your hook.

Written in a pattern as: Ch 1 (see A of illustration), [yo, draw through 2 lps on hook (see B of illustration)] across. Last lp on hook counts as first lp of next row.

#3: Tunisian Simple Stitch (Tss)

After you complete your Foundation Row, you can start your Simple Stitch! You’re going to insert your hook under the first vertical bar, not going through the fabric but going from right to left. You’ll yarn over your hook and pull it under the vertical bar. You repeat this until you reach the last stitch of the row.

Written in a pattern as: With yarn in back, insert hook under front vertical bar from side to side, yo, draw up a lp (see illustration).

# 4: End Stitch (last stitch of row)

The last stitch of every row is called the End Stitch, and it’s worked differently than the other stitches in the row. This doesn’t have its own video, but it is included in all of the other videos on this post.

When you get to the end of the row, you’re going to notice that there are two loops at the very edge of the piece. You’re going to want to insert your hook under those two loops, yarn over, and pull up the loop. Once you finish that, you’re going to begin your Return Pass.

Written in a pattern as: At end of Forward Pass (FP), work last st by inserting the hook under the 2 lps at edge (see illustration), yo, draw up a lp.

# 5: Tunisian Knit Stitch (Tks)

Unlike the Simple Stitch, you’re going to want to insert your hook through the fabric you’re creating for this one. Your hook is going to go between the front and back vertical bars, you’re going to yarn over, and then you’ll pull up your loop. You would continue this across the entire row.

Written in a pattern as: Insert hook through work from front to back between strands of next vertical bar (see illustration), yo, pull lp through.

# 6: Tunisian Purl Stitch (Tps)

This stitch is where things start to get a bit tricky. You’re going to need to use your hands to help hold the yarn in place while completing this stitch. First, you’ll use your finger to bring the yarn to the front of your work. The you’ll work your hook under the vertical bar like a Tunisian Simple Stitch. Once you do that, you want to move the yarn to the back of your work. You should see a bar form in front of your stitch when you do this. Then, you yarn over and pull up your loop, completing your first purl stitch.

Written in a pattern as:  Bring yarn to front, insert hook under next front vertical bar as if to work Tss, bring yarn across front of vertical bar and to back, yo, pull up a lp (see illustration).

 

Let us know if you have any more questions in the comment section!

– Tara Orchard, Editor of Crochet! Magazine