Tunisian Crochet

Tunisian crochet is a technique that combines knitting and crochet to form a dense fabric. Many of the stitches mimic the look of knitting. Tunisian crochet is also sometimes called afghan crochet. You can create anything with Tunisian crochet that you can make with regular crochet, but be aware that the fabric behaves more like knitting. Certain knit stitch patterns tend to curl at the edges. There are some Tunisian crochet fabrics that will do the same thing.

To work Tunisian crochet, you need a hook that is straight, with no dents or bulges for your hand, and long. There are also Tunisian crochet hooks that have a length of cord attached that the stitches can be worked onto. The reason for the long or corded hooks is because you will place a series of loops on the hook and then work those loops off the hook. Those are the two parts of a Tunisian crochet row: the forward pass (abbreviated FP) where you put the loops on the hook and the return pass (abbreviated RP) where you take the loops off the hook.

The different ways to pick up the loops and work the loops off the hook create numerous unique stitch patterns. The stitches explained below are just a few to get you started on your Tunisian crochet journey.

Tunisian Foundation Row

The foundation row is the beginning of your project. What is shown below is a general way to get started.

This clip is from the Annie's video class Learn to Tunisian Crochet with instructor Kim Guzman.

Chain the number of stitches indicated in your pattern, insert the hook in the 2nd chain from the hook, yarn over, draw up a loop, [insert the hook in the next chain, yarn over, draw up a loop] across, leaving all loops on the hook, do not turn; to work the loops off the hook, [yarn over, draw through 2 loops on the hook] across, leaving one loop on the hook at the end of the row.

Work loops off hook is terminology you will see in some patterns. In other patterns, it may simply read: return pass.

Return pass (ret pass): Chain 1 (see A of illustration), [yarn over, draw through 2 loops on hook (see B of illustration)] across. The last loop on the hook counts as the first loop of the next row.

Tunisian Knit Stitch (abbreviated Tks)

The Tunisian knit stitch produces a stitch that looks very similar to the knit stitch used in knitting. When worked over the entire fabric, it creates something like stockinette stitch. It is one of the basic Tunisian stitches and can be used in combination with other stitches to create fun stitch patterns.

This clip is from the Annie's video class Learn to Tunisian Crochet with instructor Kim Guzman.

Insert the hook from the front to the back between the front and back vertical bars (see illustration), yarn over, pull the loop through.

Tunisian Purl Stitch (abbreviated Tps)

The Tunisian purl stitch creates a bumpy fabric similar to reverse stockinette in knitting. It is one of the basic Tunisian stitches and can be used in combination with other stitches to create fun stitch patterns.

This clip is from the Annie's video class Learn to Tunisian Crochet with instructor Kim Guzman.

Row 1: Chain the number of stitches indicated in your pattern, bring the yarn to the front of the work, insert the hook in the 2nd chain from the hook, yarn over, pull up a loop, [insert the hook in the next chain, yarn over, pull up a loop] across, leaving all loops on the hook. Do not turn.

To complete the row, work the loops off the hook as follows: yarn over, pull through one loop on the hook, [yarn over, pull through 2 loops on the hook] across until one loop remains on the hook. Note: Photos H through K show working Tunisian purl stitch after two rows of Tunisian simple stitch have been completed.

Row 2: Skip the first vertical bar, bring the yarn to the front of the work (H); insert the hook under the next vertical bar, bring the yarn to the back of the work, yarn over, pull up a loop (I) across. Do not turn.

To complete the row, work the loops off the hook as follows: yarn over, pull through one loop on the hook (J), [yarn over, pull through 2 loops on the hook] across until one loop remains on the hook (K).

To complete the row, work the loops off the hook as follows: yarn over, pull through one loop on the hook (J), [yarn over, pull through 2 loops on the hook] across until one loop remains on the hook (K).

Tunisian Simple Stitch (abbreviated Tss)

Another of the basic Tunisian stitches, the Tunisian simple stitch produces a dense fabric characterized by vertical lines.

This clip is from the Annie's video class Learn to Tunisian Crochet with instructor Kim Guzman.

With the yarn in the back, insert the hook under the front vertical bar from side to side (see illustration), yarn over, draw up a loop.