Crochet guide
Tunisian crochet
Tunisian crochet is crochet made with a long hook that holds a whole row of loops at once. Each row is made in two passes. Loops are picked up across the row and kept on the hook, then worked off again on the way back. The work is usually not turned, so the same side faces you all the time.
On this page 8 parts
How it differs from ordinary crochet
In ordinary crochet each stitch is finished before the next one is begun, so only one loop stays on the hook. In Tunisian crochet a loop is pulled up in every stitch of the row, and all of the loops stay on the hook. Holding many loops at once is what it shares with knitting. The tool is still a single hook.
A row has two halves.
- The forward pass. A right-handed maker works from right to left. A loop is pulled up in each stitch and left on the hook.
- The return pass. The work is not turned. The loops are worked off the hook again, from left to right.
The two passes together count as one row. Because the work is not turned, the right side faces you the whole time.
Tunisian crochet is also called Afghan crochet. Both names mean the same technique. It has also been called shepherd's knitting.
The hook
A Tunisian hook is longer than an ordinary one, so that it can hold a row of loops. There are two common kinds.
| Kind of hook | What it is | What it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Straight | A long, straight hook that ends in a stopper | Narrow pieces, such as scarves |
| Cabled | A hook joined to a flexible cable | Wide pieces, such as blankets |
A third kind has a hook at each end. It is for Tunisian crochet worked in the round.
To try the stitches on a short row, an ordinary hook with a straight shaft will do. The row can only be as wide as the hook will hold.
Size. Choose a larger hook than the same yarn would take in ordinary crochet. The fabric is dense, and a larger hook gives it more drape and less curl. Teachers of the craft go up about two sizes: 5 mm in place of 4 mm, for example. Crochet hook sizes explained lists the sizes in order.
The foundation row
Every piece starts with a chain and one foundation row.
- Make a foundation chain with one chain for each stitch you want.
- Forward pass: start in the second chain from the hook. Push the hook in, wrap the yarn over it and pull up a loop. There are now two loops on the hook. Pull up a loop in every chain to the end, and keep each one on the hook. You should have one loop for each chain you made.
- Return pass: do not turn. Yarn over and pull through the first loop only. Then yarn over and draw it through two loops, and repeat that until one loop remains.
That last loop counts as the first stitch of the row that follows.
The simple stitch
Tunisian simple stitch is the usual first stitch. It is also called Afghan stitch.
Look at the front of the row you have made. Each stitch shows an upright strand, called a vertical bar.
- Forward pass: skip the bar at the edge, because the loop on the hook stands for that stitch. Slide the hook under the next vertical bar, going from right to left, then yarn over and pull up a loop. Do the same under each bar across the row.
- At the last stitch, put the hook under both strands at the edge. This makes a firm edge.
- Return pass: work the loops off as in the foundation row.
Count the loops before each return pass. There should be one for each stitch.
To end the piece, work one more pass across the top. Skip the bar at the edge, as before. Put the hook under the next vertical bar, yarn over, and pull the new loop through the bar and through the loop on the hook. Do the same under each bar to the end. That closes the stitches one by one. Then fasten off.
Other stitches
Most of the basic stitches use the same return pass. What changes is where the hook goes in on the forward pass.
- Tunisian knit stitch. The hook passes between the two vertical bars of the stitch, from the front of the fabric to the back. The fabric looks like knitted stockinette (stocking stitch in the United Kingdom), and it is thicker.
- Tunisian purl stitch. It has a bumpy face, like the purl stitches of knitting. It curls less than the other stitches.
- More. Entrelac and honeycomb stitch are two other named Tunisian stitches.
Why the fabric curls
Curling is normal. Every row is worked from the same side, and the stitches sit toward the front of the fabric, which pulls it forward. Makers deal with it in a few ways:
- A larger hook. Looser loops curl less.
- Blocking. Wetting or steaming the finished piece flattens it. See blocking.
- The back of the chain. Pull up the loops of the foundation row in the back bump of the chain.
- Another stitch. Purl stitches curl less, so they can be mixed in.
The fabric it makes
Tunisian fabric is dense. It is thicker than ordinary crochet and has less stretch. The simple stitch has a woven look. Because the fabric is thick and warm, it is used for blankets and for winter clothes.
For the look of knitting in ordinary crochet, see knit-look stitches and the purl stitch in crochet.
Where to go next
- Types of crochet sets Tunisian crochet beside the other kinds.
- Knitting vs crochet explains how the two crafts differ.
- How to crochet teaches the chain and the first stitches with an ordinary hook.