Loving My Tunisian Hooks!

Hello dear readers! Recently I ordered a set of Tunisian hooks from Crochet Creations and I’ve been learning how to do Tunisian crochet. (Be sure to check out my tutorials on Tunisian Simple Stitch and Tunisian Purl Stitch.) 

I also found out my son and his wife are going to have a baby in January and my daughter and her fiancé are expecting in March. So, you know I’ve been crocheting all things!

How pretty are they?

I came up with a simple pattern for a baby bag using Tunisian purl and simple stitches. I’m not done with the project, but I had to share what I’ve gotten done so far and share the pattern with you. 

I really like Tunisian crochet and I love my new hooks! They are so easy to use because they are nice and smooth, well balanced, and the knobby thing at the end lets me pile up a bunch of stitches on the hook as I work.

Just getting started on the front

Here is the pattern so far. I used Red Heart With Love yarn in white and a size 7mm Tunisian hook.

Back:

Chain 40

Row 1: Tunisian simple stitch

Rows 3 & 4: Tunisian purl stitch

Pattern repeat: 6 Tun purl sts, Tun simple sts to the last 6 sts, 6 Tun purl sts. Repeat the pattern until the bag is the length desired.

Hood: 

Tun purl stitch to desired length. I crocheted 11 rows for the hood. Bind off and sew the ends of the hood section together to form the hood.

Front:

Make like the front, but leave off the hood section. If you want to add button holes space them out evenly along the sides. I found this great video about vertical button holes in Tunisian crochet. Work across the row in pattern working the ending edge as same as the first.

Finishing: 

Holding the two pieces with right sides together, slip stitch the bottom edges together. Sew on buttons onto the back so you can button and unbutton the from the front and you’re done.

This pattern is still in progress so I make tweak it as I go. If you have any suggestions or comments, please be sure to let me know!

If you’d like to get in on the great deals at Crochet Creations, use coupon code Kind_Words and get 20% off your purchases excluding shipping. There are some great deals and really cool things on the site, so be sure to pop over and take a look. 

Also, give their Facebook page a like, too to keep up on the sales and fun contests their run.

Until next time, stay safe and keep on hooking!

  

How to Crochet the Tunisian Purl Stitch

Hello dear readers! I have been having a lot of fun learning Tunisian crochet stitches using my new set of aluminum Tunisian crochet hooks from Crochet Creations. 

Earlier I posted a tutorial on the Tunisian simple stitch. Check it out to learn the basics of Tunisian stitches. I really like the look of the purl stitch. By pulling the yarn forward on the stitches you create a loop which gives the fabric lots of texture and interest. 

Begin by chaining the number of stitches you need for your project. Work the first row in Tunisian simple stitches. (Crochet the forward and return row.)

To begin the next forward row pull the yarn forward. Insert the hook from the front to the back around the entire post of the stitch.

Yarn over the hook and pull the yarn around the stitch and leave the loop on the hook. Repeat this across the row.

When you reach the end yarn over and pull through one loops. Yarn over and pull through two loops. Continue to yarn over and pull through two loops until you have one loop left on the hook. 

Repeat the forward row working with the yarn in the front around each post, and then the return row until you reach the desired length. Work the last row in simple stitch.

The stitches are cast off on a forward row. Work a purl stitch like normal but yarn over and pull through both loops on the hook. Don't leave the loops on the hook like you do for a normal forward row since you are casting off the stitches. Continue across until you have one loop on the hook, pull the yarn up and fasten off. Weave in the tails. You can then work a decorative border, or leave it as is.

I hope you enjoy learning these stitches with me. I find Tunisian crochet very relaxing. The repetitive motion and working my way back and forth the rows is very soothing. 

If you have any questions, please ask me in the comments, and be sure to post your pics on my Facebook page, I'd love to see your work! 

Grab your set of aluminum Tunisian crochet hooks here!

How to Crochet the Tunisian Simple Stitch

Hello dear readers! I just received my aluminum Tunisian crochet hook set from Crochet Creations. I'm so excited! I've been wanting to learn how to do Tunisian crochet for quite a while. The hooks are nice and balanced and easy to handle. The sizes range from 2mm to 8mm, plenty of sizes for lots of projects. 

Tunisian Hook Set

I really like Tunisian crochet, it's sort of meditative. The repetition relaxes me, and I find it fun to do. I wanted to share a sort tutorial on how to crochet the Tunisian simple stitch.

First crochet a chain stitch. Any number of stitches is okay, it just depends on the width of the project you want to crochet.

Now turn your chain on its side. Do you see the little bumps that create a spine down the chain? These bumps are where you'll insert the hook, not into the front of the stitches like in regular crochet. 

Insert the hook into the first bump and leave it on the hook. Insert the hook under each bump and leave them on the hook. 

This is the forward pass row. Each row consists of two passes, the first one is to pick up the stitches onto the hook, and the return pass is where you actually work the stitches.

Yarn over and pull the yarn through the first loop. Yarn over and pull the yarn through the next two loops. Continue to yarn over and pull the yarn through two loops across the row.

When you complete the return row the fabric will look kind of strange. This is because the row is half completed. For the next row insert the hook into the first vertical loop and leave it on the hook. Don't use the vertical loop directly under the hook, but the next one. 

Continue to work the rows until you reach the length you want. Your work will look like the next image.

Notice the vertical lines in the fabric. These are the hallmark of Tunisian crochet. The fabric is nice and dense. It does have a tendency to roll up, but once you work a border it does straighten out. 

To finish you will need to bind the last row off. On a return row (the row where you go back across the forward row and the hook is at the right hand side of the fabric) yarn over and pull the yarn through two loops. 

Continue to yarn over and pull through two loops until you come to the end of the row, pull the yarn up and then you can fasten off the yarn. 

So there you go! The Tunisian simple stitch. I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and it has helped you learn this fun technique. Post some pics on my Facebook page of your work, I'd love to see your projects.

Until next time, take care!