Tunisian Crochet: Basic Stitch - Tunisian crochet is so much fun, and we want to show as many people as possible just how great it is. In this five-part course, we’ll teach you the basic stitches—and all the variations you can create with them—of this fun technique. Read on for the first lesson!
In this first lesson, we’ll get started with the basic Tunisian crochet stitch. This stitch is also known as the “regular” Tunisian stitch. Annemarie explains step by step how the stitch works and how to crochet the first flag of the Garland. The pattern is accompanied by a video and a detailed description.
Fun Facts About the Tunisian Single Crochet Stitch
- This stitch produces a nice, sturdy crocheted fabric. Of course, it depends on your crocheting style, but you’ll usually use a larger Crochet Hook than the one recommended on the yarn label.
- With the basic stitch, you'll end up with a nice piece of fabric with evenly spaced squares on which you can easily embroider cross-stitches.
- When crocheting the Tunisian stitch, it's best to use yarn that doesn't split easily.
What do you need?
- 5.5 mm Tunisian Crochet Hook
- Phildar Phil Coton, colors 86, 75, 68, and 78
- Row Counter
Would you like to make the garland just like we did? Then crochet 2 little flags using the basic stitch:
1st patch: base color 86 and the border color 68
2nd patch: base color 75 and border color 78
Tunisian Crochet Basic Stitch Pattern:
Start with a chain of 14 chain stitches.
Round 1:
Now stitch the Crochet Hook into the second chain stitch from the Crochet Hook. To determine which chain stitch is the second one, look at where your working yarn comes out. The chain stitch where your working yarn comes out
If you come to one, skip it; the next one is the 2nd chain stitch from the Crochet Hook. Insert the Crochet Hook, make a yarn over with the Crochet Hook, and pull the yarn through the stitch. Leave the yarn over on your Crochet Hook. You now have 2 loops on your Crochet Hook. * Insert the Crochet Hook into the next chain stitch, wrap the yarn around the Crochet Hook, and pull the yarn through the stitch. Leave the yarn wrap on your Crochet Hook *. Repeat from * to * until the end of the row. You now have a total of 14 loops on your Crochet Hook.
2nd row:
Chain 1 and pull the chain through 1 loop on your Crochet Hook. *Chain 1 and pull through 2 loops on the Crochet Hook*. Repeat from *to* until the end of the row, until you have 1 loop left on your Crochet Hook.
3rd row:
If you look at your stitches now, you'll see that vertical lines have formed.
Skip the first vertical stripe. Stitch your Crochet Hook through the front of the fabric on the right side, just below the second vertical stripe. Yarn over and pull the yarn over through the line so that a second loop forms on your Crochet Hook. Do this for all the vertical lines you see. The last one is right at the edge of your work. Pick this one up as well so that you have 14 loops on your Crochet Hook again.
To make your square bigger, alternate between rows 2 and 3 when you crochet.
We crocheted a total of 28 rows for our little flag for this course.
29th row:
Stitch your Crochet Hook under the 2nd vertical bar, as in the 3rd row. Yarn over. Pull the yarn over through the vertical line and pull it straight through the loop on the Crochet Hook. You will have 1 loop on your Crochet Hook. Repeat this until the end of the round, then pull the end of the yarn through the last loop on your Crochet Hook to fasten off.
To finish, we'll crochet a border of single crochets around the square. We'll do this on three sides of the square, as explained in the video.
Ready to move on to Lesson 2? Check out Lesson 2 on the Tunisian stockinette stitch here.
