How To Make An Afghan...? Tunisian Crochet!! - July 2011

Okay, so I was introduced to a new (to me) and different type of crochet the other day: Tunisian Crochet (also known as Afghan Crochet).  It is super simple, just different.  I took a few pictures to show the basics differences between Tunisian Crochet and traditional crochet (what I'm used to).

First, we have the Tunisian Crochet hook.  A little bit different from the standard crochet hook, this type of hook (shown above) is long enough to make a shawl straight across.  There are different types of Tunisian Crochet hooks in all the difference sizes as according to what we're used to seeing (or at least I am used to seeing).  The type of Tunisian Crochet hook I thought was most interesting is  one that has a detachable extension so the project can be made as wide as desired on a single row.

One of the notable things about Tunisian Crochet is the fact that the last part of each stitch stays on the crochet hook.  That's why the needles need to be so long!  Shown (directly above) is the basic Tunisian Crochet stitch on a size "g" hook.  It is the equivalent of a single crochet stitch.  Start with one loop on the crochet hook, insert hook into vertical bar of a stitch from the previous row (or stitch from chain row), yarn over, pull through (like normal), yarn over, pull through one loop (one stitch), then repeat for desired number of stitches (loops).  Then at the end of the row yarn over, pull through one, yarn over, pull through two, yarn over pull through two (repeating until only one loop remains on the crochet hook).

Here (above) you can see part of the project I am working on (that will be another post).  This particular project uses squares of Tunisian Crochet tiered across instead of rows across (see below).

So!  That's the basic differences between traditional crochet as I know it and Tunisian Crochet.  Look forward to the next posting!

Blessings!!