Not long ago I joined the Tunisian crochet explorers group on Ravelry. The aim is to explore different aspect of Tunisian crochet together, no matter where we are in this world. This group counts already several discussion threads. One of which is about conversion of knitting patterns into Tunisian crochet. But I actively participate to another discussion about gauge. An experiment launched by Abbey from Australia.
Ravelry is a website about yarn crafts, and more specifically about knitting and crochet. If you don’t know Ravelry yet, I strongly encourage you to join it. It’s free and you have access to a gold mine of information in different languages about projects done by people all around the world, patterns (free or to purchase) and yarns.
Ravelry is also a place to join discussion groups. By definition, a group is a number of people gathering around something they have in common. The interest shared by the group can take endless forms. On Ravelry you’ll find groups per geographical area or per interests, other than yarn crafts specifically, on a wide variety of themes such as literature, movies, food, gardening… Today I’ll tell you about 2 groups with an interest for Tunisian crochet.
Ravelry is an American site and many groups have English as a default language. For those who would like to exchange in French, see the group Crochet tunisien. It’s a French speaking group with the objective to create a space on Ravelry for those who would like to share their experience about Tunisian crochet in French and find out more about other French speakers passionate about it.
A group has discussion threads. But also shared projects. Members of a group can decide to share their latest projects with the group and I find that feature particularly interesting to discover new projects I would not come across otherwise. You want to share your Tunisian crochet projects with French speakers? Do it with this group.
It’s also in this group that I have my patterns tested in French. If you want to participate to a test on a Tunisian crochet pattern in French, here is where you’ll find mine. I also have my patterns tested in English. I’ll come back on this topic later on. If you wish to test your own Tunisian crochet patterns in French, feel free to launch your requests in this group. It is open to all. It’s not my group. It’s a French speaking group about Tunisian crochet.
A new group has just been created. It is called Tunisian crochet explorers. I like the word “explorers”. It implies discoveries and adventures. Which is just right for Tunisian crochet, a technique that has so much more to offer than what is usually presented in books or websites.
By default, this group has English as the main language, but it is open to other languages. Should you feel more at ease to express yourself in a language known by another member, go ahead. The aim of the group is to present Tunisian crochet in all its diversities across the world, without any cultural boundaries, and to share innovative techniques to go beyond what is known in a given country.
The founders of the group are from different countries and have different designing styles, yet they are united by their common passion for Tunisian crochet and their wish to share ressources and knowledge in a constructive spirit. Yet the group is not limited to the designs of the founders. On the contrary. The aim is to explore together all the fields that Tunisian crochet has to offer. The approach is collective and inclusive.
Before you start a Tunisian crochet project, ideally you make a swatch to count how many stitches you have per the measurement indicated in the pattern. However, counting stitches is not as easy as it may seem at first glance.
For example, in the sample below, how many Tunisian simple stitches do you count?
A Tunisian crochet work will always tend to curl. And curling can be severe if the fabric is dense. It’s a pure mechanical thing with weight and tension not evenly spread over the crochet work. Curling occurs when there is more fabric on one side of the work (usually but not always the back side of work).
The good news is there are a few things that can be done to fight against curling. You should take several aspects of your work into consideration and, ideally, combine several techniques to minimize curling.
Continue readingToday I added a page to show the basic principles of working a sample flat with a double-ended Tunisian crochet hook.
This technique can be worked in many different ways by varying stitches used and changing colors at different places. The fabric is reversible if you work the same stitches in all rows. Or can be different on the front and back sides if you opt for different stitches from one row to the next. Possibilities are endless.
New page added to my site today. This time about working in a spiral with a double-ended Tunisian crochet hook. I added a photo tutorial and a video (in French) to show the basic steps of the technique. I used the Tunisian simple stitch to keep things easy-peasy. But you can use any other Tunisian stitch to have a different texture in your work. I used 2 different colors, but you can use 2 balls of yarn in the same color. You can even use both ends of the same yarn ball.
Today the plan was to update my site with double-ended Tunisian crochet techniques. But then I realized I had a few things to share about the double-ended hooks… So I created an entry “Double-ended” in the menu “Tunisian crochet”.
I have a clear-cut opinion about single-ended Tunisian crochet hooks. I work with and recommend interchangeable hooks. But about double-ended hooks, mmm… I’m not so sure what I like best.
So today I planned to tell you a bit about the magic ring (or circle). It’s a technique I use only when I make beanies (obviously starting from the top) or projects in a semi-circle shape.
It’s a very useful technique to make amigurumis. I started crocheting Dougal the mar from the EdinYarnFest. This magic circle, that’s very handy. I’ll share photos of Dougal later this week.
I made a short video (in French) to show how I do my magic circle. There are plenty of other methods to reach the exact same result. The one I show on the video works fine for me. See if it helps you. This technique required a bit of practice in the beginning.
Another way to start from the center of a circle is to make 2 chains and then start making stitches in the second chain from the hook. It’s really easy, but it makes the central part very fragile, easy to break. Be especially cautious with thin yarn: it could break just because of the weight of a big shawl or simply under sudden strong traction.
Other option: make 3 or 4 chains and join both ends with a slip stitch. Then make stitches by inserting your hook directly into the center of the circle or in the chains forming the edge of the circle. You’ll have something solid, resistant (like in “nothing to fear”), but you’ll always have a small hole, a tiny space. Especially with thin yarn.
Now that I have written this article, I wonder: Should I add this technique in the menu “Tunisian crochet”? Or create a new menu? But what would be this new menu? Tips and hints? I’m tempted to add the magic circle/ring to the page on “Foundations rows and other cast on techniques“. That’s probably what I’ll do. Tomorrow. After all, the magic circle is about starting a project. What do you think?
Today I added a big chunk to the documentation on my blog: one page about different types of foundation rows and cast on techniques.
You’ll probably ask yourself: what does it have to do with Tunisian crochet? My aim is to show that you don’t have to start your Tunisian crochet project with chains. This is what you’ll see everywhere in books and on internet, but you have other options.
I could have made a simple list of foundation slip stitch, single crochet, half double crochet and double crochet. But since there is a cruel lack of documentation on this matter (especially in French), I have made a series of videos (in French) on my YouTube channel about it. I try to show the logic behind the making of each foundation row.
I’m not saying a technique is better than another. The whole point is to have several techniques that you can choose from depending on your needs and the kind of project you plan to make. Keep in mind that these foundation rows are not interchangeable, you cannot simply use one instead of another in any pattern. Up to you to see what you like.
At the end of the page I share a stretchy foundationless Tunisian crochet cast on technique that I devised. It’s a variation from a foundation row. I said earlier that you don’t have to start a Tunisian crochet project with chains. Actually you don’t have to start with a foundation row in which you’ll pick up loops. There are methods to keep loops on your hook right from the start. After all, this is what you are looking for, adding loops on your hook to make your first row. So look into knitting techniques (I have not made any list of knitting techniques, but they are legions). Try and play around with the different foundation rows I present on my site. And draw your own conclusions about it.
So, tell me, what are the techniques you use most? Do you know other techniques than the one I mention today? What have you experimented in this matter and what are your conclusions?
I’m curious and I always find it interesting to visit farms, workshops, yarn companies, yarn shops to learn more about the making of fibers in general and wool in particular. So, during my visit to the EdinYarnFest, I spent some time at the “Wool Research Station” in association with the Woolist .
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