Category Archives: Techniques EN

Techniques, tips and hints to make beautiful projects in Tunisian crochet

Symmetrical decreases Tunisian simple stitch

How to make symmetrical decreases leaning to the left and to the right in Tunisian crochet? In this article, I’m showing you a technique with the Tunisian simple stitch as the main stitch for the sample. And I explain why symmetry with the simple stitch is not an easy thing to create. Keep in mind there are other options with other Tunisian stitches.

Symmetrical decreases Tunisian simple stitch
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Reverse yarn over increase

A reverse yarn over increase is less common (less conventional?) than a yarn over increase. In short, you make a yarn over the other way round. Make sure you don’t mix them. There is no right or wrong way of doing a yarn over. It’s just different.

A reverse yarn over increase is made between 2 Tunisian stitches. For the sample in this article, I used the Tunisian simple stitch. But you can use any other stitches.

To make a reverse yo, move the yarn under the hook to the front, then over the hook from front to back.

Reverse yarn over increase in Tunisian crochet
Reverse yarn over increase in Tunisian crochet

Without getting into technical details, in short, a reverse yarn over creates a loop on your hook that is oriented differently compared to a simple yarn over. This creates a different visual.

Reverse yarn over to the right
Reverse yarn over to the right

Here above, I placed a reverse yarn over systematically before the increase in the previous row.

Reverse yarn over to the left
Reverse yarn over to the left

If placed systematically after the increase of the previous row, the reverse yarn over looks completely different. The return pass chain is much more visible. And, on the right of this gap, the vertical bars of the Tunisian simple stitch and the inverse yarn over increase are closer to each other compared to the other stitches in the row.

Reverse yarn over increase in video

Yarn over increase

I think that the easiest type of increase in Tunisian crochet is the yarn over increase. You simply make a yarn over in between 2 stitches and you consider this yarn over as a new stitch. I used the Tunisian simple stitch for the sample here. But it works with any type of stitch.

To make a yarn over, wrap the working yarn around your hook, from back to front, over the hook. At the start, the working yarn is at the back of the hook. After the yarn over increase, the working yarn is back at its initial place.

Yarn over increase, add a loop on your hook in between 2 stitches
Yarn over increase, add a loop on your hook in between 2 stitches

You can make this yarn over increase anywhere you want in a row. In the photo below, I first made a yarn over increase systematically before each yarn over increase from the previous row. Then I made a yarn over increase always after each yarn over increase from the previous row.

Yarn over increases to the right and to the left
Yarn over increases to the right and to the left

Yarn over increase in video

Seam along a final row in Tunisian crochet

Find out how to make a seam along the final row of a Tunisian crochet project. This seam is almost invisible when used in a project made with the Tunisian simple stitch.

Invisible seam with the Tunisian simple stitch
Invisible seam with the Tunisian simple stitch

In the photo tutorial and the video I have used a white yarn to make the seam. No need to use a different yarn. Keep the same thread as for the rest of your work. The white yarn here is just to highlight the contrast with the final row made with the blue yarn.

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Simple connecting stitch

There are different types of connecting stitches in Tunisian crochet. The basic principle is always the same: you “connect” the end of a row to any other part of your project.

In this article, I show you how to make a simple connecting stitch that works well with the Tunisian simple stitch (hence the name “simple”). It allows you to join the end to the beginning of a row.

Simple connecting stitch in Tunisian crochet
Simple connecting stitch in Tunisian crochet

Kind reminder: English is not my mother tongue. I opted for “connecting stitch” but you can call it “joining stitch” or anything else. As you wish.

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Tunisian crochet beanies and curling edge

Tunisian crochet will always tend to curl. It’s mechanical. Yet there are several techniques to prevent edges from rolling. In this article I share my tips to fight against curling edges when making Tunisian crochet beanies.

Curling in Tunisian crochet
Curling in Tunisian crochet

You can make Tunisian crochet beanies in several different ways. So you won’t fight curling the same way in all cases. It all depends on the construction type of your beanie, whether you start it from the top or the bottom.

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Free pattern la Quadrature du cercle

La Quadrature du cercle (Squaring the circle) is a free pattern I designed to make a square in the round with a double-ended Tunisian crochet hook. Hence the name…

Free pattern la Quadrature du cercle (Squaring the circle)
Free pattern la Quadrature du cercle (Squaring the circle)

I created this free pattern in the frame of the “Tunisian blanket CAL” organized by KnitterKnotter, alias Arunima, in 2021. It’s a Tcal during which several Tunisian crochet designers all around the world publish instructions to make squares in Tunisian crochet throughout the year. At the end of the year all these squares are meant to be seamed together to make a big blanket. For more details about the Tcal, follow KnitterKnotter. She’s the host centralising all patterns created by the participating designers.

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Magic ring and double-ended hook

In this article, I share a video (in French) in which I show how to make a magic ring and start working in a round with a double-ended Tunisian crochet hook.

A magic ring to start working in the round with a double-ended hook
A magic ring to start working in the round with a double-ended hook

I use this technique mainly for top down beanies and hats. They are easy to make from the top of the crown. This technique allows to make a wide variety of shapes depending on where you place increases and decreases and which stitches you use. You can also use it to make a series of shapes that you join to make a blanket. You have endless possibilities.

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Tunisian purl simple stitch, 2 different ways

In this article, I show you 2 different ways to make a Tunisian purl simple stitch. With photos and a video (in French).

The first technique is rather conventional: you pull up a loop with a yarn over. I prefer the second technique (because I find it faster): you pull up a loop with a yarn under.

Tunisian purl simple stitches, with yarn over (on the left) and yarn under (on the right)

The question is: which one do you prefer?

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