Today on my new blog I added a page on extended Tunisian stitches.

On this page I show what the main extended Tunisian crochet stitches look like, but also I add a short note on “standard” (understand “non Tunisian”) crochet. Any stitch can be “extended” by adding a chain in the making of this stitch.

I describe these stitches in words and with a video (in French) along with photos to show what the 4 basic stitches look like once extended.

Important note on edge stitches: Because extended stitches are taller than their equivalent basic stitches, it is wise to adapt the height of the edges at the beginning and end of the rows. I also show how to get this little “indented” edge.

Today I published a page to list purl stitches based on the 4 main basic stitches. To be consistent, I added a photo to illustrate each stitch listed, but to be honest, the sky is grey and I have no light today… So the photos are not tremendous. I’ll change them later in spring.

The Tunisian purl simple stitch is the best known of purl stitches. So well known that it is often just called “purl stitch” without any reference to the kind of basic stitch that is supposed to be “purled”. I think that when a variation of a stitch does not mention what kind of basic stitch it is worked upon, then by default we should understand simple. That’s just my assumption.

Personally I do not find purl knit and full stitches particularly beautiful. Used in combination with other stitches, they are useful to keep in mind. They are a bit lacy without being very lacy. Stretchy and flexible.

The purl stitch that I like best is the purl reverse stitch. Go to the page on purl stitches and have a look at the photo at the bottom of the page. I compare the purl reverse stitch with the twisted up stitch. Make a sample, give it a try and alternate these 2 stitches one after the other. You’ll get a nice reversible fabric, ideal for a scarf.