HOME|CROCHET TECHNIQUES
Tunisian Crochet Basic Stitches - A Cozy Beginner's Guide
★★★★★ 4.8 · 50
Wren HallowayWren Halloway14.07.2026

Ever picked up one of those long hooks with the little knob on the end and wondered what on earth it was for? That's a Tunisian crochet hook, friend, and today we're using it to build a dense, woven-looking swatch from scratch, learning the three foundational stitches — Tunisian simple, knit, and purl — that unlock a whole world of blankets, scarves, and bags. Grab some worsted weight yarn and let's make some fabric that looks suspiciously like knitting but is 100% crochet.

What You Need

  • Tunisian (afghan) crochet hook, size 5.5mm/I-9 with a cable
  • Worsted weight cotton yarn in dusty blue, about 50 g
  • Scissors
  • Yarn needle for weaving in ends
  • Measuring tape
  • Stitch marker (optional, to mark row 1)

1. Gather your tools

Tunisian hook and yarn laid out on wooden table

Set out your Tunisian hook, a small ball of worsted weight yarn, scissors, and a yarn needle on a flat surface. Check that your hook has a stopper or knob on the end so your loops don't slide off while you work.

2. Make the foundation chain

Hands chaining foundation stitches with Tunisian hook

Chain 20 stitches loosely with your Tunisian hook, just like a regular crochet chain, to set the width of your swatch. Keep your tension relaxed here so the base row doesn't pull tight later.

3. Work the first forward pass

Loops accumulating on Tunisian hook during forward pass
Insert your hook into the second chain from the hook, yarn over, and pull up a loop, leaving it on the hook; repeat across the entire chain so every chain has a loop sitting on the hook. Do not turn your work; you should now have 20 loops stacked on the cable.

Tip: Count your loops after every forward pass for the first several rows so you catch mistakes before they multiply.

4. Complete the return pass

Hands reducing loops during Tunisian return pass
Yarn over and pull through the first loop only, then yarn over and pull through two loops at a time, repeating across until one loop remains on the hook. That single loop becomes the first stitch of your next row, and this finishes Row 1.

Tip: Use a cable-style hook if you're making anything wider than a swatch; it keeps loops from sliding off the end.

5. Practice Tunisian simple stitch

Hands working Tunisian simple stitch on second row
For Row 2, insert your hook front to back under the second vertical bar (skip the first one), yarn over, and pull up a loop; repeat across, then work a return pass exactly as before. This is Tunisian simple stitch (Tss), the basic building block of the fabric.

Tip: A light steam block after binding off will tame most of the natural curl in Tunisian fabric.

6. Try Tunisian knit stitch

Hands forming Tunisian knit stitch on a growing swatch

Start a new row by inserting your hook between the front and back vertical bars of each stitch instead of under just one bar, then yarn over and pull up a loop; repeat across and return as usual. This variation, Tunisian knit stitch (Tks), creates a smoother, more knit-like surface.

Tunisian Crochet Basic Stitches - A Cozy Beginner's Guide video guide

7. Try Tunisian purl stitch

Hands making bumpy purl texture on Tunisian swatch
On the next row, bring your yarn to the front, insert the hook under the vertical bar as with Tss, then take the hook over the strand and pull the loop through from behind before resuming your return pass. This is Tunisian purl stitch (Tps), which adds a bumpy horizontal texture to the fabric.

Tip: Keep your tension loose on the foundation chain — it's the row most people accidentally crochet too tight.

8. Master the edge stitch

Close-up of hands securing the swatch's edge stitch

As you work each forward pass, pay attention to the last vertical bar plus the extra loop at the edge, inserting under both to keep your sides straight instead of loose and gappy. Do this consistently on every row from here on for a neat, professional-looking border.

9. Bind off the final row

Hands slip stitching to bind off the swatch

On your last forward pass, instead of pulling up new loops, work a slip stitch under each vertical bar across the row to close the fabric off smoothly. Cut your yarn, leaving a 6-inch tail, and pull it through the final loop to secure.

10. Finished swatch

Finished dusty blue Tunisian crochet stitch swatch

Weave in both yarn tails with your needle and give the swatch a gentle press if it's curling at the edges. You now have a tidy sample showing Tunisian simple, knit, and purl stitches, ready to reference anytime you start a bigger project.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my swatch curl so much?

Curling is totally normal with Tunisian crochet, especially in the first few rows — it's caused by tight tension and the dense stitch structure. A gentle steam block usually flattens it right out, and it curls less as the swatch gets taller.

Do I really need a special Tunisian hook?

You need something that holds a lot of loops without them slipping off, so a hook with a cable or at least a long straight shaft works best. A regular short crochet hook will pinch your loops together and make the forward pass miserable.

How do I know if I'm skipping the edge stitch by accident?

If your swatch's sides look wavy or have little gaps, you're likely missing that last vertical bar during your forward pass. Slow down at the edges for the first several rows until it becomes second nature.

You May Also Like These
Crochet Bunny Amigurumi Pattern - A Soft Chenille Plush You Crochet Bunny Amigurumi Pattern - A Soft Chenille Plush You 8 Diy Gift Ideas For Boyfriend That Actually Feel Handmade 8 Diy Gift Ideas For Boyfriend That Actually Feel Handmade No - Sew Plush Turtle - A Crochet Amigurumi You Join No - Sew Plush Turtle - A Crochet Amigurumi You Join Diy Altoid Tin Makeup Kit - How I Turn Tiny Tins Into Sweet Diy Altoid Tin Makeup Kit - How I Turn Tiny Tins Into Sweet

The Takeaway

More Pinterest Visuals

Tunisian Crochet Basic Stitches - A Cozy Beginner's Guide
Tunisian Crochet Basic Stitches - A Cozy Beginner's Guide
Tunisian Crochet Basic Stitches - A Cozy Beginner's Guide

What you've got now is a small swatch that quietly proves you can do three different Tunisian stitches without panicking. The real trick, the one I wish someone had told me on day one, is fixing your edge stitch habit early — everything else gets easier once your sides stop wobbling. Happy stitching, Wren

Ways to Make It Your Own

  • Work the swatch in three different colors, one per stitch section, so you can tell Tss, Tks, and Tps apart at a glance in your reference binder
  • Scale the same steps up with a chunky yarn and a larger hook to make a quick Tunisian dish towel instead of a swatch
  • Alternate Tss and Tps every other row to create a simple ribbed pattern, perfect for practicing before a Tunisian cowl
  • Try the same stitches in a variegated yarn to see how the ridges and bumps of each stitch interact with color changes

Get new posts sent to your inbox!

Subscribe to be the first to get our new projects!

Comments
No comments yet — be the first!
Leave a comment
Your email address will not be published.
Rating (optional)