Tunisian Crochet – Page 2

Tunisian Delight Sampler Afghan Crochet Along | Block 4, 5, and 6

Who doesn’t want to crochet their stress away? Grab your tunisian hook, yarn, and let’s get stitching together! Today, we begin working on our Tunisian Delight Sampler Afghan, the official May 2020 Rohn Strong Crochet Along project.

Remember, you can find all the info you need about this crochet along in this blog post here. I’ve also written a handy little post that covers color choice, gauge, and tunisian crochet hooks here.

Learn all About the Tunisian Delight CAL in this Video:

This week, we’re speeding things along and working blocks 4, 5, and 6!

Now that we have our foundation row complete, it’s time to build on those skills and tackle some more challenging stitches. With that in mind, we’re going to stitch up the Tunisian Double Stitch, the Tunisian Full Stitch, and the Tunisian Rib Stitch!

As always, there is a full video tutorial for each of these blocks available below!

Remember, you can add your project to your Ravelry library by clicking HERE!

You can find the FREE pattern below! ALSO, don’t forget;

I have changed the rules a little bit…cause I make them! You can still post your entries for giveaways on Instagram by using the hashtag, #RohnStrongCAL and following me. However, I also will be making a weekly post on Friday in the Rohn Strong Crochet Club Facebook group where you can share your progress to be entered! YAY!

Sponsors & Prizes

Each of these prizes is a minimum value of $50! Remember, you can enter each week’s giveaway is to post a picture of your progress using #RohnStrongCAL on Instagram OR you can post in the Rohn Strong Crochet Club! You must have a public Instagram profile to participate.

Week 2 – May 15: KnitCrate – 5 Skeins of Worsted Weight Yarn

Prizes will be awarded at the beginning of the following week at around 11:00am EST. Weekly winners will be picked randomly. More details will be announced in each week’s blog post. The schedule of prizes is subject to change.

Tunisian Delight Sampler Afghan

Download the FREE PDF Crochet Pattern HERE Download

Materials

US K/6.5mm Tunisian Crochet Hook
US J/6mm Crochet Hook
Main Color
Color C
Scissors

Finished Measurements

Finished Block: 9.5″ by 9.5″

Gauge

12 sts and 12 rows = 4″

Abbreviations

Ch = Chain
FwdP = Forward Pass
RetP = Return Pass
Tss = Tunisian Simple Stitch
Tks = Tunisian Knit Stitch
Trs = Tunisian Reverse Stitch

Pattern Notes

Each block is worked by working your Foundation Row and building from there. Final round of single crochet is worked into row ends, top, and bottom rows.

BLOCK 4 PATTERN

With Color MC, Ch 28

Foundation Row:

FwdP: Pull up a loop in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch across. (28 loops)

RetP: Ch 1, (yarn over, pull through 2 loops on hook) until there is one loop left on hook.

Tunisian Double Stitch

Row 1

FwdP: Working from right to left, *yarn over, insert hook under next vertical bar, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through 2 loops on hook (Note: last loop of this stitch will remain on hook as you work across); repeat from * across row to last stitch, to work last stitch, yarn over, insert hook through stitch as if working a single crochet, pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through 2 loops on hook. (28 loops)

Note: Take care to count the loops on your hook at this point.

RetP: Ch 1, (yarn over, pull through 2 loops on hook) until there is one loop left on hook.

Repeat Row 1 until Block measures 9 inches from beginning chain.

Final Row

Slip stitch in each stitch across as if you were working a tunisian simple stitch. After last slip stitch, ch 1.

Rnd 1: Work 25 sc evenly spaced along each edge of block, placing 3 sc in each corner. (112 sc)

Fasten off.

BLOCK 5 PATTERN

With Main Color, Ch 28

Foundation Row:

FwdP: Pull up a loop in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch across. (28 loops)

RetP: Ch 1, (yarn over, pull through 2 loops on hook) until there is one loop left on hook.

Tunisian Full Stitch

Note: Remember this stitch is worked in the spaces between stitches and not in the stitches themselves.

Row 1

FwdP: Skip first vertical bar, insert hook in next space between the second and third stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop, *insert hook in next space between stitches, yarn over and pull up a loop; repeat from * across row to last stitch, work last stitch as if it is a tunisian knit stitch.

RetP: Ch 1, (yarn over, pull through 2 loops on hook) until there is one loop left on hook.

Row 2

FwdP: Insert hook in space between first and second stitch, yarn over and pull ip a loop, *insert hook in next space between stitches, yarn over and pull up a loop; repeat from * across row to last space between last two stitches, skip this space and work last stitch as if it is a tunisian knit stitch.

RetP: Ch 1, *yarn over, pull through 2 loops on hook) until there is one loop left on hook.

Repeat Row 1 and Row 2 until Block measures 9 inches from beginning chain. Make sure you stop working after you have finished an even row.

Final Row

Note: This final row is worked similar to what we’ve done so far but to maintain pattern we inserted our hook in the spaces in between stitches and complete the slip stitches as normal.

FwdP: Skip first vertical bar, insert hook in next space between the second and third stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop, complete slip stitch, *insert hook in next space between stitches, yarn over and pull up a loop, complete slip stitch; repeat from * across row to last stitch, work last stitch as if it is a tunisian knit stitch.

RetP: Ch 1, (yarn over, pull through 2 loops on hook) until there is one loop left on hook.

Rnd 1: Work 25 sc evenly spaced along each edge of block, placing 3 sc in each corner. (112 sc)

Fasten off.

BLOCK 6 PATTERN

With Color C, Ch 28

Foundation Row:

FwdP: Pull up a loop in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch across. (28 loops)

RetP: Ch 1, (yarn over, pull through 2 loops on hook) until there is one loop left on hook.

Tunisian Rib Stitch

Row 1

FwdP: *TKS in next st, insert hook in back bump of next stitch; rep from * across to last stitch, insert hook through stitch as if working a single crochet, pull up a loop. (28 loops)

RetP: Ch 1, (yarn over, pull through 2 loops on hook) until there is one loop left on hook.

Repeat Row 1 until Block measures 9 inches from beginning chain.

Final Row

Slip stitch in each stitch across as if you were working a tunisian knit stitch. After last slip stitch, ch 1.

Rnd 1: Work 25 sc evenly spaced along each edge of block, placing 3 sc in each corner. (112 sc)

Fasten off.

That’s it friends! I mean…how easy were those blocks!? Like I said, just a few minutes and a couple colors of worsted weight yarn and you’re good! Remember to share your projects with me on Instagram HERE and to join the Rohn Strong Crochet Club HERE! Next week we’ll tackle three new tunisian crochet stitches! Have fun stitching this week friends!

Tunisian Delight Sampler Afghan | Blocks 1, 2, and 3

Learn all About the Tunisian Delight CAL in this Video:

This week, we’re going to be working blocks 1, 2, and 3!

We’ll begin from the ground up, working our Tunisian Foundation Row covering both the forward pass and the reverse pass. Then we’ll move into learning the Tunisian Simple Stitch, the beginner stitch everyone knows and loves! From there we’ll move on and cover two beginner friendly stitches that build on what we’ve learned so far the Tunisian Knit Stitch and the Tunisian Reverse Stitch.

Remember, you can add your project to your Ravelry library by clicking HERE!

You can find the FREE patterns below! ALSO, don’t forget;

You are eligible to win prizes every week by posting your progress to Instagram, following me @rohnstrong, and using #RohnStrongCAL you will be entered into that week’s giveaway! Each week is sponsored by an amazing company, hand picked by me! You must have a public Instagram profile to participate.

Sponsors & Prizes

Each of these prizes is a minimum value of $50! Remember, the only way to enter each week’s giveaway is to post a picture of your progress using #RohnStrongCAL on Instagram! You must have a public Instagram profile to participate.

Week 1 – May 8: Annie’s Catalog – A digital copy of my Learn Tunisian Crochet Colorwork class AND a digital copy of Crochet World and Crochet! Magazine!

Prizes will be awarded at the end of the week around 5:00pm EST. Weekly winners will be picked randomly. More details will be announced in each week’s blog post. The schedule of prices is subject to change.

Tunisian Delight Sampler Afghan

Click HERE to Download a PDF of the Following Pattern!

Materials

US K/6.5mm Tunisian Crochet Hook
US J/6mm Crochet Hook
Main Color
Color A
Scissors

Finished Measurements

Finished Block: 9.5″ by 9.5″

Gauge

12 sts and 12 rows = 4″

Abbreviations

Ch = Chain
FwdP = Forward Pass
RetP = Return Pass
Tss = Tunisian Simple Stitch
Tks = Tunisian Knit Stitch
Trs = Tunisian Reverse Stitch

Pattern Notes

Each block is worked by working your Foundation Row and building from there. Final round of single crochet is worked into row ends, top, and bottom rows.

BLOCK 1 PATTERN

With Color A, Ch 28

Foundation Row:

FwdP: Pull up a loop in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch across. (28 loops)

RetP: Ch 1, (yarn over, pull through 2 loops on hook) until there is one loop left on hook.

Tunisian Simple Stitch

Row 1

FwdP: Working from right to left, (insert hook under next vertical bar, yarn over and pull up a loop) across row to last stitch, to work last stitch, insert hook through stitch as if working a single crochet, pull up a loop. (28 loops)

RetP: Ch 1, (yarn over, pull through 2 loops on hook) until there is one loop left on hook.

Repeat Row 1 until Block measures 9 inches from beginning chain.

Final Row

Slip stitch in each stitch across as if you were working a tunisian simple stitch. After last slip stitch, ch 1.

Rnd 1: Work 25 sc evenly spaced along each edge of block, placing 3 sc in each corner. (112 sc)

Fasten off.

BLOCK 2 PATTERN

With Main Color, Ch 28

Foundation Row:

FwdP: Pull up a loop in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch across. (28 loops)

RetP: Ch 1, (yarn over, pull through 2 loops on hook) until there is one loop left on hook.

Tunisian Knit Stitch

Row 1

FwdP: Working from right to left, (insert hook from front to back between vertical bars, yarn over and pull up a loop) across row. (28 loops)

RetP: Ch 1, (yarn over, pull through 2 loops on hook) until there is one loop left on hook.

Repeat Row 1 until Block measures 9 inches from beginning chain.

Final Row

Slip stitch in each stitch across as if you were working a tunisian knit stitch. After last slip stitch, ch 1.

Rnd 1: Work 25 sc evenly spaced along each edge of block, placing 3 sc in each corner. (112 sc)

Fasten off.

BLOCK 3 PATTERN

With Main Color, Ch 28

Foundation Row:

FwdP: Pull up a loop in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch across. (28 loops)

RetP: Ch 1, (yarn over, pull through 2 loops on hook) until there is one loop left on hook.

Tunisian Reverse Stitch

Row 1

FwdP: Working from right to left and with hook in back, (insert hook through the next vertical bar, yarn over and pull up a loop) across to last stitch, insert hook through stitch as if working a single crochet, pull up a loop. (28 loops)

RetP: Ch 1, (yarn over, pull through 2 loops on hook) until there is one loop left on hook.

Repeat Row 1 until Block measures 9 inches from beginning chain.

Final Row

Slip stitch in each stitch across as if you were working a tunisian reverse stitch. After last slip stitch, ch 1.

Rnd 1: Work 25 sc evenly spaced along each edge of block, placing 3 sc in each corner. (112 sc)

Fasten off.

Tunisian Delight Sampler – Gauge

Today is Day 1 of our Rohn Strong May 2020 Crochet Along! As a reminder, we are crocheting the Tunisian Delight Sampler Afghan Crochet Along and I couldn’t be more excited! For all the information you need to get started including dates, yarn amounts, and more please head to this blog post HERE or watch this video below:

Today, we’re going to work our Gauge swatches and chat a bit about why gauge is so important, even on an afghan like this!

So, what is gauge.

Gauge, sometimes referred to as ‘tension’, is the number of stitches and rows per inch. This is listed in the pattern near the beginning and usually given in a 4 inch by 4 inch multiple.

For example, most of the blocks in this pattern have a gauge of 3 sts per inch and 3 rows per inch. Given in the 4 inch by 4 inch multiple, the pattern reads, 12 sts by 12 rows.

So, why do we try to match gauge in a pattern?

You want to make sure your afghan comes out the right size.
You want to make sure you have enough yarn!

Yarn is the biggie here. Because we are working from stash, ensuring we have the right gauge will mean we don’t need extra yarn. A tighter gauge than that I used will mean you need more yarn. A looser gauge will mean you need less yarn.

Why wouldn’t gauge match?

Chances are you are not using the same yarn and hook as me. You might hold your yarn a little different. You might even crochet different than me! All those things have a big impact on your gauge and can change the stitches and rows per inch.

So, keep that in mind!

Making the Gauge Swatch

The pattern below is what we will follow today. Remember, there is a video tutorial that covers all this info and shows how to work the gauge swatch, step by step. You can find that below!

Gauge Swatch Pattern

Ch 20

Foundation Row: With yarn in back, *insert hook in next ch, yarn over and pull up a loop; rep from * across. (20 loops)

Return Pass: Ch 1, *yarn over, pull through next 2 loops on hook; repeat from * until 1 loop remains on hook.

Row 1: With yarn in back, insert hook from right to left under next vertical bar, yarn over and pull up a loop; rep from * across. (20 loops)

Return Pass: Ch 1, *yarn over, pull through next 2 loops on hook; repeat from * until 1 loop remains on hook.

Rep Row 1, 8 more times. This will give you a total of 10 rows including the foundation row.

Last Row: With yarn in back, insert hook from right to left under next vertical bar, yarn over and pull up a loop, pull first loop near head of hook through loop on shaft of hook; rep across row.

This final row is called a tunisian slip stitch!

That’s it! That is your gauge swatch!

Now, we need to get a ruler and measure our stitches and rows per inch. Count the number of sts and rows over four inches.

Now, if you have fewer stitches per inch than I do, you’re a tight crocheter and need to go up in hook size. If you have fewer stitches per inch than I do, you’re a loose crocheter and need to go down a hook!

Really, that is all there is to it!

But…what if I’m off?

It can be hard as heck to get the right gauge in tunisian crochet! Don’t fret though. I’m going to share my three tips for getting gauge in tunisian crochet the first time every time!

Use the right hook. The general rule of thumb is that corded hooks will give you a slightly tighter gauge whereas straight hooks will give you a bit looser gauge. This isn’t universal but it’s one of those ‘rules’ that I’ve always followed. If you are typically a tighter crochet, stick with a straight hook. If you are a looser crocheter, try a corded hook!
Rows vs Stitches. Typically it’s easier to change the row gauge versus the stitch gauge. Why? Well, the stitch gauge is, in part, determined by the row gauge. So, a tighter row gauge will often mean a tighter stitch gauge. Simply going up a single hook size won’t have the much of an impact on your stitch gauge, if you’re having trouble matching it. If your stitch gauge is really tight, you’ll want to go up two hook sizes, minimum.
It’ll block out. What? Yes. I promise. Tunisian crochet has a touch of horizontal stretch which will make it easier to block your swatch and make it a touch wider. Have you ever heard the saying, “It’ll block out”? It will! I promise! This will only work if you’re less than an inch from the desired width. Anything more than an inch will not block out. It’ll result in a warped piece.

Getting gauge is tough, I know. It can be super frustrating but it is really really important to make sure that the piece you are working on is just the right size and you won’t ruin out of yarn. There is nothing worst than making a project and running out of yarn when you are nearly through! A correct gauge will make sure that doesn’t happen in the long run.

Colors, Hooks, and more for your Tunisian Delight Sampler!

Y’all! We’re about 11 days away from the official kick off of our Tunisian Delight Sampler Afghan May 2020 Crochet Along! It’s officially time to choose our colors, gather our supplies, and get a little sneak peek of what we’ll be covering over the month of May!

Remember, you can find all the info (including yarn amounts and such) in this blog post here!

So, I thought it might be a little helpful to have a nice little video walking you all through the materials, tools, and each of the blocks! I cover all the stitches we’ll be learning together too! How fun is that?

Remember to subscribe to my YouTube Channel HERE!

Alright, so once you’ve watched that, let’s come on back and we’ll chat colors and crochet hooks!

Choosing Colors is HARD

I’m usually pretty indecisive when it comes to choosing colors for my various crochet projects. Most of the time I just throw some yarn in a pile and choose what looks good depending on what is next to each other. That’s how I chose the colors for my original Tunisian Delight!

With that said, I wanted to make a second version in some other colors! Something totally different from the original version. Yesterday, I posted this photo:

These were the color combos I ultimately settled on!

Four.

Four different choices.

What the heck!

I asked my friends over on Instagram (don’t forget you can follow me here) and the winning combo was the upper left!

I’m actually really excited about this combo! The main afghan will be white with pops of the brights. I’m even thinking a bright red border would be cool too!

That’s what is so great about this CAL, it’s a true stash buster. We’re going to work our way through all these blocks and use up that stash we’ve got hanging out!

Have you chosen your colors? Remember, you can snap a pic and share them with us in my Facebook Group, Rohn Strong’s Crochet Club!

But what about the hook?

I’ve received a slew of questions about the crochet hook we’ll be using for this crochet along. Most people have at least one tunisian crochet hook in their stash and, if you’re like me, we’ve got more than a few!

Now, if you don’t have a tunisian hook in your stash you can just use a regular ole standard hook!

How?

Well, with a little ingenuity!

Here are a few crochet hooks from my collection:

There are two types of hooks here, those with thumb rests (the two blue hooks and green hook) and those without (the red wood and blond wood).

If you have any hooks that look like those without thumb rests, you can made this afghan!

All you need to do is add a rubber band at the base of your hook. This works best when you use an actual rubber band, not a hair tie or anything like that. You want this to really grip the wood.

This rubber band will help keep the stitches on the hook! For real! It’s SO easy and fast to turn any crochet hook like this into a miniature tunisian crochet hook! I even went ahead and did a little tunisian simple stitch swatch just to show you it works!

See! Those stitches aren’t going anywhere! They fit neatly on the hook and it’s really comfy to use. Tunisian crochet hooks can hold a ton of stitches. These blocks each measure about 9.5 inches and this hook is only 6″ long! I could easily fit a bunch more stitches on the hook without getting overwhelmed at all!

Alright, that’s it for today! I hope y’all are having a happy and healthy week out there! Remember, we’re going to start our Tunisian Delight Sampler Crochet Along next week, May 1st!

I’ll have another post next Tuesday all about gauge and how to measure gauge on a tunisian swatch, so stay tuned for that!

If you decide to join us, make sure you tag me on Instagram @rohnstrong or head to Rohn Strong’s Crochet Club on Facebook!

The Waterrock Scarf | An Easy Tunisian Crochet Scarf

Fall is right around the corner and I’ve got the perfect scarf for you! The Waterrock Scarf is easier to make than it looks, and takes just three skeins of yarn!

Get this FREE Tunisian crochet pattern from Rohn Strong and JOANN below!

The Inspiration

I’m one of those people that feels the slightest nip in the air and I’m throwing on a scarf, breaking out the autumn leaf scented candles, and spraying strangers with Pumpkin Spice…

I might be exaggerating a bit…maybe.

The Waterrock Scarf gets its name from the mountain, Waterrock Knob, which is the 16th highest mountain in the Eastern United States – and the 15th highest of the 40 mountains in North Carolina over 6,000 feet. And Waterrock Knob in fall? GORGEOUS!

The Design

Waterrock is worked in one long rectangle from end to end with increases and decreases to give it that slanted stripe look. We begin by casting on a few stitches, increase to the total width, then work back and forth in rows (with those increases and decreases) until the scarf is the desired length. Lastly, we work decreases on both sides which will give us the finished rectangle.

This method is often referred to in knitting as “bias knitting’. That’s primarily because we are working on the bias the whole time. In tunisian crochet, the concept is the same, we just work back and forth with the right side of our work facing us the whole time.

We maintain the bias look by working an increase at the beginning of each row and a decrease at the end of each row. Changing colors at different points is what really shows off the resulting slanting stitches. While working this in one color would be equally cool, working it in multiple colors really shows off the bias look.

The Yarn

I knew I needed a great yarn that carried a hefty amount of yardage when I started the scarf. Yarn choice is often make it or break it for me. This scarf was designed for this kind of yarn. A 100% acrylic worsted weight yarn that has a tight twist.

Why?

Yarn can have a huge impact on your finished piece. Whether it’s knit or crochet. Tunisian crochet produces a fabric that shifts all the stitches to the back and creates an imbalance. That’s why you get the curl when working tunisian crochet. When designers recommend a few rows at the beginning of a project to help combat curl, this is to help cure that imbalance.

Tunisian also uses a great deal of yarn. Which can create a heavy project. A tight twist, which Big Twist Soft has, will make sure the scarf holds up for years to come and doesn’t stretch out. Acrylic yarn will also help the design keep its luster, as it tends to hold up better than wool. Definitely stay away from cotton or any kind of cotton blend.

Big Twist Soft is definitely one of my go-to yarns. It’s a soft acrylic with a tight twist and just the right amount of yardage. With a 6oz ball bringing in nearly 320 yards. How amazing is that? There are also a number of colors to choose from and for about $4 a yard (before a coupon of course) you can’t really beat it.

Wanderrock Scarf

MATERIALS:

3 Balls of Big Twist Soft (1 each in colorways Taupe, Denim, and Orange)
US K/10 6.5mm Tunisian crochet hook with 12: cord or hook needed to obtain gauge
Scissors
Tapestry Needle

FINISHED SIZE:

7.5 inches wide and 72 inches long after blocking

GAUGE:

12 stitches and 16 rows = 4 inches before blocking

ABBREVIATIONS:

Ch – Chain

YO – Yarn Over

Tks – Tunisian knit stitch

Sl st – Slip Stitch

St – Stitch

Tks2tog – Tunisian Knit Stitch 2 Together

RetP – Return Pass

NOTES:

Tunisian Knit Stitch (Tks): Beginning in the second vertical bar, insert the hook from front to back between the front and back vertical pars and draw up a loop. Repeat this in each pair of vertical bars across, working under both bars on the last stitch.

Loop already on hook at beginning of the forward pass counts as first stitch.

SCARF

This scarf is completed using three different colors. Here we’ll refer to them as A (Taupe), B (Orange), and C (Blue).

For the stripe sequence as shown in the photo, you’ll change the colors at the beginning of every forward pass after completing the number of rows outlined below:

A – 1 row
B – 1 row
C – 2 rows
A – 3 rows
B – 5 rows
C – 8 rows
A – 13 rows
B – 21 rows
C – 34 rows
A – 55 rows
B – 14 rows

Here is an up-close photo of the beginning stripe sequence.

Ch 3

Row 1: Yo, tks in each st across to last st, yo, tks in last st. RetP.

Rep Row 1 until there are a total of 41 stitches or desired width of scarf.

Next Row: Yo, tks in each st across to last 3 sts, tks2tog, tks in last st. RetP.

Rep last row until scarf measures 72″ when measured along the longest end, or desired length.

Next Row: Tks2tog, tks in each st across to last 3 sts, tks2tog, tks in last st. RetP.

Rep last row until just 5 sts remain.

Last Row: (Tks2tog) twice. RetP.

Finish off.

Weave in all ends. Wash and lay flat to block.

I really hope you enjoyed this pattern! I just love sharing all these free patterns with you all! If you stitch this up, make sure you take a photo and tag me in them on Instagram and show off your project in the Rohn Strong Maker Community on Facebook too!