Learn Tunisian Crochet in the Round

By Sandy Walker

This amazing book is filled with step-by-step photos and instructions to create stitch square blocks with beautiful graphic designs! The basic differences between regular Tunisian and Tunisian in the Round (TITR) are that the stitches are picked up on the forward pass and worked off on the return pass differently. Regular Tunisian crochet uses 1 hook, 1 ball of yarn and the work is never turned. TITR uses 2 connected hooks, 2 ball of yarn and the work is turned. Regular Tunisian the forward and return pass are worked on the right side facing and TITR the forward pass is worked on the right side and the return pass on the wrong side.The book includes an 11-Step Photo Tutorial for Tunisian in the Round, and sections that explain how to read stitch charts for TITR Plus a section outlining tools, Tunisian Stitches, and Techniques for Tunisian in the Round. 15 different stitch blocks have the same number of rounds used so blankets can be easily made larger or smaller by altering the number of blocks. Blocks include Fair Isle, Elephants, Hearts & more. Includes 2 afghans, 2 baby blankets and 2 tote bags.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Annies
• Release date: Apr 5, 2021
• ISBN: 9781640254848

Book preview

Guide

Introduction

My goal is to teach you how to complete some amazing projects using Tunisian in the Round (TITR). You will learn to stitch square blocks with beautiful graphic designs, make strategic color changes and utilize my favorite new product: self-striping yarn. I am so excited to share this technique and debunk the belief that Tunisian crochet is nothing more than one stitch that curls.

I’ve been playing with TITR for the past few years, stitched more than 100 different original designs, and spent extensive time determining how to best document the technique and patterns. The first TITR crochet along (CAL), Every Penny Counts debuted in October 2019, and garnered rave reviews from participants. The collection of patterns has grown steadily and hundreds of our fellow fiber artists have successfully completed projects.

The patterns are geared to competent beginners, meaning that you are familiar with the techniques of Tunisian crochet, including forward and return passes, basic stitches and have consistent tension.

The patterns are presented in uncomplicated chart form and have been very well received by my students. Trust me (and hundreds of others), they are easy to follow, provide great visual cues on the stitch pattern shapes, and include stitch and round counts.

There are 15 different stitch blocks with the same number of rounds used for two blankets and totes. When you are comfortable with the technique, I encourage you to play. Blankets can easily be made larger or smaller by altering the number of blocks. You can choose to repeat only your favorite blocks for an entire project, alter color choices, use self-striping yarns, etc. I love seeing all of the variations in my Stitch It Your Way, One Pattern, Infinite Possibilities designs.

Let’s talk about TITR, another kind of hook up

TITR techniques using double-ended hooks are an absolute game changer. It is the best method in crochet (or knitting) for lettering, graphics and mosaic designs with no yarn stranding or carries. Two balls of yarn are used, one for the forward pass and one for the return pass. Using a different color for each pass, designs are created by using stitches that either hide or show the return pass color. Using the same color for both passes offers a more subtle texture and is a perfect platform for adding cables.

TITR is most often used to create seamless, tubular projects such as hats and cowls. TITR used for flat pieces such as squares and other geometric shapes is only slightly more challenging, far more versatile, and creates amazing designs with texture and visual impact.

I placed first in the Tunisian design category at the 2019 Crochet Guild of America (CGOA) conference with Penny’s Puzzle. All geometric shapes, squares, octagons and triangles were created using TITR and included solid-color cabled octagons along with two-color graphic shapes. I teach locally and, in August 2019, I taught on a Crafty Adventures South Pacific cruise out of Sydney, Australia.

My adventures in crochet and obsession with Tunisian crochet

My mom, Penny, was a master fiber artist and could knit and crochet with the speed and precision of a finely tuned machine. I was already a knitter and took up crochet at 17, made a mini business of selling tote bags to friends, taught crochet, and moved on to making blankets as gifts. My mother crocheted my spectacular wedding dress in 1976 and I made matching shawls for the bridesmaids. My patterns are all part of The Penny Collection, and I am grateful to have had such an amazingly talented and patient teacher. I can still hear her saying, Use the hook, the hook is the tool.

I discovered Tunisian crochet in the 1970s, and it became my preferred technique for blankets. I made a few modifications to patterns, adding texture with bobbles and a few minor stitch variations. In 2016, I participated in my first few CALs, discovered the beauty and versatility of post stitches, and adapted them to Tunisian. My first original design, aptly named, was The Penny Drops. It became a well-received CAL and the first piece of The Penny Collection.

Tunisian is the most underrated crochet technique. Tunisian crochet results in perfectly defined stitches on all sides of a piece with clearly visible edge stitches, making joining, assembly and borders simple. Easy color changes and stitch variations result in heirloom quality pieces