Tunisian crochet is one of those crafts that can look much more complicated than it really is. A long hook filled with loops may resemble knitting at first glance, but the basic movements are still unmistakably crochet. Once you understand the rhythm of picking up loops on the forward pass and working them off on the return pass, an entire world of texture opens up.
A stitch sampler is one of the easiest ways to learn. Instead of committing to a scarf or blanket before you know which stitches you enjoy, you can make a small practice piece featuring five useful Tunisian crochet stitches: simple stitch, knit stitch, purl stitch, honeycomb stitch, and full stitch.
The finished swatch gives you a chance to compare the textures side by side while practicing the same essential forward-and-return rhythm over and over. You can keep it as a reference, turn it into a coaster or small mat, or make several squares and eventually join them into a larger project.
🧶 What You’ll Need
- Tunisian crochet hook
- Medium-weight yarn in a light or medium color
- Scissors
- Tapestry needle
- Stitch markers, optional
- Ruler or measuring tape, optional
A smooth yarn makes learning much easier because you can clearly see the vertical bars and spaces where the hook needs to go. Avoid very fuzzy or extremely dark yarn for your first sampler.
🪝 What Makes Tunisian Crochet Different?
Traditional crochet usually completes one stitch before moving to the next. Tunisian crochet works differently because several loops remain on the hook at the same time.
Each row is usually completed in two stages.
The forward pass travels across the fabric while you pick up loops and leave them on the hook. The return pass works back across those loops until only one remains.
You generally do not turn the work at the end of each row when making basic Tunisian crochet flat. The same side continues facing you while the hook moves back and forth.
Once you understand those two passes, the individual stitches become much easier to learn.
📏 Make Your Foundation Chain
For a practice sampler, begin with a loose chain of about 20 stitches. You can make the swatch wider or narrower if you prefer, but 20 stitches gives you enough fabric to see each texture clearly without creating a large project.
Keep the foundation chain relaxed. A chain that is pulled very tightly can cause the bottom of the swatch to curve inward and make the first forward pass unnecessarily difficult.
🔄 Make the Tunisian Foundation Row
The first row establishes the loops that will become the foundation of your sampler.
- Insert the hook into the second chain from the hook.
- Yarn over and pull up a loop, leaving that loop on the hook.
- Insert the hook into the next chain, yarn over, and pull up another loop.
- Continue across the foundation chain, leaving every new loop on the hook.
- When you reach the end, yarn over and pull through one loop.
- Yarn over again and pull through two loops.
- Continue yarning over and pulling through two loops until only one loop remains on the hook.
You have now completed both the forward and return passes of your foundation row.
That single remaining loop is already the beginning of your next row.
🌿 Stitch 1: Tunisian Simple Stitch
Tunisian simple stitch is the classic beginner stitch and the best place to learn how the fabric is constructed.
Look at the front of your foundation row. You will see a series of vertical strands. These are the vertical bars you will work into.
- Skip the first vertical bar because the loop already on your hook represents the first stitch.
- Insert the hook from right to left underneath the next front vertical bar.
- Yarn over and pull up a loop.
- Leave the loop on the hook.
- Repeat across the row, working underneath each front vertical bar.
- At the final stitch, insert the hook carefully through the edge stitch and pull up the last loop.
- Work the standard return pass by yarning over and pulling through one loop, then yarning over and pulling through two loops repeatedly until one loop remains.
Work several rows of Tunisian simple stitch before moving to the next section.
The resulting fabric has a distinctive woven appearance with strong vertical bars running through it. It can also curl dramatically toward the front, especially when worked tightly. That is normal.
🧶 Stitch 2: Tunisian Knit Stitch
Tunisian knit stitch is one of the most surprising stitches in the technique because the finished surface resembles knitted stockinette.
The main difference is where the hook enters the fabric.
Instead of working underneath the front vertical bar, you insert the hook through the fabric between the front and back vertical bars.
- Skip the first stitch.
- Insert the hook from front to back between the front and back vertical bars of the next stitch.
- Yarn over.
- Pull the yarn back through the fabric to create a loop.
- Leave that loop on the hook.
- Continue across the row, inserting the hook through each stitch in the same way.
- Work the final edge stitch carefully.
- Complete the standard return pass.
After several rows, you should begin seeing small V-shaped stitches forming across the front of the swatch.
Although the fabric resembles knitting, its structure is still Tunisian crochet. It can feel thicker and less stretchy than knitted stockinette made with a similar yarn.
🧵 Stitch 3: Tunisian Purl Stitch
Tunisian purl stitch produces a bumpy horizontal texture that contrasts beautifully with both simple and knit stitch.
It can feel awkward at first because the working yarn needs to move in front of the hook before each stitch. Take your time.
- Bring the working yarn to the front of the hook.
- Insert the hook underneath the next front vertical bar.
- Move the working yarn into position and yarn over.
- Pull up a loop through the vertical bar.
- Leave the loop on the hook.
- Bring the yarn back to the front and repeat the movement in the next stitch.
- Continue across the row.
- Work the final edge stitch.
- Complete the standard return pass.
Work a few rows before deciding whether you like the stitch. The movement usually becomes much easier once your hands understand how the yarn needs to travel around the hook.
Tunisian purl stitch is especially useful when combined with smoother stitches because its raised horizontal bars create an immediate change in texture.
🍯 Stitch 4: Tunisian Honeycomb Stitch
Tunisian honeycomb stitch combines knit and purl stitches into a beautifully textured pattern.
The effect comes from alternating the two stitches and then reversing their positions on the following row.
For the cleanest honeycomb effect, an even number of working stitches makes the pattern easier to follow.
Row 1
- Work a Tunisian knit stitch in the next stitch.
- Work a Tunisian purl stitch in the following stitch.
- Alternate knit and purl stitches across the row.
- Work the edge stitch.
- Complete the standard return pass.
Row 2
- Work a Tunisian purl stitch into the stitch that was previously worked as a knit stitch.
- Work a Tunisian knit stitch into the next stitch.
- Continue alternating purl and knit stitches across the row.
- Work the edge stitch.
- Complete the standard return pass.
Repeat those two rows several times.
As the pattern develops, the fabric begins forming small textured cells that give the stitch its honeycomb name.
This is a wonderful point in the sampler because you can clearly see how dramatically the appearance of Tunisian crochet changes without altering the basic return pass at all.
🌾 Stitch 5: Tunisian Full Stitch
Tunisian full stitch teaches you to stop thinking only about the vertical bars.
Instead, this stitch is worked into the spaces between the vertical bars beneath a horizontal strand.
Because you are working between stitches, you need to pay attention to the beginning and end of each row so you do not accidentally increase your stitch count.
- Skip the first outside space at the beginning of the row.
- Insert the hook beneath the horizontal strand in the space between the next two stitches.
- Yarn over and pull up a loop.
- Leave the loop on the hook.
- Continue working into the spaces across the row.
- Follow the placement carefully at the end so your stitch count remains consistent.
- Complete the standard return pass.
On the following row, the placement normally shifts so the stitch pattern stays balanced.
Work several rows and watch the texture develop.
Tunisian full stitch creates a dense, soft-looking fabric that feels quite different from the strong vertical lines of simple stitch.
🪡 How to Finish the Sampler
Once your final section is as long as you want it, bind off the Tunisian stitches so the top edge looks finished.
- Keep one loop on the hook.
- Insert the hook into the next stitch in the same place you would normally insert it for your stitch pattern.
- Yarn over and pull through the stitch.
- Continue pulling that same loop through the loop already on your hook.
- Repeat across the row.
- When one loop remains, cut the yarn and pull the tail through to secure it.
Use a tapestry needle to weave the yarn tails into the back of the fabric.
Your sampler is now complete.
🌀 Why Is My Tunisian Crochet Curling?
Curling is one of the first things many beginners notice, particularly when practicing Tunisian simple stitch and knit stitch.
It happens because of the structure of the fabric and does not necessarily indicate that you have made a mistake.
Very tight tension can make the curl more dramatic, so try moving up to a larger hook if the fabric feels stiff. Keeping the loops loose enough to slide comfortably along the hook can also help.
Blocking the finished sampler may reduce curling, depending on the fiber you used. A standard crochet border can provide additional stability if you decide to turn the swatch into a small finished project.
🧶 Keep Your Stitches Loose
Tunisian crochet usually benefits from looser tension than many beginners expect.
If you are struggling to insert the hook beneath a vertical bar or pull a loop through the fabric, your stitches may simply be too tight.
Relax your grip on the hook and yarn. Let each loop remain comfortably around the shaft rather than pulling it tightly against the hook.
A larger hook can make a tremendous difference as well.
The goal is not to create enormous loose loops. You simply want enough room for the hook to move freely.
🔢 Count the Loops on Your Hook
If your sampler begins widening or narrowing unexpectedly, count your loops at the end of every forward pass.
If you began with 20 stitches, you should continue having the same number unless a pattern specifically tells you to increase or decrease.
Beginners commonly lose the final edge stitch because it looks different from the vertical bars in the middle of the row.
Accidental increases often happen when a stitch or space near the edge is worked twice.
Counting takes only a few seconds and makes it much easier to catch a mistake immediately.
📐 Pay Special Attention to the Last Stitch
The final stitch of a Tunisian row deserves extra attention.
Instead of looking exactly like the other vertical bars, the outer edge usually appears as a pair of strands.
Working through both strands can produce a stronger, cleaner edge.
Once you learn to recognize that final stitch, straight sides become much easier to maintain.
Until then, a stitch marker placed in the edge can help you locate it.
🧩 What Can You Do With Your Finished Sampler?
You do not have to throw your practice swatch into a drawer once the lesson is finished.
A small cotton sampler can become a washcloth or cleaning cloth. A thicker square can work as a hot pad or coaster if the yarn fiber is appropriate for heat.
Make several samplers in coordinating colors and sew them together into a cushion cover or small blanket.
You can also label the sections and keep the swatch as a reference. When you return to Tunisian crochet months later, having an actual piece of fabric showing simple, knit, purl, honeycomb, and full stitch can be much more useful than trying to remember every technique from scratch.
🎨 Try the Sampler in Several Colors
Once you understand the stitches, repeat the project with color changes.
Work each stitch section in a different shade so the changes in texture become even easier to see.
You might use five shades of the same color for a subtle gradient, choose a rainbow palette, or work the sampler in leftovers from other projects.
Changing color in Tunisian crochet can affect the appearance of both the forward and return passes, creating effects you would not necessarily get from ordinary crochet.
A simple practice square can quickly become an experiment in color as well as texture.
🧣 Turn the Simple Stitch Section Into a Scarf
If Tunisian simple stitch was your favorite part of the sampler, a scarf is a natural first full project.
Chain enough stitches to create the desired width, work the foundation row, and continue in simple stitch until the scarf reaches the length you want.
Because simple stitch tends to curl, consider adding a border after binding off.
A long scarf gives you plenty of repetition, which allows your tension to improve naturally as you work.
By the end, picking up loops and making the return pass should feel much more automatic than it did at the beginning.
🧶 Try Honeycomb Stitch for a Headband or Cowl
Honeycomb stitch is particularly attractive for smaller accessories because the combination of knit and purl stitches produces a substantial textured fabric.
A simple rectangular strip can become a headband once the ends are sewn together.
A wider, longer rectangle can become a cowl.
These projects let you practice the two-row honeycomb repeat without introducing complicated shaping.
Choose a soft yarn because both projects will be worn close to the skin.
🪴 Make a Small Textured Plant Mat
A Tunisian crochet square can also become a decorative mat beneath a plant pot.
Cotton yarn is especially practical for this type of project because it creates a sturdy fabric and can usually be washed easily.
Try alternating blocks of simple stitch and honeycomb stitch or use full stitch for the entire square.
Just remember that crochet should never be relied upon to protect furniture from standing water. Use a waterproof saucer beneath the plant pot and let the handmade mat provide the decorative finishing touch.
📚 Make a Set of Stitch Reference Squares
If you enjoy learning new stitches, continue the sampler idea beyond these five basics.
Make one small square for every new Tunisian stitch you learn and attach a label with the stitch name.
Over time, you can build your own physical stitch library.
The squares can remain separate as references or eventually become part of a sampler blanket.
This is an especially satisfying approach because practice never feels wasted. Every small experiment can contribute to a larger finished project later.
🌟 Five Stitches, One Simple Technique
The most surprising thing about Tunisian crochet is how much can change while the underlying technique stays almost the same.
Tunisian simple stitch works beneath the front vertical bar. Knit stitch passes through the fabric. Purl stitch changes the yarn position. Honeycomb combines knit and purl stitches. Full stitch moves into the spaces between them.
Yet all five rely on the same basic rhythm: pick up loops on the forward pass, then work them off during the return pass.
Once that rhythm becomes comfortable, Tunisian crochet stops looking mysterious.
Make the sampler slowly. Study each section as it grows. Notice where the hook enters the fabric and how that one small change transforms the texture.
By the time you bind off the final row, you will not simply have five new stitches.
You will understand how Tunisian crochet works.
🔗 Related Articles
- Mastering the Single Crochet: A Beginner’s Guide
- Unraveling the Mystery: A Step-by-Step Guide to Reading Crochet Patterns
- Mastering the Treble Crochet: A Beginner’s Guide
- The Art of the Bobble Stitch: A Guide to Creating Eye-Catching Crochet Designs
