TUNISIAN KNIT & PURL STITCH GUIDE
Take your Tunisian crochet technique a step further with our handy guide to knit and purl stitches…
To complete your foundation row, you now need to work the ‘return pass’ (abbreviated to RetP), which works the loops back off the hook. This return pass is also used as the return part of the row for many basic Tunisian stitches – you will usually see it referred to as the ‘Standard’ or ‘Basic’ return pass. You will have your stitches on the hook with the right side of the work facing you. Do not turn – you will be working back along the row from left to right.
Step 1 Yrh and pull the yarn and hook through the first loop on the hook only. In patterns, this is sometimes called ‘ch1’, because the action is exactly the same as making 1 chain stitch.
Step 2 *Yrh and draw the yarn through the next 2 loops on the hook…
Step 3 …like this.
Step 4 Repeat the process from * across the row, working yrh and pull through 2 loops at a time, until there is one loop remaining on the hook. You will have completed the return pass, and the loop left on your hook will make the first stitch of the next row.
After working the foundation row (forward and return pass), you could choose to work Tunisian purl stitch instead. Here’s how…
With the right side of the work facing you, identify the vertical strands of yarn that were created in the forward pass of the foundation row.
Step 1 Bring the yarn to the front of the work, skip the strand on the outside edge of the work and *insert the hook from right to left underneath the next vertical strand .
Step 2 Work yrh…
Step 3 …and then draw the yarn through the vertical strand and onto the hook. You will now have 2 loops on the hook .
Step 4 Repeat the process from * by inserting the hook under the next vertical strand, yrh, draw through and onto the hook in the same way. Keep going until you have worked in all strands across the row, except for the last strand on the outside edge of the work. For the last stitch of the row, insert your hook underneath the front and the back of the loop on the outside edge, so that there are 2 strands on the hook .
Step 5 Yrh and draw through as before. This creates a firm edge that mirrors the appearance of the edge on the other side. The forward pass will be complete. Now you can work the return pass (as explained before), without turning the work. You will have completed one row of Tunisian purl stitch. Tip When trying Tunisian crochet for the first time, use a smooth yarn with a tight twist (not mohair or a slubby yarn) , as it will be easier to work with.