Tunisian Crochet
You already know the basic crochet stitches. Now you want to do something more. May be you want to learn more stitches or crochet something new. Well, with crochet the options are endless. You can learn advance crochet stitches to which I"ve dedicated an entire issue of the newsletter.Something advanced and yet simple is the Tunisian stitch variously known as the afghan stitch, tricot stitch, railroad knitting, Shepherd"s knitting or hook knitting. Tunisian stitch is easy to learn and helps create a sturdy fabric-like product, which makes it an excellent stitch for making afghans. Tunisian crochet lends definite right and wrong sides to the final creation, which is great for embroidery and cross-stitch.
Tunisian crochet is different from regular crochet in the sense that it never requires you to turn your work. In Tunisian crochet, you go forward on a row and then come back the same way without turning your work around. The only time a Tunisian crochet project is turned is when you do the first row after making the foundation chain at the beginning of the project.
Another factor making Tunisian crochet distinct from standard crochet is that each row is a two-step process. Unlike crochet projects using stitches other than Tunisian stitch, in afghan stitch you pick up stitches from the previous row and then come back pulling the yarn through all the stitches picked up on the hook. In this respect, Tunisian crochet is sort of a combination of knitting and crochet.
Tunisian crochet hook is typically larger than standard crochet hooks. Think of Tunisian crochet hook as a knitting needle with a hook on one end. This is particularly helpful if you are working of large projects such as afghans and adult size sweaters.
You might have seen a double-ended hook with crochet hook on both ends of the stick. This type of hook is used in crochetnit, a technique with which Tunisian crochet is often confused. Crochetnit is also known as cro-hook, cro-knit or crochet on the double
Something you need to be careful about when using Tunisian stitch is to frequently count the number of stitches. Carelessness can lead to dropped stitches just as in knitting. Fixing dropped stitches while crocheting is time consuming and frustrating. Do your best to avoid skipping stitches.
Once you are comfortable doing the afghan stitch, experiment with using two or more colors to make colored patterns.
Detailed instructions for Tunisian crochet are given at:
http://www.crochetme.com/Apr_May_2005/reads_tunisian.html
http://www.crochetcabana.com/specialty/tunisian.htm
http://www.stitchdiva.com/custom.aspx?id=40
Learning videos are given at http://www.nexstitch.com/Tutorials.html.
Practice Tunisian stitch from patterns given at http://crochet.about.com/b/a/171859.htm.
Tunisian crochet patterns are available at:
http://www.kimanedesigns.net/products/tantalizingafghans.html
http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com/directory/tunisian_crochet.php
Good luck with learning and doing Tunisian crochet!