Beginner Tunisian Crochet
Text from an Online Chat Tutorial
Three Stitches Taught in This Class:
Reverse Afghan Stitch, Afghan Stitch and Tunisian Knit Stitch
10/02/06
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Please note that this text is written in "chat format," although I've edited some of it out. Therefore, there are several conversational, rather than instructional, elements.
Kim> The first thing I need to do is pick five people to be my "point people" These five people will be responsible for keeping up with the class and letting me know when they finish a step
Kim> This will give me an idea of how quickly people are moving along with the steps
Kim> So, who was it that posted at C'Ville today that they felt like they learned things slowly?
ankey> I did
Kim> Okay, will you be one of my point people?
ankey> sure
Kim> Now, I need four more. Who will be actually doing the steps with us?
Karen C> Me
Geek'sGirl31> me. my sister is lurking along with me, too.
melissacrochets> I'll be doing it
Fidgement> I'm in if you need another
Kim> Okay, Ankey, Fidgement, Karen C, Geek'sGirl
Kim> That's four.
melissacrochets> I'll do it
Kim> Oh, and Melissacrochets
Kim> Okay, you five are going to be responsible for doing each step then when I say "Say K When Ready"
Kim> You will simply type K
Kim> I will count them each time to make sure that you have finished
Fidgement> k
Karen C> k
melissacrochets> k
ankey> k
Kim> Everyone else should be finished at the same time
Geek'sGirl31> k
Kim> But, if ANYONE is having trouble at ANY point, don't hesitate to let me know
Fidgement> k
Kim> Just speak up the same way as though we are in a classroom together
Kim> Now, everyone should have a ball of yarn and an afghan hook, either with a ball at the end or double-ended
Kim> The first thing I want you to do is make a chain of 20
Kim> Once the chain of 20 is made, the five point people will say K when ready
Kim> Your 20 chains are now made
Kim> I want you to start by inspecting your chains
Kim> On the front, you will see two vertical bars that form an oval
Kim> Turn the row of chains over
Kim> And, you will see what is referred to as the "back bump"
Kim> This is where you will be putting your hook, under the back bump
Kim> This helps to stop curling a little bit
Kim> And, I'm sure that you've heard about the curling
Fidgement> yes
Kim> So, the first thing I want you to do is hold your hook like a bicycle handlebar
Kim> This may be different than you're used to but it doesn't work any other way
Kim> You will skip the first chain
Kim> Insert your hook under the second back bump
Kim> Yarn over and pull up a loop
Kim> You will now have two loops on your hook
Kim> Now, you will continue pulling up loops like this all the way across
Kim> Conveniently, you will have 20 loops on your hook
Kim> The same number as your starting chain
Kim> Count them!
Kim> Make sure you have 20 loops
Kim> Then, say K when ready
Kim> If you're having a problem getting the hook under the back bar
Kim> Use your non-hook hand and your thumb and forefinger to pull up on it a little
Kim> So, it's not unnatural to have trouble getting under that back bar
Fidgement> it helps to chain looser i suspect
Nowl> Kim: so the loop on the hook that we start with is counted as a stitch, unlike in regular crochet?
Kim> Yes, it's counted as your first loop
Linda> Instead of being on top of the stitch where it should be, it is on the side. Should I be pulling the loop up harder?
Kim> Working loosely is always the best policy when working with Tunisian, Linda
Kim> Even if your work looks sloppy to you, it's still fine once you get going
Kim> That's why I suggested such a large hook
Kim> I'll be trying to save all the text from the classes
Kim> Sometimes, there are glitches and I can't get them saved. But, usually, I can
Kim> Okay, we will continue
Kim> You have 20 loops on your hook
Kim> You do not EVER turn with regular Tunisian
Kim> Yarn over and pull through one loop on your hook
Kim> You will have successfully closed one loop
Kim> Then, yarn over and pull through two loops on your hook
Kim> Always remember
Kim> You yarn over and pull through one loop for the first closure
Kim> But, then, you yarn over and pull through TWO loops for each remaining
Kim> So, please do that all the way across, closing all the loops and you will end with one loop on your hook
Kim> Okay, I want you to pull up on your loop so that you can safely remove your hook
Kim> I want you to pull the stitches apart a little so that we can study the anatomy of the stitches
Kim> Pull the top horizontal bar away from the bottom beginning chain if you need to
Kim> Notice that the first thing you have is a horizontal bar on top
Kim> This is nothing more than a chain turned upside down
Kim> Then, you will see the vertical bars
Kim> Notice that each FRONT vertical bar goes up into that top chain then back down the other side
Kim> It is important to note which is the Front vertical bar and which is the back vertical bar
Kim> So, the first stitch we will learn is the Reverse Afghan Stitch
Kim> The Reverse Afghan Stitch works just like the garter stitch in knitting
Kim> Knitters use that all the time because of the curling
Kim> And, we will use it as well
Kim> You will skip the first vertical bar
Kim> You can't stitch into it no matter how hard you try
Kim> You will skip the first vertical bar
Kim> Then, placing your hook BEHIND your work, you will insert your hook in the BACK vertical bar in a side to side motion, never coming out in the front
Kim> yarn over and pull up a loop
Joan> The first vertical bar is the one directly under the loop?
Kim> The vertical bar is the one directly under the top horizontal bar or upside down chain
melissacrochets> I'm confused
Kim> The vertical bar goes up into the chain
Kim> Then, it comes back down the other side
Kim> You simply place your hook behind your work
Kim> You don't put it in the front of your work
Kim> You are going for that BACK vertical bar
Kim> When you place your hook under that BACK vertical bar and pull up a loop, it will cause the top horizontal bar to be pushed toward you
Kim> forming a nice ridge which will look very much like garter stitch
Kim> You will have two loops on your hook
Kim> You can go ahead and continue pulling up looks in that BACK vertical bar all the way across
Kim> Now, melissacrochets, is that working for you?
melissacrochets> I'm working across
Kim> Okay, good
Heidi> after you work across...how many loops on your hook should you have?
Kim> Now, when you have pulled up all your loops, be sure to COUNT!
Kim> You will have 20 loops
Kim> It's easy to miss the last stitch
Kim> So, you must count when you're learning
Kim> Always the same number of loops as your starting chain
Kim> You will see that you have a nice ridge and, if you've ever done afghan stitch before, you will notice a difference right away because there won't be any curling
Fidgement> so if we do a row of this before progressing in a pattern, we won't get any curl
Kim> I usually do about four or five rows for my Tunisian projects
Fidgement> cool
Kim> I'll also do this stitch on the sides and the top
Geek'sGirl31> k
Geek'sGirl31> whew
Geek'sGirl31> sorry
Kim> It makes a nice border
Kim> That's okay, GeeksGirl.....
Kim> Not a contest. :-)
Kim> Okay, we are back to closing the stitches
Kim> Yarn over and pull through ONE loop, then yarn over and pull through TWO loops for each remaining
Kim> You will end with one loop on your hook
Kim> If we were in a classroom, I would probably have you do that stitch again just to be sure you've got it. But, since we're not and we'll have the text for later review,
Kim> I will move onto the next stitch
Kim> This will be regular afghan stitch
Kim> It is exactly the same, EXCEPT you insert your hook from side to side under the FRONT vertical bar
Kim> Skip the first loop
Kim> Insert your hook under the second FRONT vertical bar, yarn over and pull up a loop
Kim> Do this all the way across
Kim> You will end with 20 loops on your hook
Kim> Say K when ready
Kim> Your hook is in the front of your work, rather than the back of your work like before
Kim> Yarn over and pull through ONE loop then yarn over and pull through TWO loops
Kim> You will end with one loop on your hook
Kim> Say K when ready
Kim> GeeksGirl, I see you didn't have any problems at all with that row. :-)
Kim> Much easier, isn't it?
Fidgement> yes
Geek'sGirl31> the front was MUCH better. *lol*
Kim> Don't worry. It gets easier with practice
Kim> I want to stop for just a minute and check to see if anyone has any questions?
Fidgement> none here
Karen C> or here
Geek'sGirl31> ditto
irikel> im fine
Kim> Okay, let's move onto the third stitch for the evening
Kim> This will be the Tunisian Knit Stitch
Kim> The first time I discovered this, I was in love!
Kim> You will skip the first vertical bar like normal
Kim> Then, you will insert your hook from the front of your work to the back of your work but, you have to make sure that you place your hook correctly
Kim> The front vertical bar goes up into the chain and comes down the other side
Kim> It forms an inverted "U" or a "rainbow" as I like to call it
Kim> You are going to insert your hook under that rainbow
Kim> Make sure you don't go between the stitches
Kim> You are going under the rainbow formed by the front and back loops
Kim> If you go between, it is a completely different stitch
irikel> go in between those 2??
ankey> hmmm, not really getting it...
Geek'sGirl31> we're going in between the front and back vertical bars, right?
Kim> You are going in between the front and back vertical bar
irikel> ok
Kim> It will end up looking like a stockinette stitch in knitting
Kim> The same thing most of your sweaters are done with
Kim> Look closely at the loops
Kim> The front vertical bar goes up into the chain and then comes down the back side
Kim> You will insert your hook between those two
ankey> oh ok I see
melissacrochets> does it make it look like a knitted stitch?
Karen C> and then you draw the yarn up from the back?
Kim> You will yarn over and pull up a loop and continue pulling up loops all the way across
Kim> Yes, Karen
Kim> And, yes, melissacrochets
melissacrochets> k
Kim> Yes, 20 is very important. :-)
Michelle Stephens> Looks very nice
Kim> Inkel, does it look like knitting? The loops looking like chains interlocking at the top?
irikel> yes
Kim> Or, is it super flat with some spaces in between?
Kim> Oh, then you're doing it correctly. :-)
irikel> looks nice
Kim> Anyone having questions with that one?
irikel> i like it
Kim> I saved the hardest for last
melissacrochets> I thought the RAS was the hardest
irikel> me too
Kim> The Reverse Afghan Stitch is probably the hardest to actually DO. But, trying to explain the entire Rainbow thing is hardest for me to do
irikel> lol
Geek'sGirl31> the reverse was just EVIL
melissacrochets> how else would we know what the back loop is?
Kim> LOL
Geek'sGirl31> lol
Kim> hahahahahaha
Kim> I felt the same way when I did the Reverse Afghan Stitch the first time
Kim> But, you should try the PURL stitch.....that one had me stumped and I won't even design with it LOL
Kim> Now, are there any questions? And, can I have a show of hands of all people who were skeptical about learning this online? Hmmmmm?
Geek'sGirl31> my sister loathes the purl stitch.
Michelle Stephens> No questions, thanks for explaining the Reg. Afghan stitch so well.
melissacrochets> do we bind off?
Geek'sGirl31> I was a little skeptical because I had to learn the crochet foundation row using a video. LOL
Geek'sGirl31> but that's just me.
Heidi> I have a question...how would you end your work once you have it finished?
Linda> ? Are the knit stitches square like the tunisian stitch (for working with graphs)?
Kim> I wouldn't recommend that you bind off now since I'm sure you'll want to continue practicing
Fidgement> no ???'s here, I just did another row!
Kim> But, I can certainly teach you the bind off now, if you like
Heidi> that would be great if you have the time :)
Geek'sGirl31> you go, Fidge! *lol*
Kim> Anyone who would like to learn the bind off, just get to the point where you have one loop on your hook and say K
Kim> Linda, I just saw your question.....
Kim> The knit stitches aren't as square as regular afghan stitch
ankey> how exactly do we get to the point where we only have one loop on the hook again?
Kim> They are just a tad larger vertically
Kim> I use them for graphs, but I try to do the graph a little on the squat side first
Kim> Okay, I'll teach you the slip stitch bind off
Kim> You can bind off in any of the ways I've already taught you....knit, afghan stitch or reverse afghan stitch
Kim> you will want to follow your established stitch pattern, which we don't have here
Kim> so, you can do whatever you like
Kim> you will insert your hook under the second vertical bar, yarn over and pull up a loop
Kim> now, pull that loop right on through the loop on the hook
Kim> it's not as difficult as it sounds
Kim> you're just doing a slip stitch
Kim> And, you will continue to do your slip stitch all the way across
Fidgement> this is so easy, much easier than regular crochet
Kim> Oh, cool! I've got a convert! :-)
Karen C> I love this knit stitch
Fidgement> lol
Kim> Karen, I fell in love with the knit stitch too!
Kim> I immediately designed 12 afghans using all knit stitch and reverse afghan stitch
Geek'sGirl31> same here, but I have GOT to learn to crochet looser. Mine curved up on me
Kim> Believe it or not, you are now armed with all you need to know in order to complete the afghans in my first three leaflets
Kim> :-)
irikel> is it supposed to have a sc looking like thing on top?
Heidi> that sounds simple enough....you do very well at teaching I must say :)
irikel> lol
Karen C> Im still working on my pillow using the cro-hook from last class lol
Kim> Thank you, Heidi. :-)
melissacrochets> so how do you bind off with the knit stitch?
melissacrochets> or the RAS
melissacrochets> or fas
Kim> The same way. Just insert your hook as you would for knit stitch, then complete the slip stitch
melissacrochets> ok
melissacrochets> makes sense
Kim> Of course, you can also do a Single Crochet Bind Off
Geek'sGirl31> are all three of your leaflets on your webpage?
Kim> It's just a matter of what looks good to you
Fidgement> so the one we just learned is just a slip stitch
Kim> These are leaflets I published through Annie's Attic.
Kim> And, those first three are getting hard to find
Heidi> I can't wait to make a scarf in tunisian now :)
Kim> Although I have a link on my webpage, it takes you to Annie's Attic.
Geek'sGirl31> perfect, thanks Kim.
Geek'sGirl31> Single Crochet Bind Off?
melissacrochets> I love to knit but it kills my hands. This is perfect
Geek'sGirl31> oooh, vintage and in demand
melissacrochets> thanks for your wonderful instruction, Kim
ankey> if only I didn't have so many WIPs already, I'd start a tunisian blanket
Kim> Yes, instead of doing the slip stitch, you would pull up a loop (two loops on hook), yarn over and pull through those two loops
melissacrochets> I guess I'll have to get some circular hooks
Heidi> I never got the hang of knitting lol
irikel> Thanks you Kim....This was great
Kim> I do have a new Tunisian book out, but it encompasses many more stitches.......MORE CLASSES! :-)
irikel> I had a good time
Geek'sGirl31> woot!
Kim> You're all most welcome
Heidi> thank you so much...I really enjoyed the class
Joan> This was sooo cool... thanks so much, Kim!
Karen C> another great class Kim, Thanks
Geek'sGirl31> You did a great job teaching, Kim
Fidgement> thanks kim, this is cool - how about the pull over sweater, what stitches
Michelle Stephens> Thanks for the great instruction
Linda> Thanks. Does this class continue?
melissacrochets> I will try your crohook
ankey> yes, thanks for the great class Kim!
Kim> Fidge....the diagonal sweater on my website or another?
Fidgement> website
Fidgement> lulu
Fidgement> the one with 18 sizes
Kim> Lulu....those are regular crochet
Kim> Yes, the pretty sweater in burgundy? That's regular crochet
Fidgement> thanks!!!
JR2> thanks for the class, kim
Heidi> OH...you said you were going to keep the text from this class right?
Geek'sGirl31> the scarf you did for your husband - what stitch was that?
Kim> The scarf for my husband is cro-hook using the Reverse Afghan Stitch and the Afghan Stitch
Geek'sGirl31> nooooo....*lol*
Geek'sGirl31> just kidding! I was looking at that for my BF.
Kim> LOL It really does get easier with practice. :-)
Nowl> Thank you, Kim. I had fun!
Michelle Stephens> Have to leave and make dinner. Thanks again for the great class
Kim> But, it's a REALLY pretty scarf! I get lots of requests for that one
Karen C> bye Michelle
Geek'sGirl31> It is! I know I have to come to your crohook class so I can learn it
