Tunisian Crochet Stitches

Tunisian crochet is a vintage needlework technique dating back more than 100 years. Contemporary crochet enthusiasts have revived the classic Tunisian crochet stitches and are using them in combination with newer stitches, newer techniques and gorgeous new yarns to create a dazzling variety of appealing projects. Whether you’d like to learn the basic Tunisian crochet stitches, vintage Tunisian crochet stitches or newly discovered Tunisian crochet stitches, you’ll find links to helpful stitch tutorials and step-by-step instructions on this page.

Afghan Stitch

The afghan stitch is one of the most basic Tunisian crochet stitches. Many of the other Tunisian crochet stitches are based on this stitch, so it is worthwhile to learn it if you haven’t yet. This is the Tunisian crochet stitch that people typically learn first; and the stitch is so popular and ubiquitous that some crochet enthusiasts never venture beyond this stitch. It’s truly versatile, and there are zillions of different things you can do with it.

Afghan Stitch Increase

There’s a lot you can do with simple afghan stitch rectangles and squares, but they can only take you so far. When you need to create shaping in your work, it’s helpful to understand how to increase. These instructions will help you understand how to increase in afghan stitch.

Afghan Stitch Decrease

Likewise, you’ll also want to learn how to decrease in afghan stitch.

Tunisian Crochet Mesh Stitch

I discovered this stitch while playing around with ideas for variations on the afghan stitch. This particular variation of afghan stitch is so easy and so basic that I feel sure someone must have discovered and used it before I did, although I can’t recall having come across it yet in any of the stitch dictionaries or crochet books I own.

I am completely fascinated with the possibilities presented by this stitch. For one thing, it is a really FAST stitch to work on — and it’s also stupidly easy once you understand how to do it. The other thing that keeps me intrigued is that there is limitless potential for truly gorgeous yet EASY colorwork — with minimal end-weaving if you are smart about how you do your color changes. The combination of all those factors is keeping me hooked on this stitch! I have been using it to make dozens of different projects that all look different. I’m still working on testing and posting the patterns for these — the patterns aren’t quite ready yet, but I’ll give you a peek at the projects just so you can see some of the possibilities this stitch enables:

This photo collage accompanies a crochet pattern for rainbow fingerless gloves worked in Tunisian mesh stitch.

Tunisian Crochet Baby Headband and Fingerless Gloves Worked in Tunisian Crochet Mesh Stitch

This picture accompanies a crochet pattern for a Tunisian crochet mesh stitch dishcloth.

See what I mean? Isn’t that stitch completely incredible? Stay tuned for the patterns — I’m hoping to make them available soon.

Vintage Coiled Treble Stitch

This photo shows a vintage crochet stitch called Coiled Treble Stitch. It is a variation of the crochet bullion stitch where the bullion stitches are worked in rows of Tunisian crochet.

So there you have it: Our roundup of Tunisian crochet stitches. We hope you enjoyed learning about these stitches, and that you’ll be able to make zillions of amazing Tunisian crochet projects now that you’re aware of some of the possibilities for unique Tunisian crochet stitches.

Click here to find our main directory of knitting and crochet stitches.

This page was last updated on 12/31/2017.