Tunisian crochet keeps a row of loops on the hook before working them off again. That makes it feel different from ordinary crochet, where you usually complete one stitch before moving on. For a first attempt, focus on those two passes and use a small rectangle instead of a wide blanket.
Understand the two-pass row
During a forward pass, you pick up loops across the fabric and leave them on the hook. During the return pass, you draw yarn through the loops to reduce them back to one. Together, those passes usually form one completed row in basic flat Tunisian crochet.
You normally keep the same side facing you rather than turning after every pass. Special methods, including some double-ended-hook techniques, work differently, so read the chosen pattern’s setup.
Choose a hook with room for the loops
A short, straight crochet hook can hold the loops of a small practice sample if its shaft has enough unobstructed space. A long Tunisian hook or a hook with a cable is more practical for wider work. A large ergonomic handle halfway along the shaft can limit how many loops fit.
Use the pattern’s recommended hook as a starting point, then assess the sample. Tunisian fabric often benefits from more room around the loops, but there is no single rule that every yarn requires the same increase in hook size.
Begin with simple stitch
Tunisian simple stitch, usually abbreviated Tss or TSS, creates clear vertical bars that are useful for learning where the hook enters. The separate simple-stitch tutorial walks through a twelve-loop sample and its return pass.
Tunisian knit stitch inserts through the fabric between vertical bars. Its surface resembles knitting, but its construction remains crochet. Learn one insertion point at a time instead of alternating techniques before you can recognise them.
Count loops at the end of the forward pass
For a sample intended to contain twelve stitches, you should normally have twelve loops on the hook after the forward pass. The loop already on the hook counts as the first. Accidentally working into the first vertical bar again can add a stitch; missing the last edge stitch can remove one.
Put a marker at the far edge while learning. Complete the return pass fully before comparing the height or deciding a row is finished.
Expect to evaluate curl and drape
Some Tunisian fabrics curl towards one side. That does not automatically mean the count is wrong. Compare the hook size, loop height, stitch choice and finishing method on a sample. A border or a different stitch combination may be part of the design.
Care for the sample according to the yarn label before measuring. Do not force a curled strip flat under heavy stretching and then use that distorted width as a garment gauge.
Choose a first project with a clear stopping point
A small swatch, bookmark or simple panel makes it easy to practise picking up loops, completing return passes and binding off. Choose a plain colour so the vertical bars remain visible. Save complex colourwork for a sample where you can already keep both edges even.
Record the hook size, stitch name, loop count and finished measurements. Those four details will tell you far more about your fabric than the label “Tunisian crochet” on its own.
Continue learning
Make a simple-stitch sample · Compare knit stitch · Compare the crafts
Browse the crochet learning library.