Tunisian knit stitch has a front surface that resembles knitted stockinette, but it is made with a hook and two-pass rows. Its defining movement is inserting through the fabric between the front and back vertical bars. Once that insertion point is clear, the return pass will feel familiar from Tunisian simple stitch.
Start with a completed foundation row
Make a small Tunisian foundation containing twelve loops at the end of its forward pass. Complete the basic return pass: draw through one loop, then through two at a time until one remains. The simple-stitch guide explains that setup from twelve starting chains.
Keep the same side facing you. The loop on the hook is already the first stitch of the next row, so you do not pick up another loop through the first stitch beneath it.
Insert through the fabric
At the second stitch, identify its front vertical bar and the corresponding bar behind it. Push the hook from front to back between those bars, draw up a loop and leave it on the hook. Repeat through the interior stitches.
At the far edge, use the two edge strands to make the usual firm Tunisian edge stitch. Count twelve loops. Then complete the same basic return pass used for the foundation.
Distinguish knit stitch from simple stitch
| Technique | Main insertion point | Visible clue |
|---|---|---|
| Tunisian simple stitch | Behind the front vertical bar | Upright bars across the face |
| Tunisian knit stitch | Through the fabric between front and back bars | V-shaped columns |
| Knitting | Loops transferred between needles | Different construction despite a similar surface |
If some columns show vertical bars and others show Vs, inspect the insertion point in the previous row. You may have mixed simple and knit stitches. That can be a deliberate texture, but it is worth recognising when it happens by accident.
Give the loops enough height
Pushing through the fabric can feel tighter than passing behind a front bar. Do not compensate by forcing the hook through split strands. Open the insertion point gently and draw the loop to a consistent height on the shaft.
If the whole fabric feels stiff, test a different hook on a fresh sample. A larger hook can change the gauge substantially, so do not change halfway through a fitted piece without checking the consequences.
Compare thickness before choosing a garment
A knit-looking surface does not mean this fabric will have the same thickness or stretch as a knitted garment. The return pass contributes structure behind the visible Vs. Make a sample large enough to fold and handle, rather than judging only from a close-up photograph.
For a cardigan or hat, measure after the intended care routine. Use the actual Tunisian knit-stitch gauge, not a stockinette gauge printed on the yarn band.
Finish without squeezing the top edge
Bind off through the same stitch path, drawing each new loop through the active loop to make a slip stitch. Keep the edge as relaxed as the fabric below it, and use the usual two-strand final edge insertion.
Store the sample with its hook size, stitch count and measurements. That gives you a repeatable starting point for a project instead of relying on the phrase “looks like knitting.”
Continue learning
Compare simple stitch · Choose a Tunisian hook · Plan garment dimensions
Browse the crochet learning library.