Tunisian Crochet For Beginners: Crafting A Baby Blanket

Tunisian crochet is a fun and easy way to create a baby blanket, even for beginners. It can be faster than regular crochet and is perfect for creating solid fabric for baby blankets. You can use a regular crochet hook or a Tunisian hook with a cable extension to make a large blanket. Tunisian crochet stitches are ideal for baby blankets as they create a solid and thicker fabric. When choosing yarn, go for something soft and non-scratchy, such as DK (3, Light) or acrylic, baby Merino wool, bamboo, or soft cotton. There are many free patterns available for Tunisian crochet baby blankets, including the Mulberry Afghan, which is a simple, beginner-friendly pattern that uses ombre yarn to create a modern look.

Characteristics of a Beginner Tunisian Crochet Baby Blanket

Tunisian crochet stitches and terminology

Tunisian crochet is a blend of knitting and traditional crochet, usually done with a longer Tunisian crochet hook that has a stopper at the end. The main difference between Tunisian and traditional crochet is that, in Tunisian crochet, you hold a whole row of stitches on your hook at once, working back and forth to form a complete row of stitches. This process is called the forward pass and the return pass.

Tunisian Simple Stitch

This stitch is perfect for beginners as it is easy to learn and can be used with various yarn weights. It creates a slightly textured fabric with visible vertical bars, making it a versatile stitch that can be used as a backdrop for more complex patterns.

Tunisian Knit Stitch

The Tunisian Knit Stitch gives your crochet projects a knit-like appearance. It creates a smooth, fabric-like texture that mimics the soft and cosy feel of knitted fabric. This stitch is perfect for garments or accessories where a soft and drapey finish is desired.

Tunisian Purl Stitch

The Tunisian Purl Stitch looks very similar to the purl stitch in knitting. It creates a textured effect that is tridimensional, making it excellent for bordering blankets, dishtowels, or scarves.

Tunisian Full Stitch

The Tunisian Full Stitch creates a dense and solid fabric with little to no gaps. It has a tight, uniform texture, making it ideal for projects that require structure and warmth, such as sturdy bags and totes.

Tunisian Mesh Stitch

The Tunisian Mesh Stitch is perfect for creating open, airy textures. It combines Tunisian crochet with lacework, resulting in a lightweight and breathable fabric. This stitch is ideal for summer projects like market bags and shawls.

Tunisian Smock Stitch

The Tunisian Smock Stitch creates a stunning, quilted, diamond-like texture. It produces a raised, interwoven texture that makes your projects look intricate and perfect for statement pieces like textured scarves or cowls.

Tunisian Double Seed Stitch

The Tunisian Double Seed Stitch combines knit-like and purl-like stitches to create a textured, bumpy fabric. It alternates between Tunisian knit and purl stitches, resulting in a subtle and interesting seed-like texture. This stitch is perfect for adding dimension and coziness to projects like cowls, scarves, and textured throws.

Tunisian crochet hooks

Tunisian crochet uses longer hooks than standard crochet hooks, creating a thicker, spongier, and softer fabric. There are two ways to hold a hook: the pencil hold and the knife hold. The way you hold your hook will determine the type of hook you should pick for your project.

Bamboo Hooks

Pros:

• Great price
• The hooks are light in weight
• The cord is long enough to hold a large number of stitches for large projects

Cons:

• The weight of the cord can put a lot of pressure on the wrist
• Some require light sanding, or they will split the yarn
• Not suitable for projects that require double-ended hooks

Aluminium Crochet Hooks

Pros:

• Affordable
• Less cumbersome to use than bamboo hooks
• Quite long, so they can accommodate a large number of stitches and be used for mid-size projects
• Good for learning Tunisian crochet and projects that require single-ended hooks

Cons:

• The larger sizes are quite heavy
• The printed sizes seem to fade away with time
• Some split the yarn, making them unusable
• Can get very heavy if you have a large number of stitches on the hook at once
• Not suitable for projects that require double-ended hooks

Denise Interchangeable Crochet Hooks

Pros:

• Affordable and have good reviews
• Come in a set with stoppers, extenders, and cords of different lengths, allowing you to build a custom hook
• Easy to store, as they come in a box
• Can be used for regular crochet, too
• Suitable for projects that require double-ended hooks
• Easy on the hands, even for large and small projects
• Individual hooks are also available if you want to build a double-ended hook with the same size hook on both sides

Cons:

The cord and hook can get detached if the project gets too heavy

Clover Takumi Interchangeable Crochet Hooks

Pros:

• Affordable with good reviews
• Come in a set with stoppers and cords of different lengths, allowing you to build a custom hook
• Easy to store, as they come in a case with conveniently placed pockets
• Can be used for regular crochet, too
• Suitable for projects that require double-ended hooks
• Made of bamboo and are longer than the Denise hooks, which may be helpful for people with the knife hold
• The cords swivel at the joints, making working with larger projects easy
• The stoppers and cords have screws to join them securely

Cons:

• The stoppers can get in the way due to their weight
• May snag yarn when you pick up speed while crocheting

Knitter's Pride Ginger Interchangeable Crochet Hooks

The finish of these hooks is great, and they work well with a variety of different yarns. They are long and easy to hold, and the cords are flexible and join seamlessly with the hooks. The set also includes a pen, a pattern holder, and metal stitch markers. It is possible to build a double-ended hook by using two similar-sized hooks on both ends of the cord or by attaching the same hook at the other end. The hooks are inline, making it easy to pick up the different loops and bars for Tunisian stitches. The connectors, end caps, and cords need to be tightened with the cord keys, or they will unscrew while working. All the cords included in the set are very long; it would have been nice to have some shorter cords for smaller projects, too.

Best yarn for a Tunisian crochet baby blanket

When it comes to yarn for Tunisian crochet baby blankets, it's best to opt for something very soft and non-scratchy, as it will be against a baby's delicate skin. Tunisian crochet creates a thicker fabric than regular crochet, so it's advisable to use a thin yarn.

DK (3, Light) is the most popular weight for baby blankets and is available in acrylic, baby Merino wool, bamboo, and soft cotton. These yarn fibres are ideal for baby blankets. If you're unsure, look for the special "baby" lines that most yarn companies carry.

For a chunkier, super-bulky blanket, you could try Wool-Ease Thick & Quick. For a smaller baby blanket, a worsted-weight yarn like Lion Brand's Hue + Me, Color Theory, or Wool-Ease is a good option.

The Elmore Blanket by TL Yarn Crafts is a simple yet stunning baby blanket made with 100% silky bamboo yarn, which gives it a beautiful drape.

Tunisian crochet honeycomb stitch

Tunisian crochet is perfect for creating baby blankets, as it is quick, fun, and creates a solid fabric. The Tunisian crochet honeycomb stitch is a beginner-friendly option for those new to Tunisian crochet, as it only requires two types of stitches: the Tunisian simple stitch and the Tunisian purl stitch. The result is a beautifully textured fabric that does not curl, making it ideal for baby blankets.

To create the honeycomb stitch, start by chaining an odd number of stitches. This will ensure that you start and end with the same stitch, creating a balanced look. The foundation row is crucial, as it serves as the base for the honeycomb pattern. In the forward pass, you will alternate between Tunisian simple stitches and Tunisian purl stitches. For the reverse pass, simply chain one, yarn over, and pull through two loops on the hook, repeating this step until there is only one loop remaining.

For the second row, start with a Tunisian simple stitch, followed by a Tunisian purl stitch. Continue alternating between these two stitches until you reach the end of the row, ending with the same stitch you started with. Remember to pull up a loop using both sides of the outside stitch from the previous row, as you would typically do in Tunisian crochet. Then, make a backward pass as instructed for the first row.

To start the next row, Tunisian purl in the Tunisian simple stitch directly below, and Tunisian simple in the Tunisian purl stitch directly below. By offsetting your stitches each row, you will always work simple stitches into purl stitches and purl stitches into simple stitches. Continue alternating these two rows until you reach your desired length.

The Tunisian crochet honeycomb stitch is a simple yet effective pattern that creates a gorgeous honeycomb texture. It is perfect for baby blankets, as it lays flat without curling and has a smooth surface that is gentle on a newborn's skin. With its combination of simple and purl stitches, the honeycomb stitch adds a unique and beautiful touch to any crochet project.

Tunisian crochet for modern mothers

Tunisian crochet is the perfect technique for creating beautiful, modern baby blankets that meet the needs of young, contemporary mothers. This guide will provide an overview of the benefits of Tunisian crochet for crafting baby blankets, outline the materials you will need, and offer step-by-step instructions for getting started.

Benefits of Tunisian Crochet for Baby Blankets

Tunisian crochet is a fun and fast technique that produces a solid fabric ideal for baby blankets. It combines the best qualities of both crochet and knitting, resulting in a thick, non-curling fabric with a smooth surface. This style is particularly appealing to young mothers who prefer a more modern, sleek look for their baby's accessories.

Materials

To get started with Tunisian crochet, you will need the following materials:

• A Tunisian crochet hook: You can use a regular crochet steel hook without a handle or invest in a Tunisian crochet hook with a wire extension. The ideal wire length for a baby blanket is 40" (100 cm).
• Soft, non-scratchy yarn: Look for thin yarn in DK (3, Light) weight, which is the most popular choice for baby blankets. Acrylic, baby Merino wool, bamboo, and soft cotton are excellent yarn fiber options.

Beginner-Friendly Patterns

Several beginner-friendly Tunisian crochet baby blanket patterns are available online, often for free. These patterns typically use simple stitches like the Tunisian simple stitch and the honeycomb stitch, which is known for its non-curling quality and decorative edge.

Getting Started

When starting your Tunisian crochet journey, don't be afraid to experiment and try new stitches. Count your stitches or use stitch markers to ensure your blanket maintains a rectangular shape. You can also find video tutorials online for each stitch, providing visual guidance as you learn.

Tunisian crochet is an enjoyable and accessible way to create modern baby blankets. With its solid fabric and decorative stitches, it's an excellent technique for crafters looking to make stylish and functional blankets for young mothers.

Frequently asked questions