The basic Afghan or Tunisian Crochet stitch (sometimes called a Knit Stitch) creates a knit-like fabric with an Afghan or Tunisian Crochet hook. This stitch creates small squares perfect for further decorative needlework. I’ve seen some lovely and complex afghan designs made with this basic stitch used to crochet the main afghan in a single-colored yarn. Then beautiful designs were embroidered or cross-stitched in one or more colors over the afghan’s grid.

In Afghan or Tunisian Crochet (also called Tricot) each row is worked twice using an Afghan or Tunisian hook to “cast on” a forward pass and to “cast off” a return pass.

Subscribe to My Crochet Channel or go to: YouTube.com TanisGalik

Foundation Row: Begin with a regular crochet hook, usually a size smaller than your Afghan/Tunisian crochet hook. Loosely chain the number needed for your project.

Cast-on: Switch to the Afghan/Tunisian crochet hook. For a nice chain bottom edge, work through the back loop of your foundation chain only. *Insert hook under the next back loop, yo, pull through adding a loop to your hook; repeat from * across row.

NOTE: Foundation Row only. To create a nice chain stitch up the non-dominate hand edge, yo on hook before the final loop cast on.

Cast-off: *Yo, pull through 2 loops on hook; repeat from * across row, ending with one loop on hook.

Basic Stitch Rows:

Cast-on: *Insert hook under vertical bar, yo, pull through adding a loop to your hook; repeat from * across, ending by inserting hook under final 2 loops of chain stitch edge. (Picture 2 below shows 2 loops at edge.)

Cast-off: *Yo, pull through 2 loops on hook; repeat from * across row, ending with one loop on hook.

Binding off: After you have reached the desired length and you have cast-off your final row, place the final single loop over the regular crochet hook you used for the foundation chain. *Insert hook under vertical bar, yo, pull through loop on hook (slip stitch); repeat from * across row, ending with final slip stitch under last 2-loop chain stitch edge. End off. Weave in ends.

NOTE: I like using the slip stitch; however, you can choose to bind off with a single crochet by *inserting hook under vertical bar, yo, pull through, yo pull through 2 loops; repeat from * across row.

For more information, watch video: Afghan or Tunisian Crochet – Basic Stitch

How do you crochet a finished edge around your Afghan or Tunisian Crochet panel or item? It’s easy with a few tricks.

Subscribe to My Crochet Channel or go to: YouTube.com TanisGalik

1. Loosely chain your foundation chain with a regular crochet hook, usually a size smaller than your Afghan/Tunisian Crochet hook. Switch to the Afghan/Tunisian Crochet hook.

Cast on – Work this foundation row in the back loop of your foundation chain. Chaining loosely will make it easier to work through the back loop. This will also create a finished 2-loop chain stitch on the bottom side of your panel or item.

2. On the foundation row only. Before working the final cast on of the foundation row, add an extra loop by yo once. Then complete the cast on of the final back loop of your foundation chain.

3. Cast off – *Yo, pull through 2 loops on hook (not the customary 1 loop on the first cast off); repeat from * across row until 1 loop remains on hook.

4. To create a clean, 2-loop edge on your non-dominate hand side, work remaining rows as follows:

Cast on as required for the stitch you are working. Be sure to work the last stitch of the pattern. Finish the row by inserting the hook under the 2-loop chain edging, yo, pull up loop on hook.

Cast off – *Yo, pull through 2 loops on hook (not the customary 1 loop on the first cast off); repeat from * across row until 1 loop remains on hook.

5. To Bind Off:

Repeat the one or two rows of the purl stitch (if that is how you began to alleviate the curl) or complete the final row to match your beginning cast-on and cast-off pattern. When one loop remains on your hook, return to the regular crochet hook you used for the foundation chain.

*Insert hook under vertical bar, yo, pull under vertical bar and through loop on hook (slip stitch); repeat from * across row, ending with final slip stitch under last 2-loop chain stitch edge. End off. Weave in ends.

NOTE: I like using the slip stitch; however, you can choose to bind off with a single crochet instead by *inserting hook under vertical bar, yo, pull through, yo pull through 2 loops; repeat from * across row.

If you follow these tricks, you will see that not only does your dominate-hand end have a finished chain edging, but now your non-dominate-hand end will also have a finished chain edging. The top and bottom edge of your panel will have the same chain edging, eliminating the need to “fix” the border with an added edging row. Of course, you can still add a decorative border or just crochet the panels together using one of the methods shown in Joining Granny Squares Blog Series found on April 20 and 24 and May 1 and 8. For a demonstration of these techniques, check out the videos listed below.

Videos: Simple & Sensational™

Afghan or Tunisian Crochet – Create a Finished Edge on All Sides As You Work

Joining Granny Squares – Part 1 with Needle & Yarn

Joining Granny Squares – Part 2 with a Chain Seam & Single Crochet Seam

Joining Granny Squares – Part 3 Single Crochet Single Loops

Joining Granny Squares – Part 4 with Chain Seam and Dc2tog

When I first began making ruffled scarves, I followed the manufacturer’s instructions – jumping right in and working along the top edge. The problem: after I was finished, the ragged end just hung there, not always hidden under the ruffle. I experimented and found an easy solution.

Subscribe to My Crochet Channel or go to: YouTube.com TanisGalik

Video: Simple & Sensational™ – How to Begin and End Crocheting with Mesh Yarn

Working along the beginning end, start at the top edge, insert your hook from the back to the front, weaving your hook front to back and back to front through the mesh until you reach the bottom edge. Grab the bottom edge and pull it through the mesh loops on your hook.

Now you have your first loop for working along the top edge. What’s nice is you also have a neat edge for your first ruffle. What to do with the unsightly tail? You can either: twist the tail and work it in as you crochet or drop the tail and later you can twist it tightly, lay it back over the core and tack it down.

This technique works with a close mesh yarn such as Bernat® Twist and Twirl or a wide mesh such as Premier® Starbella.

When you reach the end, the process is the same. Starting at the top edge, insert your hook from the back to the front, weaving your hook front to back and back to front through the mesh until you reach the bottom edge. Grab the bottom edge and pull it through the mesh loops on your hook.

Since you are at the end, you can grab the tail and pull it though the last loop, forming a knot. Twist the tail tightly, lay it back over the core and tack it securely down. Gently pull the ruffles down at each end.