only slightly OT: tunisian crochet

Think of the stitch like an attached chain stitch. Stick needle in stitch and pull up a loop. Hold loop on needle and repeat pull up a stitch and hold on needle in next stitch.

When all the stitches are on the needle proceed to put yarn over needle and pull through first stitch, then second stitch and on and on.

I'm not sure my rather simple explanation will help, but I'm certain you will get comfortable with it after a couple of tries.

Enjoy!

Lucille

I have a photo and text tutorial which includes how to cross stitch on the ground. If that's of interest, it's here:

might also enjoy another page, which includes a baby afghan of my design. wish it would make a huge comeback and that loads of designers would get involved as they did in the 50s, 60s, and 70s. Such gorgeous stuff. And for those who love cross stitch, another medium on which to make their crosses.

Dianne

Susan Hartman wrote:

Lucille

If you need any assistance, just holler and perhaps we can schedule some sort of fun VA/MD event in the near future, complete with tutorial ;-) I like tunisian crochet, though it's hard on my wrist.

Best wishes, Ericka

As one side looks a bit like `woven , and the other like Purl knitting , one can play with this and make patterns , one can make every wanted shape ,, It does EAT up more wool that other knitting techniques ,, you can get wonder effects by changing colors mirjam

I found a Tunisian crochet hook after seeing the same show! We all should get together and "play" and learn from each other on this one.

Donna in Virginia

Yes, it gets *very* heavy! I did an afghan for DSis a number of years ago, a Mary Maxim pattern with a Soutwestern design, and that thing weighs a *ton*! But she loves it and is still using it. :)

Joan

Two things to keep in mind: keep the hook in front of the work as you go across. Don't raise the loops above the previous row. This will give you nice "squares" to work with.

Yes, these afghans can weigh a lot. My baby carriage blanket is light as a feather. I used Dalgren's baby wool and it's like a feather. I'm surprised more weren't designed in lighter-weight wools. Most of the Mary Maxim and Spinnerin afghans in their day - that I know about - were done in worsted weight. My mother did a beauty. Of course, with lighter weight yarns, you're going to have lots more stitches to get the same size.

Dianne

Joan E. wrote:

I did one years ago in sport weight yarn that measures about 54" x 60" without the fringe and it too weighs a ton. Using a featherweight wool in a baby blanket size would make it significantly lighter, but is that big enough to call it an afghan?

Thanks for all the links and encouragement. I experimented last night, and did almost a foot of very passable Tunisian crochet - using just a regular hook, worsted weight, and rows of 15 stitches (it'll probably turn into a child's scarf, or a long narrow adult scarf, depending on how far the yarn takes me!).

I can see how it will get tiring on the hands/wrists. I'm feeling a little stiff today, and I'm sure it was because I was tense in holding the hook and figuring it all out - although I don't think the tension shows in the stitching, so that's good.

I have a queen-size afghan my grandmother did in afghan sitch and cross-stitched with flowers. It's too hot and heavy for me to use on our bed, but perfect for a guest room that isn't as warm as the rest of the house! I think using lighter weight yarns for baby blankets is a good idea. Maybe I'll get to that someday.

Sue

Years ago, all manner of items were done up in Tunisian (afghan or trico) crochet. Housecoats, sweater jackets, and baby slippers. The latter I had on my website for a very long time. Similar to Mary Jane shoes. As I said, I hope it comes back. There is a dearth of decent designs.

Dianne

Susan Hartman wrote:

Nah. It's a carriage blanket. Called that because it is the same size as the original which was worked by my great aunt for my birth which had large roses on it in rayon threads. My family called it a carriage blanket, and since carriages were around when I was born, that probably is an apt name. It would cover a baby in a crib or lying on a couch, or showing off for church. :~)

Dianne

That is "baby carriage", as in English style pram (which word itself is short for "perambulator". I still have some Brit patterns from years ago, in which this was also referred to as a pram cover or pram blanket.

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans

** Posted from **

When i didn`t find my tunisian crochet hook , i used a bamboo circular , i carved one side into a hook and worked this way ,,, mirjam

Diane , Sorry could you elaborate on this advice

It rather puzzeled me , and i have crocheted `quite` some items, in various Tunisian crochet projects ,,, the loops that one takes either from the `straight` lines or the upper laying `chain` must be above the previous row ,,,,, ???? mirjam >

On the first half (picking up stitches), don't lift the loops up above the previous row. Keep the loops in front of the previous row. When you do the second half, they'll rise up above the previous row. This keeps your finished rows with square spaces.

Try it. I learned this trick from an old book. I always had raised the loops up, which seemed sensible. Then I learned from an old book, and it makes a big difference: squares rather than rectangles on which to cross stitch.

Dianne

Just my opinion, but I think Tunisian crochet is possibly amongst the top ten boring crochet stitches, even when you do specialty stitches like bobbles and X's.

It does make a nice surface for cross stitch and it's more like a fabric when it's done then most other knits or crochets, but it's just the same thing over and over and over and ------------------.

L

It's true it's boring, but I really like the finished product--especially for baby blankets so one doesn't have all the little holes to trap little fingers and toes. Plus, of course, it makes a deliciously warm blanket for cold nights.

Best wishes, Ericka