Tunisian Swatch-along
Who wants to join in a Tunisian swatch-a-long?
We’re going to experiment with texture, and we’re going to use (oh noes!) mathematics to do it.
Who’s with me?
I want to eventually do this through the Crochet Academy, but I have a lot of other AofC stuff on my plate and I kinda wanna do something without pressure and fun and with friends…
I’d like everyone to participate in coming up with stitch patterns and/or formulas to try out, but to get us started -
To play along, Crochet 3 Tunisian swatches (as follows) and post scans or pics to The Art of Crochet Flickr Group. Next Wednesday I’ll make a post linking to the swatches, and we can comment and come up with the next set of stitch patterns.
Swatch 1
Tunisian Ribbing
Base Chain - ch 25.
Foundation Row - lp on hook counts as first st, Tss into each of the next 23 ch, end-Tss into last ch, return.
Row 1 - (Tss into next st, Tps into next st) x 11, Tss into next st, end-Tss into last st, return.
Rows 2 to 20 - repeat Row 1.
Swatch 2
Tunisian “Waffle” Stitch, or Tunisian Honeycomb Stitch
Base Chain - ch 25.
Foundation Row - lp on hook counts as first st, Tss into each of the next 23 ch, end-Tss into last ch, return.
Row 1 - (Tss into next st, Tps into next st) x 11, Tss into next st, end-Tss into last st, return.
Row 2 - (Tps into next st, Tss into next st) x 11, Tps into next st, end-Tss into last st, return.
Rows 3 to 20 - repeat Rows 1 & 2.
Swatch 3
This next swatch uses a technique I developed to shift the vertical bars of the Tunisian Simple Stitch in order to create relief patterns on the surface (example here). This technique, and the many ways it can be used, create a wealth of stitch patterns - especially when combined with both Tunisian ribbing and Tunisian waffle.
The technique is accomplished by working either a T-push or a T-pull. (The links within the stitch definitions are to video stitch guides - 2 new ones added today.)
T-push: 1 ch-Tps (left-handed), 1 Tss2tog (left-handed)
T-pull: 1 Tss2tog (left-handed), 1 ch-Tps (left-handed)
Swatch Instructions:
This is an example of the T-push/T-pull technique as it combines with Tunisian ribbing:
Base Chain - ch 16.
Foundation Row - lp on hook counts as first st (now and throughout), Tss into each of the next 14 ch, end-Tss into last ch, return.
Row 1 - Tps into next 2 sts, (Tss into next st, Tps into next st, Tss into next st), Tps into each of the next 2 sts, repeat between (), Tps into each of the next 4 sts, end-Tss into last st, return.
Row 2 - Tps into each of the next 2 sts, T-push, T-push, Tps, T-push, T-push, Tps into each of the next 3 sts, end-Tss into last st, return.
Row 3 - Tps into each of the next 3 sts, T-push, T-push, Tps, T-push, T-push, Tps into each of the next 2 sts, end-Tss into last st, return.
Row 4 - Tps into each of the next 4 sts, T-push, T-push, Tps, T-push, T-push, Tps into next st, end-Tss into last st, return.
Row 5 - Tps into each of the next 4 sts, T-pull, T-pull, Tps, T-pull, T-pull, Tps into next st, end-Tss into last st, return.
Row 6 - Tps into each of the next 3 sts, T-pull, T-pull, Tps, T-pull, T-pull, Tps into each of the next 2 sts, end-Tss into last st, return.
Row 7 - Tps into each of the next 2 sts, T-pull, T-pull, Tps, T-pull, T-pull, Tps into each of the next 3 sts, end-Tss into last st, return.
Row 8 - Tps into next st, T-pull, T-pull, Tps, T-pull, T-pull, Tps into each of the next 4 sts, end-Tss into last st, return.
Row 9 - Tps into next st, T-push, T-push, Tps, T-push, T-push, Tps into each of the next 4 sts, end-Tss into last st, return.
Rows 10 to 17 - repeat Rows 2 to 9.
I am using the above technique for a new cardigan pattern. My workspace is in the process of being rearranged, but as soon as my scanner is accessible, I’ll upload a pic of what I’ve done with that technique.
I’ll play along!
Comment by Rebecca — June 13, 2007 @ 10:35 am
Me too, I have a lot of hooks and books. But I lost interest a few years ago. And I would love something small and portable to work on, while unwinding after a hot day at work. Now to go find a cool drink and get my chair.
Comment by Donna — June 14, 2007 @ 2:46 am
I’d like to participate - although I have never created anything in tunisian crochet before, I’ve read this website all the way through enough times that I think I’m ready to start! Thanks for the motivation!
Comment by Jess — June 14, 2007 @ 5:20 am
Sounds like fun. We have been making some Tunisian pillows but I have not tried any other stitches. Going camping this weekend to celebrate end of school year. If I can print some of this out I will try it over a camp fire! You are in the Craft Magazine Daily newsletter today! Congrats that it great for you. If you don’t get it do - it is highly creative.
Comment by Laura — June 14, 2007 @ 8:16 am
I’m in, I just bought a hook and wanted an excuse to get to doing it. I’ll see if I can get the swatchs done this weekend!
Comment by Dawn — June 14, 2007 @ 9:47 am
Hi there! Am working away on learning all these new stitches so I can swatch away with you
…but I wanted to let you know that the links given in the third pattern bring up the Yahoo 404 Page Not Found error…but I googled the terms and came up with something anyway. 
Comment by Jess — June 14, 2007 @ 11:22 am
Jess - sorry about that - I thought I had repaired those links. Thanks for the heads up!
Comment by josi — June 14, 2007 @ 11:24 am
AHA! The left-handed links work - I think there’s an extra quotation mark in the html for the “standard” links.
Comment by Jess — June 14, 2007 @ 12:02 pm
I am uploading photos of my very first tunisian crochet effort ever (Swatch 1)! Thank you for the motivation!
Comment by Jess — June 14, 2007 @ 1:22 pm
And there’s the pics of the second swatch! Woo! The “honeycomb” pattern really shines through with two contrasting colors (I used red and black). But now I have to cook dinner…so Swatch #3 will have to wait
!
Comment by Jess — June 14, 2007 @ 2:56 pm
Hey Josi,
Just wanted to say I’m all printed out and ready to get started on my own swatches. I also made a post on The Crochet Side in order to snag a few others into this swatch-a-long.
Comment by Brianna — June 16, 2007 @ 1:29 am
Hi there! Me again
. I didn’t do the swatches exactly, but I did finish my very first tunisian crochet project EVER using the patterns from swatches one and two. So I am uploading pics of it to the flickr group. I used a medium and a dark green combined with a brown to get a “camo” effect for a case for my guy’s new iPaq. Thanks for the inspiration!
Comment by Jess — June 16, 2007 @ 8:12 pm
hi, thanks for posting up this tunision crochet-a-long. I have a bunch of questions.
- is this still active?
- a lot of people hate tunisian crochet crochet. do you think your idea to start with a a regular crochet foundation row has eliminated the curling problem that people dislike?
- is DK weight just a personal preference or is it part of your forumla to make tunisian crochet more likeable?
- what brands of DK weight do you recommend that I could find online or at LYS/big store for reasonable price?
- if i join late and post randomly as i finish squares, will people make faces?
thanks! i recognize your name from some publication(s) i have. interweave maybe? i’m happy to have stumbled across your site. i found link http://iamintheloop.com/blog/comments/feed/ when i googled crochet aran cables sampler
- Jessica in Tucson, AZ
Comment by JessAZ — July 19, 2007 @ 12:32 pm