Sharon Hernes Silverman - Tunisian Crochet for Beginners: Step-by-step Instructions, plus 5 Patterns!

Tunisian purl stitch is formal and structural on the front, with stitches connected to each other like the metal links in chain mail. The curly back is equally attractive, allowing you to loop, drape, sling, or wrap the scarf without regard to which side is showing.

Silk yarn worked together with very fine mohair in the same colorway creates warmth and depth without bulk, though you could also work this scarf with any single yarn in same gauge.

The instructions are for a scarf that is long enough to wear folded in half with both ends comfortably pulled through the loop. For a shorter scarf, simply crochet fewer rows.

Measurements

Finished length: 68 inches (173 centimeters), excluding fringe

Finished width: 3.75 inches (9.5 centimeters)

Materials

Colinette Yarns Tao, 100% silk, 1.75 ounces/50 grams; 128 yards/117 meters Color: Moss (75), 2 skeins

Colinette Yarns Parisienne, 70% kid mohair, 30% polyamide, 0.88 ounces/25 grams; 241 yards/221 meters Color: Moss (75), 1 skein

Tunisian hook size K, 6.5 mm or size needed to obtain gauge

Crochet hook size K, 6.5 mm

Tapestry needle

8-inch piece of cardboard

Gauge

10 Tps (Tunisian purl) stitches and 6 Tps rows/3 inches (7.5 cm)

Stitches and Abbreviations

Chain stitch (ch)

Loop (lp), loops (lps)

Single crochet (sc)

Skip (sk)

Slip stitch (sl st)

Stitch (st), stitches (sts)

Tunisian purl stitch (Tps)

Tunisian simple stitch (Tss)

Yarn over (yo)

With 1 strand of Tao and 1 strand of Parisienne held together, ch 12.

Foundation row forward: Insert hook in second ch from hook. Yo, pull up lp. 2 lps on hook. *Insert hook in next ch. Yo, pull up lp. Each st adds another lp to the hook. Repeat from * across. Total 12 lps on hook.

Return: Do not turn. Yo, pull through 1 lp. *Yo, pull through 2 lps. Repeat from * until 1 lp remains on hook.

Row 1 forward: Sk first vertical bar. *Tps in the next vertical bar. Repeat from * across to final vertical bar. Tss (not Tps) in final st, inserting hook into the vertical bar and the horizontal bar behind it for stability.

Row 1 return: Yo, pull through 1 lp. *Yo, pull through 2 lps. Repeat from * until 1 lp remains on hook.

Repeat Row 1 forward and return until scarf is approximately 67 inches (170 cm) long. Do not fasten off.

NOTE The edging is worked in single crochet, starting across the top of the row just completed, then down the long side, around the bottom, and up the other side. You may use the Tunisian hook to crochet the edging or switch to the regular crochet hook.

Insert hook front-to-back into sp between first and second vertical bars. Yo, pull to front. Yo, pull through 2 lps; sc completed. Sc in each space across.

Work 2 sc in corner. If this is too tight and makes the corner curl up, add 1 more sc in corner so it is flat. Sc evenly along ends of rows down the long side. Work 2 or 3 sc in next corner. Sc evenly across bottom, around next corner, and up other long side. Work 1 or 2 sc in final corner so corner lies flat. Join to first lp with sl st. Fasten off.

Using tapestry needle, weave in ends. Gently steam block if desired.

Each piece of fringe has 1 strand of Tao and 1 strand of Parisienne together, doubled over.

Using an 8-inch-long piece of cardboard, wrap yarn around 14 times, ending where you started.

Cut across the bottom to give 14 paired strands of equal length.

Fold each pair in half.

Using a crochet hook, pull the folded end of one pair through one corner of the scarf from front to back.

Pull the cut ends through the loop where the fringe is folded until the ends come through. Tighten to knot in place.

Place fringe every other stitch along the rest of the short end for a total of 7 fringes. Place 7 fringes on other end the same way. Trim ends. Gently steam block fringe if desired.

Get ready for the compliments! Tunisian honeycomb stitches really show off this multicolor yarn. The skirt is designed to be flattering rather than clingy. It has a dense weaveno lining requiredyet is lightweight and comfortable to wear. And speaking of weaving, many people will guess that it is woven, or perhaps knitted; they will be astonished to learn that it is crocheted.

Construction is surprisingly easy. Two identical rectangles are seamed down the sides; then an elastic waist is sewn in.

NOTE Choose the size that corresponds to your largest measurement. For example, if your waist is M and your hips are S, use instructions for M; if your waist is S and your hips are M, you would also choose M.

Pattern is written for smallest size with changes for larger sizes in parentheses. When only one number is given, it applies to all sizes. To follow pattern more easily, circle all numbers pertaining to your size before beginning.

Measurements

Finished sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL

Finished waist: 2526 (2728, 2930.5, 3233.5, 35.537.3) inches [63.566 (68.571, 73.7577.5, 81.2585, 90.2 95.25) centimeters]

Finished hips: 3536 (3738, 3940.5, 4243.5, 45.547.5) inches [8991.5 (9496.5, 99103, 106.75110.5, 115.5120.75) centimeters]

Finished length: 19 (19, 19.5, 19.5, 20) inches [48.5 (48.5, 49.5, 49.5, 50.75) centimeters]

Materials

Colinette Yarns Banyan, 49% cotton, 51% viscose, 1.75 ounces/50 grams; 114 yards/104 meters Color: Toscana (#55), 8 (9, 9, 10, 11) skeins

Tunisian hook size I, 5.5 mm or size needed to obtain gauge

Tapestry needle

Non-roll elastic, machine-washable polyester/rubber, 1 inch wide. 1 yard (0.9 meters) for sizes XS, S and M; 1.5 yards (1.35 meters) for sizes L and XL

Sewing needle and matching thread to close casing for elastic

Two safety pins

Optional: Bodkin (a special tool designed to draw elastic through casing)

Gauge

18 Tss/5 inches (12.5 cm); 9 honeycomb stitches (1 Tps and 1 Tss)/5 inches (12.5 cm); 9 honey comb rows (1 Tps and 1 Tss)/4 inches (10 cm)

Stitches and Abbreviations

Chain stitch (ch)

Loop (lp), loops (lps)

Stitch (st), stitches (sts)

Tunisian purl stitch (Tps)

Tunisian simple stitch (Tss)

Yarn over (yo)

Row 1 forward: Sk first vertical bar. *Tps in next vertical bar, Tss in next vertical bar. Repeat from * across, ending with Tss.

The photo shows a Tunisian purl stitch in progress.