Welcome to Lesson 2 of the Tunisian Crochet Course. In this lesson, we will go over some common mistakes beginners make in Tunisian crochet. Don’t worry, all beginners struggle with these issues. You are not alone. We will also go over some simple ways to combat the edges of your work curling.
If this is your first time hearing about this Tunisian crochet course, then you will want to check out the Prep Lesson and Lesson 1 first to learn more about the materials you will need for this course and the Tunisian crochet basics.
In January 2021, we are treating this course like a Crochet along. It is always fun to learn new things alongside others. To participate in the crochet along, just join the Our Crochet Journey Facebook group to be able to share photos of your work.
Tunisian Crochet Common Mistakes
Most of the common mistakes made in Tunisian Crochet have to do with learning how to control your tension. You will not have perfect tension when you are just starting to learn. This is something that is developed over time, but I do have a few helpful tricks to help you correct these tension problems. Watch the video below to see how to prevent and fix these common mistakes.
Foundation Chain and Working the Last Stitch
When worked correctly, all four sides of Tunisian crochet will look exactly the same. This will make working a border around your project very easy.
When working your foundation chain, you will want to work into the back bumps of the foundation chain. This can be tricky when you are crocheting but is a lot easier with Tunisian crochet because we are using a much larger hook.
When you work your last stitch you will work under both vertical loops to create the nice v’s on the side of your work. The picture below shows what this looks like.
Loose first Stitch and Tight Chain One
The most common struggle in Tunisian crochet is in keeping even edges. The first stitch tends to be loose and the chain one at the beginning of your return pass gets pulled tight. Watch the video tutorial for some tricks on how to prevent these problems.
Skipping or Loosing a Stitch
Is your stitch count off? This can be caused by skipping a stitch when pulling up your loops on the forward pass. The spot where this happens becomes very noticeable, especially in the Tunisian simple stitch. The other way we can lose stitches is to pull through too many loops on the return pass. The second issue can be corrected and is shown in the video tutorial.
Taming the Curl
If you look at the backside of your sample swatches you will notice that the yarn is very dense. This is because there is more bulk on the back of our work than the front. That is why our edges curl. I am going to share some simple ways to tame the curl, then just mention some more advanced methods that are not currently covered in this course.
Simple Ways to Fix the Curl
Fix 1: Block your Project
To block your project, just wet your piece and lay it flat. Shape it and pin it to a surface. You can use a blocking board, pin to a piece of foam flooring like you find in a gym or pin to a cardboard box. When the project dries it will hold its shape better.
Fix 2: Add a border to your Project
Adding a border adds weight to the edges of your project. The bigger the border the less the edges will curl. This is how we will be fixing the curl in our practice pattern 1.
Fix 3: Use a Larger hook
When you crochet with a larger hook, your stitches are looser. This gives the bulk on the back of your work more room and causes less curl.
Fix 4: Seam the Edges
In practice patterns 2 and 4, we will be sewing our two sides together. The seam will help keep the edges straight.
More advanced methods to Tame the Curl
Here are some more advanced ways to tame the curl.
Pattern Design
When designing a pattern, you can use some of the methods below to make sure you are not dealing with curled edges.
Special Stitches
Work row 2 in the Extended Simple Stitch This is a very loose and long stitch and does not curl as much. You can also work the first 2-3 rows in the purl or reverse stitch. These 2 stitches add weight to the front of your project and prevent the curl.
If you are making a long project, the side edges will start to curl in as well. You can work the first 3 or 4 stitches and the last 3-4 stitches in the purl or reverse stitch to prevent the sides from curling.
Foundation Stitches
Instead of a foundation row, you can work a row of foundation stitches then pull your loops up from these stitches instead of the foundation chain. This will give the edge more weight to the bottom of your project and resist curling.
Check out the first practice pattern for a video tutorial on how to add a border.
Week 1: The Basics
Lesson 1 -Tunisian Crochet Basics + Tunisian Simple Stitch
Lesson 2 -Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Practice Pattern 1 – January 7th + Crocheting a Border around your Project
Week 2:
Lesson 3 – Tunisian Knit Stitch
Lesson 4– How to Change Colors in Tunisian Crochet
Practice Pattern 2 – Tunisian Crochet Hat
Week 3:
Lesson 5 – Understanding Gauge
Lesson 6 – Tunisian Full Stitch
Practice Pattern 3 – January 21st + Weaving in your Ends
Week 4:
Lesson 7– How to Increase and Decrease
Lesson 8 – January 27th – New Tunisian Crochet Stitch
Practice Pattern – January 28th
Let’s Be Friends
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