How to Crochet Extended Tunisian Simple Stitch (extss)

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Do you ever avoid learning new techniques based on how difficult you think they’ll be? When setting out to learn something new, simple things can sometimes sound trickier than they are. Tunisian crochet was like that for me. For a long time I considered it too hard, but it’s actually quite easy! It uses the same basic yarn over and loops that traditional crochet uses. When you have the basics down, you can take it a step further with this tutorial for Extended Tunisian Simple Stitch.

How to Crochet Extended Tunisian Simple Stitch (extss)

When a pattern calls for Extended Tunisian Simple Stitch, it is abbreviated as extss.

1. The Extended Tunisian Simple Stitch (extss) begins the same way as the regular Tunisian Simple Stitch (tss). Insert the hook from right to left under the front strand of the next vertical bar. (Photo 1.)
2. Yarn over (Photo 2) and pull up a loop (Photo 3). So far, this is exactly the same as working a regular Tunisian Simple Stitch. In the next step, we change this stitch to an extended stitch.
3. Chain one. (Photo 4.) That might seem confusing in the middle of your Tunisian stitch. Simply yarn over and draw through one loop on your hook. It’s the same thing. You still have the same number of loops on your hook as you did before you chained one. Keep the loop on your hook and move to the next stitch. This step has just made the stitch taller or extended it.

Make A Swatch Using Extended Tunisian Simple Stitch

Now that you know how to work the stitch, let’s make a practice swatch.

Chain 20 stitches. Working through the back ridge of the ch, pick up a loop in the 2nd chain from the hook and each chain across. You should have 20 loops on the hook.

Now you’ll work the return pass (RetP). Chain one. Yarn over and pull through two loops. Continue working a yarn over and pulling through two loops until one loop remains on the hook.

When you’ve completed the first row, one loop remains on the hook and you will see a series of “bars” along the front of the swatch.

Using the tutorial above, work extss in each stitch across the row. Then, work the RetP back until one loop remains. You’ll repeat these two steps—working extss across and RetP back—to work one row. Repeating the row will create the swatch.

To bind off your swatch, work a single crochet in each stitch across as if you’re working Tunisian Simple Stitch.

Projects Using Extss

Designer Darla Fanton uses extss in her beautiful Aegean Dreams Throw. With a few changes to the return pass, valleys and ripples are created. This one-row repeat then becomes an easily memorized stitch pattern that only requires a little bit of focus.

We’re hosting a crochet-along for the Aegean Dreams Throw (sponsored by Plymouth Yarn and skacel by addi®) from June 1-July 13! Join now and learn to take Extended Tunisian Simple Stitch from simple to ripple. The Ripple Pattern uses just a few extra techniques, but we think you’ll find it just as easy as extss.

Happy Crocheting!
The Interweave Crochet Team

Originally published November 27, 2014. Updated June 1, 2022.

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Learn more Tunisian crochet stitches with patterns and resources from Interweave!