Work Your Tunisian Colorwork in the Round

Many Tunisian stitches, including Tunisian knit stitch, create a thick, solid, and warm fabric that is perfect for full-coverage garments and warm winter accessories. Tunisian crochet also has more elasticity than regular crochet stitches, making it the perfect option for projects that need extra stretch, like beanies, socks, cowls, and pullovers.

When crocheting hats, cowls, or pullovers, it is always easier and more visually appealing to work in the round, no pesky seam running up the back or interruption in the pattern.To work Tunisian crochet in the round, you will need to use a special hook and two separate skeins of yarn. A double ended Tunisian crochet hook has hooks of equal sizes at either end. Loops are picked up in each stitch with the forward hook while the return pass is worked as you go with the back hook. Let’s take a closer look at Tunisian crochet in the round.

First create a foundation row just as you would for a regular crochet project, joining the stitches to work in the round. For a hat that is worked from the top down, I work the increase rows in single crochet and then pick up loops in each stitch to begin working in Tunisian stitches. For projects worked from the bottom up, a row of foundation stitches works beautifully and maintains the needed elasticity.Pick up as many loops as the hook can comfortably hold without distorting your project.

 With the second ball of yarn, work the return pass with the back hook, yarning over and drawing through one loop (this is the only time you will draw through one loop) and then continuing to yarn over and draw through two loops in a spiral. The return pass is easier to work if you turn your project so that the wrong side is facing you. I am using a lighter colored yarn so that you can better see the return pass. If you are working a color pattern, you will also use a second color for your return pass.
 When you have worked most of the loops off of the hook, use the front hook to continue picking up loops. I generally leave at least three unworked return pass loops on the hook when turning over to pick up loops on the forward pass.

 Continue working in a spiral, making sure to use a stitch marker to mark the beginning of the round.

The world of Tunisian crochet holds incredible possibilities! In her new video, Lily Chin covers not only the basics of Tunisian simple stitch, Tunisian knit stitch, and Tunisian reverse simple stitch–perfect for the beginning Tunisian crocheter–but also the incredible two-color colowork that is possible with Tunisian crochet in the round.

Get your copy of Two-Color Tunisian Crochet in the Round today and learn a new technique while you create beautiful accessories and garments.

Best wishes,

P.S. Share your tips for working Tunisian crochet, in the round or flat, in the comments?

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