Tunisian crochet is a beautiful blend between knitting and traditional crochet, and the Tunisian Simple Stitch—often called TSS—is the perfect place to start. It creates a dense, woven texture that’s great for scarves, dishcloths, and even blankets. In this beginner’s guide, we’ll take you step-by-step through the basics of the Tunisian Simple Stitch so you can start stitching with confidence.
To begin, you’ll need a special tool: a Tunisian crochet hook. It’s longer than a regular hook, almost like a knitting needle, so it can hold multiple loops at once. Choose a medium-weight yarn and a hook two sizes larger than what’s recommended—this helps keep the fabric loose and flexible. Once you’ve made a simple foundation chain, you’ll learn how to pick up loops across the row to form the “forward pass.”
After your forward pass, you’ll work a “return pass” to bring the loops back off the hook, which completes the row. The rhythm is easy to get into: forward to load the hook, return to empty it. As you continue, you’ll see the signature vertical bars of the Tunisian Simple Stitch forming. We’ll also show you how to keep your edges neat and your tension even so your work looks clean from the start.
Once you’ve mastered a few rows, the possibilities really open up. You can use this stitch on its own for a clean, modern look, or combine it with others to create texture and patterns. We’ll also cover how to bind off properly and share a few beginner-friendly project ideas. With just a bit of practice, you’ll be hooked on Tunisian crochet and ready to explore more advanced techniques.
Tutorial and photos of this crochet tunisian simple stitch by: TL Yarn Crafts.