Put some personality into your stitches by adding colorful motifs and letters using the Tunisian crochet stranded colorwork technique. Yarn is carried along the wrong side of the work to make color changes easy.
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One of the best ways to punch up your Tunisian crochet project is to add colors. Whether it’s stripes, color blocks, variegated yarn, or some other method, color can take a simple project and make it extraordinary. One way to add color to a project is using the stranded colorwork technique, often used in conjunction with a chart.
Tunisian crochet stranded colorwork allows you to make multicolored projects by using two or more colors in the same row. When moving along your row, the color not in use is carried, or “floated”, along the back of the work. The front side of the work has clean color changes, letting the design shine through.
Stranded colorwork is especially useful for adding repeating fair isle patterns into your fabric or even adding letters and pictures. Managing your floats becomes especially important to ensure that your yarn won’t snag when being used.
Ready to try Tunisian crochet stranded colorwork?! Grab your crochet hooks and watch this video:
Learn even more Tunisian crochet with these helpful videos:
- Tunisian Crochet for Absolute Beginners [watch here]
- How to Choose and Use Tunisian Crochet Hooks [watch here]
- 5 More Tunisian Crochet Stitches to Try [watch here]
Holiday Tunisian Sampler Blanket – Home Square Pattern
This tutorial was made as a supplement to the Home Square as part of the Tunisian Holiday Sampler Blanket. Find the full pattern to make your square below.
Join the Holiday TCAL 2020 event! This free crochet along to make the Tunisian Holiday Sampler Blanket runs from October to November 2020. Get full details in this blog post and join the fun!
Home Square Pattern
*Get the printable PDF version of the Tunisian Holiday Sampler Blanket pattern HERE.
MATERIALS
- Worsted weight yarn – colors B and D
- 6.5mm Tunisian crochet hook with 16″ cord
- 6mm crochet hook
- Scissors
- Tapestry needle
FINISHED SIZE
12 x 12 inches square after blocking
GAUGE
The gauge varies for each square of the Tunisian Holiday Sampler Blanket. Reference the starting chain stitch multiple to make adjustments to your square. All squares should measure about 11.5″ square before the border is added.
ABBREVIATIONS
- 2sc = 2 single crochet in the same stitch (increase made)
- Ch = chain
- Lts = last Tunisian stitch (see Special Stitch below)
- RetP = return pass
- Sc = single crochet
- Sc2tog = single crochet 2 together (decrease made)
- St(s) = stitch(es)
- Tss = Tunisian simple stitch
SPECIAL STITCH
- Last Tunisian Stitch (Lts) – insert hook under BOTH vertical bars of the last stitch and complete as for Tunisian simple stitch
PATTERN NOTES
- Personalize your square by creating a blank chart of 41 columns and 32 rows. Use cross stitch pictures and alphabets to create your own stranded colorwork design.
- Do not leave floats of more than 3 stitches to prevent snagging when you use your blanket.
BORDER NOTES
To ensure that all squares of the Tunisian Holiday Sampler Blanket will join evenly, apply the Standard Border. All squares need to have 35 single crochet stitches on each size. This means you will have to increase the number of edge stitches in some cases, and decrease the number of edge stitches in other places.
- To increase the number of stitches along an edge, evenly place 2sc increases along the edge where needed.
- To decrease the number of stitches along an edge, evenly place sc2tog decreases along the edge where needed.
INSTRUCTIONS
ROW 1: With D and 6.5mm Tunisian crochet hook, ch 41, pull up a loop in the back bump of the 2nd ch from the hook and each remaining ch, RetP.
ROWS 2-32: Work the chart below completely in Tss using the stranded colorwork technique, changing color as shown. Rows begin on the right edge and are worked from the bottom up. White squares represent color D; gray squares represent color B. The last stitch of the row is always worked as Lts.
When finished with chart, fasten off B. Slip stitch with D in each vertical bar along the row to bind off. Do not fasten off D. Continue to Standard Border.
STANDARD BORDER
- Change to 6mm crochet hook and ensure the square is facing right side up.
- Ch 1 (does not count as a stitch), single crochet 35 stitches evenly across the first edge of the square, placing increases and decreases where needed. At corner, ch 2 and rotate to work along the next edge.
- Single crochet 35 stitches evenly across the edge, placing increases and decreases where needed. At corner, ch 2 and rotate to work along the next edge.
- Repeat Step 3 for the remaining 2 sides. At the end of the round, join with a slip stitch in the first single crochet of the round. Fasten off and block your finished square to 12″ x 12″.
Click HERE to access stitch patterns for the other squares in the Tunisian Holiday Sampler Blanket.
Tunisian Holiday Sampler Blanket Layout
Get the printable PDF version of the Tunisian Holiday Sampler Blanket here.
