How to Crochet the Tunisian Stitch

Materials & tools you'll need

Step 1 — Make the foundation chain

Make a slipknot and chain any number of stitches — the Tunisian stitch doesn't require an exact stitch count to work correctly, so feel free to chain to whatever width suits your project. Keep your tension a little looser than usual on this chain, since the next step works into the back loops, which are naturally snugger to get your hook into.

Step 2 — Work the first forward row into the back bumps

Skip the first chain and insert your hook into the back bump of the second chain. Wrap the yarn around and pull through — but stop there, without doing anything else to complete the stitch. Repeat this across the entire foundation chain, adding a new loop to your hook each time, until every stitch from the chain is sitting on your hook at once.

Step 3 — Work the return row

Chain 1, then work back across the row by wrapping the yarn around and pulling through 2 loops at a time, repeating all the way across until only 1 loop remains on your hook. This return row is what takes all those built-up loops back off the hook and starts revealing the pattern of vertical lines that the next forward row will be worked into.

Step 4 — Work each new forward row into the vertical lines

For every row after the first, insert your hook into each vertical line left by the previous row, wrap the yarn around, and pull through, building up a full row of loops on your hook again. At the very last stitch of the row, insert your hook into the final chain and pick up two loops before pulling through — this creates a thicker, stronger edge. Then wrap and pull through once more to chain 1, which elevates the next return row.

Step 5 — Repeat forward and return rows

Continue alternating a return row (pulling through 2 loops at a time across the row) with a forward row (rebuilding loops by working into each vertical line) until your project reaches your desired size. If you lose a loop off your hook, slow down rather than panicking — it's a little trickier to recover a dropped loop in this stitch than in standard crochet, but it can be picked back up carefully.

Step 6 — Finish with a slip stitch row

On your final row, instead of working a normal return row, insert your hook into each front vertical loop, wrap the yarn around, and pull through both loops on your hook — essentially a slip stitch — repeating all the way across. This closes up the gaps left in the last row and creates a tight, even edge that mirrors the foundation chain at the start of the project. Fasten off and weave in any loose ends to finish.

Frequently asked questions

What materials are needed for the Tunisian stitch crochet technique?
You'll need a large aluminum crochet hook (5mm or bigger — a long-tail Tunisian hook is helpful for bigger projects), yarn such as Bernat Crafter Cotton, and a pair of scissors.

Can I create utilitarian items using the Tunisian stitch?
Yes. The Tunisian stitch works especially well for cleaning cloths, towels, and other sturdy items, since the wrong side of the fabric has a bumpy, textured surface that adds a bit of scrub to the fabric while the right side stays smooth and dense.

How do you finish off a Tunisian stitch project?
The final row is worked entirely in slip stitches: insert your hook into each front vertical loop, wrap the yarn around, and pull through both loops on the hook. This closes up the gaps in the last row and creates a tight, even edge that mirrors the foundation chain at the start of the project.

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