TUNISIAN CROCHET BASICS: The Foundation Row

LET'S START WITH TUNISIAN CROCHET!

Let’s get finally to the fun part of the matter: let’s start crocheting! So grab your Tunisian hooks (or regular crochet hooks) and begin with a crochet Chain in any number of stitches. Yes, it all begins with a Chain, as usual… Just another brief but important explanation before we start: conceptually (and practically) what differentiates Tunisian crochet from regular crochet and knitting is the fact that a single row is created through two stages, one in which the stitches are collected on the hook (I will presently explain you how), called FORWARD PASS, and one in which those stiches are brought off the hook (called REVERSE PASS, or RETURN PASS). All Tunisian crochet is created this way. A single Row, or Round, always consists of a Forward Pass followed by a Reverse Pass.

Photo 1 - Tunisian Foundation Row

FOUNDATION ROW

The Foundation Row is the first row of a project and it is formed on an initial Chain of stitches, from which loops are pulled up and collected on the hook. It is usually worked in Tunisian Simple Stitch, regardless of the pattern and stitch you will be using for the rest of the project.

First Row (Foundation Row) – Forward Pass: insert the hook in each stitch of the beginning Chain, starting from the second chain from hook, yarn over and pull up loop after loop, leaving them on the hook as you proceed towards the end of the Chain. At the end of the Forward Pass you should have as many loops on your hook as the number of stitches forming the initial chain, including the initial loop on the hook (photo 2).

Photo 2 - Tunisian Foundation Row

First Row (Foundation Row) – Reverse Pass: without turning your work, yarn over and pull through the 1^st loop (= Chain 1, photo 3), then yarn over and pull through 2 loops together (photo 4) until you cast off all stitches and remain with just one loop on the hook. You have completed the First Row (Foundation Row), photo 5. 

Photo 3 - Tunisian Foundation Row

Photo 4 - Tunisian Foundation Row

Photo 5 - Tunisian Foundation Row

CAN TUNISIAN CROCHET BE SO EASY?!

I know, I know, I can hear you thinking: "So? Is this it? Can it be so easy?!" The simple answer is: Yes! But this is "only" the Foundation Row, so how do we proceed from here? Well, the method is pretty similar, of course. After the Foundation Row, we will start crocheting properly in Tunisian Simple Stitch (or any other stitch), but before we move on to that I suggest you take a look at my video on the Foundation Row in my YouTube Channel to be quite sure you are making everything right.

--> START CROCHETING FOR REAL WITH THE TUNISIAN SIMPLE STITCH TUTORIAL!