Welcome to another stitch tutorial with Creations by Courtney! We’re going to go over the steps for the tunisian half double crochet stitch. It looks complicated but is super easy to make once you find a rhythm.

This tunisian stitch involves an extra yarn over during the forward pass, and you pull through 3 loops on the return pass. This creates raised vertical bars and a second bar that slants and adds to the subtle texture. After several rows, your project appears striped.

It is best practice to use a hook that is at least 2 sizes larger than what is recommended on the yarn label. By using a larger hook, the fabric created is less likely to curl. The fabric created with tunisian half double crochet curls very little due to the extra yarn overs!

Just like other tunisian crochet stitches, you will skip the first vertical bars and begin working under the second set of vertical bars.

Multiples needed for the stitch

You can use any amount of starting chains, as long as it’s at least 3 chains. This makes it super easy to be creative when practicing the tunisian half double crochet stitch.

Techniques and Abbreviations Used:

ch: chain

FO: fasten off

FwP: forward pass

RetP: return pass

Sc: single crochet

Sl st: slip stitch

St(s): stitch(es)

Thdc: tunisian half double crochet

YO: yarn over

Supplies

US L/ 8.00 mm Tunisian hook

Worsted weight yarn

Pin it Now, Make it Later

Written Instructions

1. Ch 13

2. To begin the FwP: YO, working in the 2nd ch from hook, insert hook in back bump (this creates a neat edge), YO, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook); [YO, insert hook in next st, YO, pull up a loop], repeat between the [ ] until the end of the row. There should be 23 loops on the hook.

3. To begin RetP: Ch 1, [YO, pull through 3 loops]; repeat the step between the [ ] until the end of the row. 12 thdc made

4. Next Row FwP: YO, insert hook under second set of vertical bars (the vertical bars are indicated by the black lines in the pic above and below), YO, pull up a loop, [YO (yellow line), insert hook under next 2 vertical bars (black lines), YO, pull up a loop]; repeat between the [ ] until 1 sts remains, YO, insert hook under 2 loops (the last st), YO, pull up a loop. 23 loops on hook

5. Ch 1, *[YO, pull through 3 loops]; repeat from * until the end of the row

6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 until desired length is reached.

7. Finish by slip stitching between the vertical bars or sc between the vertical bars

That’s all there is to making the Tunisian half double crochet stitch!

Written in pattern form

Below find two examples of how this can be written in a pattern.

One Option

Row 1 FwP: YO, insert hook in 2nd ch from hook, YO, pull up a loop, *YO, insert hook in next ch, YO, pull up a loop; repeat from * to end – 23 loops

Row 1 RetP: Ch 1, *(YO, pull through 3 loops); repeat from * to end – 12 Thdc

Row 2 FwP: Thdc across – 23 loops

Row 2 RetP: Ch 1, *(YO, pull through 3 loops); repeat from * to end – 12 Thdc

Next Rows: Repeat Row 2 until desired length

Last Row: Inserting hook under horizontal bars, sc across, FO.

Second Option

Row 1: Ch 13, YO, pull up a loop in the 2nd ch from hook and each remaining ch, RetP.

Row 2: Thdc, RetP.

Row 3: Repeat Row 2 until desired length

Last Row: Sl st in the first vertical bar, sl st in each vertical bar across to bind off, FO.

Check out the Abrazo Rayado Cocoon and Abrazo Ear Warmer to give this stitch a try!

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This tutorial is not to be duplicated or resold, and not to be reproduced commercially. You may link to this tutorial for other crochet patterns, and please credit Creations By Courtney as the tutorial’s author.