Tunisian crochet basics and Tunisian simple stitch (tss)

Tunisian crochet is different from regular crochet in that each row is made up of a forward pass and a return pass, the work never being turned. 

In this tutorial, I will be helping you familiarize yourself with the terms used in Tunisian crochet, all while learning one of its basic stitches: the Tunisian simple stitch (tss). 

Start with the specified number of chains; here we are starting with 12 chs.

1st row forward pass: begin by inserting hook in 2nd ch from hook, yarn over and draw up a loop.

Insert hook in next ch, yarn over and draw up a loop = 3 loops on hook.

Yarn over and draw up a loop in each ch across.

1st row return pass: yarn over and draw a loop through first loop on hook.

Yarn over and draw through next 2 loops on hook.

Yarn over and draw through next 2 loops on hook until 1 loop remains. Your first row is complete.

2nd row forward pass: you will be working behind the vertical bars, as identified in the picture.

Do NOT start in the first vertical bar, as identified in the picture.

Insert hook in next vertical bar, yarn over and draw up a loop.

Repeat this step for each vertical bar.

The last vertical bar is worked by inserting the hook at the side of the work, behind the 2 lateral bars, as pictured:

Yarn over and draw up a loop.

2nd row return pass: yarn over and draw through first loop on hook.  

Yarn over and draw through next 2 loops.

Repeat this step until 1 loop remains on hook. Your second row is now complete. Your row is made up of 12 vertical bars, including the 1st and last ones at either end.

Repeat 2nd row steps for subsequent rows.

To “finish off” in Tunisian crochet, work 1 sl st in each vertical bar across (including the last stitch worked behind the 2 lateral bars at the end).