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The Tunisian Pumpkin pattern has been through a little update.

Halloween crochet pumpkins

The pattern is updated with wings, a leaf, and two pumpkin variations. It adds a lot of possibilities for happy or scary or stylish Halloween decorations.

Get the pattern here

Read more and purchase the pattern on Ravelry, LoveCrochet, or the StoneGnome Store.

Or purchase the pattern right away here: Buy Now

Skills Needed

The pattern is a mix of regular and Tunisian crochet. If you don't know Tunisian crochet, don't worry. You will only need to learn a couple of basic Tunisian crochet stitches to make this, and it can be made with a regular crochet hook (with no handle).

All the minor details are basic regular crochet - with a little exception. To be able to make the wings mirrored, a few unusual stitches are added. They are not very difficult to do.

I've borrowed the technique from Tunisian crochet where they are called 'reverse stitches'. However, it is not the kind of reverse stitches we normally relate to, when we do regular crochet.

See a video and a little note about the reverse stitches here.

Happy Halloween!

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Amigurumi and Tunisian Crochet arent’ something you very often think about as related. However, Tunisian crochet can be a very good choice for making nice and soft amigurumi.

Tunisian crochet Pumpkin

I missed working with Tunisian crochet stitches. Then I got inspired by our creative kids (age 6 and 8) to make a pumpkin.

UPDATE. This pattern has been updated with extra items and features. Read more here.

The body of the pumpkin is made of Tunisian crochet stitches. The stem and the blossom end are regular crochet.
Tunisian crochet Amigurumi

Yarn.
I recommend the wool yarn blend Scheepjes Metropolis. It’s very very nice to work with and supports the softness of the Tunisian crochet stitches that makes the pumpkin nice to hold.

Size. The pumpkin will be around 7cm tall and wide (2.8”) with the suggested yarn here.

Currently, you can purchase the Pumpkin Pattern at Ravelry and at LoveCrafts.
- OR -
Find the pumpkin at my payhip store and get it for FREE when you use the coupon code PUMPKIN
(The coupon code expires November 1st 2021.)

Happy Halloween!


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Tunisian Crochet is fun and can be very meditative. Here is how you make a traditional foundation row to get started.
Tunisian Crochet Founcation Row

If you are a newbie to Tunisian Crochet, try it!

Updated September 2021. Originally posted as part of the Tutorial: Tunisian Top Stitch from 2016.

Tunisian Crochet in General

Is this your first try on Tunisian Crochet? If so, you should know it is all about a forward motion/ forward pass and a back motion/return pass. On the forward pass, you pick up loops. On the return pass, you finalize each of the crochet stitches.

You also insert the hook a little different from regular crochet in most cases - as you have other options here - which makes the stitches look a bit different too.

However, the way you work each of the stitches is still crocheting.

The outcome of a Tunisian Crochet piece can be a lot more like knitting, which is great for the drape and thereby for making wearables, scarfs, and other soft crochet pieces.

Tunisian Foundation Row

Choose a yarn and a hook that is at least two sizes bigger than the yarn label suggests. Most hooks will easily have space for 10 stitches on the neck. Else, just make fewer chains in this tutorial.

1) Chain row
Make a slip stitch and insert the hook. Crochet 9 chains for a foundation. This will give you 10 stitches, as the loop on your hook is number 10.
Tunisian Crochet Chain Row

Now turn your work sideways, so you can see all the bumps that might usually be on the back of your work. These are the loops you will insert the hook into.
Tunisian Crochet - hook into the back bumps

2) Forward Pass - pick up loops
Insert your hook into the first bump, right next to the hook. (Some skip the first bump and it CAN be difficult to hook into. So if it suits you better, do that.)

Yarn over (yo) and pull through one loop. You now have 2 loops on the hook. They stay there during the forward motion.

Tunisian Crochet - make the first stitch


*Insert the hook into the next bump, yo, and pull through one loop only.* Repeat this till you have used all bumps. When you have reached the end, you have 10 loops on your hook.
Tunisian Crochet - forward pass

3) Return Pass - complete each stitch
Chain one. (Yo and pull through one loop only). This is the left edge of your work.
Tunisian Crochet - left edge

*Yo and pull through two loops.* Repeat until you only have one loop left on the hook.
Tunisian Crochet - return pass

AVOID the temptation to pull tight, when there is only one loop left on the hook. You can tighten your work so much, that it is difficult to proceed from here with a nice result.

Tunisian Crochet - Foundation Row

Tadaa!! Now you are ready for your next row :)

From here most people learn the Tunisian Simple Stitch (tss), the most commonly known stitch in the Tunisian Crochet world.

You could also try something nice and a bit different like the lovely Tunisian Top Stitch. It's one of my favorite stitches and it doesn't get enough attention in the crochet world.

You will find a tutorial right here: Tutorial: Tunisian Top Stitch

Did You Know?

Instead of starting with a chain row, it is also possible to do a cast-on. You can either do the Tunisian Single Hook cast on or the Tunisian Crochet Cast On. The last one requires two hooks but is really beautiful and very popular on this site.

Tunisian Crochet Cast On - Single Hook
Tunisian Crochet Cast On - Two Hooks

Choose whatever works best for you with a specific Tunisian Crochet Project.
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Learn to crochet the Tunisian top stitch - aka bump stitch. It is a VERY easy stitch and the stitch is also very fast to work with. You crochet beautiful scarfs and more with this stitch.
Tunisian Crochet Top Stitch Tutorial

If you are new to Tunisian crochet, this is a great stitch to learn, as it is very different from other Tunisian crochet stitches.

Updated and split into two posts in September 2021. Originally from September 2016.
     

Tunisian Top Stitch

Choose a yarn and a hook that is at least two sizes bigger than the yarn label suggests. Make a foundation row of just about 10 chains - or cast on if you prefer that. Now you are ready for the first row of Tunisian Crochet Top Stitches.

Tunisian Crochet first row
Related posts:
- Tunisian Crochet Foundation Row
- Tunisian Crochet Cast On (2 hooks)
- Tunisian Single Hook Cast On (1 hook)

Forward Pass

You need to locate and hook into the 'bump' from the return passes. It's on top - and maybe a little behind - the vertical strings, we often use in Tunisian crochet. It is very similar to the back bumps of a chain row you use for a traditional foundation row.

Tilt your work a little if it helps to find the right bump.

If your last stitch of the first row got tight, it might be impossible to see or enter the first bump. So, be careful about that.

1. Insert the hook into the first bump, right next to the hook. Yarn-over (yo) and pull through one loop. You now have 2 loops on the hook. (img below)
Top stitch - insert the hook
2. *Insert the hook into a bump, yo, and pull through one loop only.*
Repeat ** till you have all 10 loops on the hook.

Return Pass

3. Left edge: Chain one (pull through one loop only).

4. *Yo and pull through two loops.*
Repeat ** till you have only 1 loop left on the hook.

You are now done with the second row :) Make a couple more rows just for practice.

Finishing Off

You end it like you do on regular crochet. Cut the yarn end and pull it through the last loop on the hook - at the right side of your work.

Tips

Tip 1. Leave extra long ends when you start and when you finish. Weaving the ends in and out takes more yarn than other stitches.

Tip 2. When you are doing a back motion, then stretch the work a little with your left hand. This gives your work a more uniform look.

Tip 3. In a return pass: When you need to pull yarn from the yarn ball, then hold on to the first loop with your index finger, so you don't accidentally pull the previous bump too tight.

Make a Scarf

Imagine a scarf made purely with the Tunisian Top Stitch. Great drape, right?!
If you want a little extra, then try the 3 Skein Scarf with the neat color change.

Have fun with it :)
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I've used the lovely Twinkle for my snowflakes and thought I'ld share a few notes with you.

Scheepjes Twinkle Yarn

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I see a lot of questions these days about how to get circles like Rozeta* - but also squares - to lay flat and avoid the wonky look.
Dahlia Washcloths being a bit wonky
How to avoid the Wonky Look on your crocheted items

There are more things you can do to avoid wavy edges.

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Don't you think a big and a smaller pillow looks good together? The bonus-pages for the Heart on Fire is ready now. This means the pattern now includes a smaller heart too.
Heart on Fire Tunisian crochet pillow pattern - two sizes

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Tomorrow it is Valentine's Day and everyone deserves at least one heart. Here is one for you. 

Big Valentines Day Pillow - Tunisian crochet

The pattern is free for a while. See the details below.

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You really don't need that little knot in the beginning of your next crochet project. Here is a video showing how to avoid it.

It works with regular crochet as well as Tunisian and it doesn't matter how you like to hook into your starting chain.

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My latest pattern is now available. The hat and tube are square and are very light, despite the bumpy, fluffy look.

Square Bumpy Hat and Tube

It was my 3-year-old daughter, that requested the hat.

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Sometimes it is difficult to join or sew two pieces together and make it look good.

Tunisian Reverse Stitches - The Sides

If you have ever considered working with the Tunisian Reverse Stitch, you might want to read along here.

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Crochet with 3 strands of yarn
Working with 3 strands at once is fast and gives you a different and softer look than a bulkier yarn does - and you might save yarn too.

Crochet with 3 strands of yarn

See here how to do it without getting into a big mess and get some tips about yarn usage, hook size etc.

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Most guides about crochet and tension talks about how tight you hold the yarn with your non-dominant hand. This is only half the story, though.

Tunisian Crochet - How to Change and Control your Tension

What you do with the right hand (dominant hand) and what you do with your hook, is also important.

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What if you want to cast on for your Tunisian project and only have one hook?

Tunisian Crochet Cast On - Single Hook

Here is a way to do that. And this technique might be even easier than the two-hooks casting on.

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I have always admired, when knitters did a cast on and 1-2-3 got thousands of loops on their hooks... eh, needles.

Tunisian Crochet Cast On - Chainless

You can also cast on when doing Tunisian crochet - as in without a starting chain. And it is much faster than doing chains first.

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Fluffy and furry yarn tips
Fluffy yarn, fuzzy yarn, fur yarn or eyelash yarn. All of these long-fibered yarn types aren't always easy to crochet with. But, they look so fluffy and soft and kitten-like...

Fluffy and furry yarn tips

Here are a couple of tips for you, so you are prepared next time you find a fluffy or furry yarn.

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The Picky Pillow Pattern now includes TWO pillows in the exquisite Twisted Stitch pattern.

Picky Pillows - now there are TWO of them

If you bought the pattern already, remember to get the updated version. If you haven't bought it yet, go get the pattern for the two beautiful pillows.

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I have a video to show you. Please notice, it is NOT a full tutorial :)



See, what just happened?

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Picky Pillow. Supports you when you crochet or knit.
The Picky Pillow pattern is now available. The pillow is designed to support you when you crochet or knit - or just want to relax.

Picky Pillow. Supports you when you crochet or knit.

The Tunisian twisted stitch pattern is used and a full photo tutorial for this is included in the pattern, so all you have to know in advance, is the Tunisian simple stitch and how to do regular single crochet.

NOTICE

For a limited time only, the pattern is available at an INTRODUCTION PRICE.

...AND if you buy it now, then make sure you are logged in, as you should then automatically get access to updates. You might be happy about that later on... hint, hint.

Buy the Pattern

The pattern is available in English (US terms) from Ravelry and LoveCrafts. It is also available in Danish, where it is called 'Pernitten Pude'. Find the Danish version at LoveCrafts and Ravelry.

About the Pattern

As usual you get a pattern with lots of photos and guidance helping you out.

Cro-hook

The main part of the pillow is worked in rows back and forward. You will need a cro-hook / double-ended hook for this. With or without cable. This also means that the length of your cro-hook doesn't matter much, as you don't have to do a full forward pass before you start a return pass.

The Tunisian Twisted Stitch Pattern

Inner Pillow

In the pattern I suggest using an inner pillow. This is optional as the stitches are tight enough to hold the filling in. Personally I think and inner pillow gives you a more expensive-looking pillow, and it will of course also help the pillow stay in shape. So instructions for making an inner pillow are included. And it is NOT difficult to make one.

Adjustable

The pattern also includes instructions for adjusting the pillow size any way you want. So it can fit any inner pillow you have already or whatever you decide you need.

Testers

It has been quite a journey to make this pattern. No less than three testers have helped me out and once again, I'm surprised how much testing can improve a pattern. Thank you to Marjolein, Ewa, and Karen!

Selling Finished Products

Yes, you can do that. No problem! Read more in the menu: About > Copyright, Selling and Affiliate Links

Picky Pillow.

If you have any questions, just ask. You can find me here, on Ravelry or Facebook.
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