Tunisian terminology

Tunisian crochet, also known as Afghan crochet, is a unique crochet technique that combines elements of both knitting and traditional crochet to create a dense, textured fabric. The following information includes many Tunisian crochet terms used by the yarn industry, designers, and publishers.

Basic stitch abbreviations

Term	Abbreviation	Meaning
Chain	ch	Used to begin the foundation row; same as in standard crochet.
Tunisian Simple Stitch	Tss	The most basic Tunisian stitch; loops are drawn up from vertical bars.
Tunisian Knit Stitch	Tks	Mimics the look of a knit stitch; insert the hook between vertical bars.
Tunisian Purl Stitch	Tps	Similar to a purl stitch in knitting; yarn is held in front of the work.
Tunisian Full Stitch	Tfs	Worked in the space between stitches, including edge gaps.
Tunisian Reverse Stitch	Trs	Worked behind the back vertical bar; creates a bumpy texture.
Tunisian Crossed Stitch	Txs	Two stitches worked in a crossed fashion for decorative effect.
Tunisian Double Stitch	Tds	A taller stitch, similar in height to a double crochet.

General terms and concepts

Term	Abbreviation	Meaning
Forward Pass	—	The first half of a Tunisian row where loops are picked up and left on the hook.
Return Pass	—	The second half of a Tunisian row; loops are worked off the hook.
Foundation Row	—	The initial row of stitches built on the chain.
Bind Off	—	A technique to finish the project by closing off the live loops.
Edge Stitch	—	The first and last stitch in a row, often worked differently to maintain edges.
Work Under Vertical Bar	—	The most common method of inserting the hook in Tunisian crochet.
Work Under Back/Front Bar	—	Alternative insertion points to create texture and variation.

Special techniques

Term	Abbreviation	Meaning
Tunisian Entrelac	—	A modular technique using blocks or diamonds to build the fabric.
Tunisian in the Round	—	Working Tunisian crochet in a circular fashion using a double-ended hook.
Curling	—	The tendency of Tunisian fabric to curl, especially with simple stitches.
Blocking	—	A finishing technique used to shape the fabric and reduce curling.
Extended Stitch	—	A stitch variation with added height by chaining within the stitch.
Honeycomb Stitch	—	A textured pattern alternating simple and purl stitches.