How to: Tunisian Crochet Simple Stitch (TSS) – A Beginner’s Guide

Tunisian crochet is a beautiful fusion of crochet and knitting, offering a unique texture and endless creative possibilities. If you’re starting with Tunisian crochet, the Tunisian Simple Stitch (TSS) is the perfect place to begin!

This stitch creates a woven look and is the foundation for many when it comes to learning this incredible fiber craft.

This is the very first stitch I learned when I picked up a Tunisian crochet hook for the first time. At first, getting the hang of it was frustrating, and I even gave up for a bit. But being as stubborn as I am 😉 I decided to learn everything I could about it and well, now I am obsessed.

Just look at the number of Tunisian crochet patterns I've created.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to crochet the Tunisian simple stitch, share common mistakes to avoid, and provide tips to make this stitch work for you. Plus, I’ll list some of my favorite Tunisian crochet patterns that use TSS so you can use your new skills immediately!

What is the Tunisian Simple Stitch (TSS)?

The Tunisian Simple Stitch is the most basic and commonly used stitch in Tunisian crochet. It creates a fabric that is denser than traditional crochet but still has a soft and flexible feel. The look of the stitch resembles a woven grid, making it perfect for blankets, scarves, dishcloths, and other textured projects.

What You’ll Need:

• A Tunisian crochet hook either a long one with a stopper or a hook with a cable attached, which are perfect for making blankets
• Yarn of your choice (I recommend a worsted-weight yarn for beginners)
• Scissors
• A tapestry needle for weaving in ends

Step-by-Step Tutorial: How to Crochet the Tunisian Simple Stitch

Step 1: Create a Foundation Chain

Start by making a chain with any number of stitches. If you're just practicing, start with 10–15 chains.

Step 2: Work the Forward Pass

1. Insert your hook into the second back bump from the hook.
2. Yarn over and pull up a loop, leaving it on the hook.
3. Continue inserting your hook into the next back bump, yarn over, and pull up a loop until you reach the end of the row.
4. At the end of this step, you should have the same number of loops on your hook as the number of chains you made (excluding the starting chain).

Step 3: Work the Return Pass

1. Yarn over and pull through one loop (this is your edge stitch).
2. Yarn over and pull through two loops on the hook. Repeat this until you have one loop left on your hook.

Step 4: Continue Working in TSS

1. To begin the next row, insert your hook under the vertical bar of the next stitch (not into the space between stitches!).
2. Yarn over and pull up a loop. Repeat across the row.
3. When you get to the last Tunisian stitch, insert your hook into both bars and pull up a loop. This creates a nice clean edge.
4. Work the return pass just like before: yarn over, pull through one, then yarn over, pull through two until one loop remains.

Repeat steps 1–3 until your swatch reaches the desired length.

Watch My Video Tutorial

If you’re a visual learner, I’ve got you covered! Watch my step-by-step YouTube tutorial on how to crochet the Tunisian Simple Stitch here:

Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them

✅ Tight Stitches? Try using a larger hook to prevent tension issues. Tight tension can cause excessive curling and make it difficult to insert the hook into stitches.

✅ Curling Fabric? This is common in Tunisian crochet! To combat curling, use a larger hook size than recommended on the yarn label and block your finished piece if needed. I wrote a blog post all about 9 ways to combat curling in Tunisian crochet. You can also learn about it in the free 25+ Tunisian crochet beginner's guide.

✅ Gaps Between Stitches? Make sure you’re picking up loops from the correct vertical bars and not inserting your hook between stitches.

✅ Uneven Edges? The first and last stitches are crucial! Always pull up a loop from under both loops of the last stitch to keep the edges clean.

Patterns That Use the Tunisian Simple Stitch

Once you’ve mastered TSS, you can use it in so many projects! Here are a few of my patterns that feature the Tunisian Simple Stitch:

The Nordic Blanket – A cozy blanket with a stunning woven texture.

The Taylor Sampler Blanket - This one features about six different Tunisian crochet stitches, the Tss being one of them.

The Vivia – A beginner-friendly corner to corner baby blanket

The Udelia - This combines Tss and the Tunisian crochet bean stitch

The Autumn Ombre Scarf – A simple and stylish scarf perfect for chilly days.

Final Thoughts

The Tunisian Simple Stitch is a fantastic way to dive into the world of Tunisian crochet. Whether you’re making blankets, scarves, or dishcloths, this versatile stitch provides a beautiful foundation for many projects.

I’d love to see what you create! Share your projects with me on Instagram by tagging @ICanCrochetThat, or join my Tunisian Crochet Facebook Group to connect with other crocheters.

Happy crocheting! 🧶💙