Tunisian Smock Stitch Tutorial – Video & Pictures

Are you wanting to learn the Tunisian smock stitch? Check out our video and photo tutorial for this gorgeous Tunisian crochet stitch.

The Tunisian Smock Stitch has become one of my all-time favorite stitches.

It looks incredible with one color or two and once you get the hang of it, it’s such an incredibly enjoyable stitch.

Does the Tunisian Smock Stitch Curl?

Probably the most asked question when it comes to Tunisian crochet stitches is “does it curl”.

If you’re familiar with Tunisian crochet already then you know that a lot of the stitches curl. A few common stitches that curl are the knit stitch and the simple stitch.

There are ways to prevent it from happening. And there are ways to fix it after the fact.

Not only is the Tunisian smock stitch beautiful but it doesn’t curl. At least I’ve never had a problem with it curling.

Here’s a sample I whipped up with two colors. Notice there is absolutely no curling.

Tunisian Smock Stitch Blanket Pattern

I designed the Ethan throw using the Tunisian smock stitch with two colors and it’s one of my favorite designs to date.

You can get the free pattern for the Ethan Throw here, or purchase a printable pattern on Etsy, Ravelry, or the I Can Crochet That Shop.

Tunisian Smock Stitch Instructions

Special Stitches:

Tss

With yarn in back, insert hook under front vertical bar from side to side, yo, draw up loop.

Tss2tog

This is a simple stitch decrease. Insert your hook in the next two vertical bars and bring up a loop

yu

Instead of yarning over, bring the yarn to the front of your work (as for Tunisian purl stitch) and hold the yarn in place on your hook when you pull up a loop

Lts

insert hook under both vertical bars of the last stitch and complete as for Tunisian simple stitch

RetP

ch 1, *yo, pull through the next 2 loops*, repeat between * and * until only one loop remains on the hook

Written Instructions for One Color

For the smock stitch, you will chain an even number

Foundation row Ch 16

Pull up a loop in the back bump of the 2nd ch from hook and each remaining ch, (16 loops on hook)

RetP

Row 1 *Tss2tog, yu* repeat from * to * to last st , working the last st as for Lts

(Notes: don’t forget the last yu before you do the Lts)

RetP

Rows 2 Tss 1, *tss2tog, yu* repeat from * to * to last 2 sts, tss 1, working the last st as for Lts

(Note: when doing this stitch with one color, it can be a little tricky to spot the yu stitch you need to go through for the tss2tog, so keep an eye out for it.)

RetP

Rows 3 and on

Repeat rows 1 and 2

Video Tutorial

The video tutorial for the Tunisian smock stitch is shown with two colors.

But if you want to make something with just one color, the only difference is you don’t change colors before the return pass.

Photo Tutorial

Here’s a step-by-step photo tutorial with one color for those who learn better this way.

Foundation row Ch 16

Pull up a loop in the back bump of the 2nd ch from hook and each remaining ch, (16 loops on hook)

RetP

Row 1 *Tss2tog, yu* repeat from * to * to last st , working the last st as for Lts

(Notes: don’t forget the last yu before you do the Lts)

RetP

Rows 2 Tss 1, *tss2tog, yu* repeat from * to * to last 2 sts, tss 1, working the last st as for Lts

(Note: when doing this stitch with one color, it can be a little tricky to spot the yu stitch you need to go through for the tss2tog, so keep an eye out for it.)

RetP

Rows 3 and on

Repeat rows 1 and 2

There you have it! Now you’re ready to make the Ethan throw or another pattern featuring the Tunisian Smock Stitch.

You can fund more Tunisian crochet patterns here and some of my favorites here.