How to Crochet the Chunky Tunisian Throw Blanket
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Looking for a quick chunky throw to use up the Bernat Blanket yarn in your stash? Well, this is the perfect pattern! Using Tunisian Full Stitch with alternating Bobble rows this pattern works up very quickly and is beginner-friendly! You’ll quickly fall in love with the gorgeous squishy texture.
The following post contains affiliate links. By clicking on the links you are supporting my site and allowing me to continue to create free content. I promise, I only share products that I use and love! For more information please see my disclosure page.
Like many of you, I had quite a few Bernat Baby Blanket skeins in my stash from either stocking up when on sale or from abandoned projects. After having my daughter and spending endless hours up at night feeding her, I wanted to make a quick blanket for her nursing chair that would be easy to wash and most importantly keep us warm!
I’ve recently become quite obsessed with Tunisian Crochet after discovering Toni Lipsey of TL Yarn Crafts incredible patterns and tutorials! She is an incredible teacher and I highly recommend her videos if you are just learning the basics of Tunisian Crochet. To feed my obsession, I wanted to do something new and different. I wanted to make a chunky tunisian crochet blanket and after extensive research on Pinterest and Ravelry, no one had done it yet using Bernat Blanket yet. So I ordered several different larger-sized Tunisian crochet hooks and made countless practice swatches until I found the stitch and the hook that gave me the nice squishy blanket that I was looking for. I decided that a 12mm hook paired with the Tunisian Full Stitch gave me the perfect amount of drape without creating a dense fabric.
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After I decided on the materials and stitch, I next had to figure out what size I wanted to make the blanket. I knew what I needed the blanket for right this moment but also in the future, I wanted it to be large enough for my daughter’s bed. So I settled on a 40″ (w) x 50″ (h) throw blanket.
Then I was finally able to start stitching! A few rows into the blanket I realized I wanted to add more texture so I started experimenting with a Bobble Stitch. Now, when you look up Tunisian Bobble Stitches, all the pattern books and tutorials all use a Tunisian Simple Stitch. Basically my method is to work tunisian full stitch as usual and then bobble in the designated gap. This method does create a slight gap directly beneath each bobble but its barely noticeable overall.
Abbreviations/Stitches
Chain (ch)
Tunisian Full Stitch (tfs)
Forward Pass (FwP)
Return Pass (RetP)
Tunisian Simple Stitch (tss)
Yarn Over (yo)
Bobble (bo)
Change Color (CC)
Supplies
- Bernat Baby Blanket Yarn:
- Light Pink: 18.6 oz or 390 yards
- Baby Pink: 18.6 oz or 390 yards
- White: 5 oz or 105 yards
- 12mm Tunisian Crochet Hook + 32” cord (these Knitter’s Pride Hooks are high quality!)
- Scissors (my all time favorite for traveling!)
- Yarn Needle
Notes
- The blanket is made using Tunisian Full Stitch (tfs), consisting of a 2 row pattern repeat with a bobble row between each section.
- Every row in Tunisian crochet is worked in 2 steps: Forward Pass (FwP): working loops onto your hook and Return Pass (RetP): working loops off your hook.
- To change colors: for the final 2 loops of the return pass, yo using the new color. Your final loop on your hook should be the new color. Cut the old color and I like to tie with the new color tail for extra security. Weave in your tails.
- The Bobble Rows are basically normal Tunisian Full Stitch rows except you will be working a bobble into certain designated gaps.
- Your tension should be relatively tight around the hook but will appear much looser once it reaches the cord.
- I created a YouTube tutorial for help on changing colors and completing the Bobble Stitch. https://youtu.be/2D_KqiG1cOs
Special Stitches
- The blanket consists of the following 2 row repeat of Tunisian Full Stitch (tfs). The Forward Pass (FwP) is as follows with the return pass always being the same:
- 1st Row (After Foundation Row): Pull up a loop in the gap/space between your 1st and 2nd stitch and in every stitch across, skipping the final space before your last stitch then Tunisian Simple Stitch (tss) in your final stitch.
- 2nd Row: Skip the first space, draw up a loop in the space between your 2nd and 3rd stitches. Draw up a loop in all the spaces across and don’t skip the final space before your last stitch. Ending row with tss in final stitch.
When you stretch out the sides of your project, you can see the alternating gaps at the beginning (and end) of the rows are visible so you can easily tell if you are to skip or not skip the first/last gap.
- Tunisian Simple Stitch (tss): turn your stitch to the side and insert your hook behind the two vertical bars.
The needle shows where to insert your hook for the Tunisian Simple Stitch at the end of each row.
- Return Pass (RetP): is always the same for each row. Start by chaining 1 (yo and draw through 1 loop), *yo and draw through 2 loops on your hook* repeat across until 1 loop left on hook.
- Bobble (bo): yarn over (yo), insert hook in the designated gap, yo, pull through st, yo and pull through 2 loops on your hook, repeat *yo, insert hook, yo, draw through st, yo & pull through 2 loops on hook* repeat 3 more times (5 times total) then yo and pull through the 5 loops on your hook from the bobble.
Gauge/Swatch Instructions:
Ch 8
Row 1 (Foundation Row): Draw up loop in back bump (starting with 2nd from hook) and across.
Rows 2-6: Tunisian Full Stitch (2 row tfs repeat) across
Should measure 4.5” x4”
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Instructions:
Instructions are for FwP. RetP instructions are always the same (see special stitches).
Foundation Row: Chain 71. Turn chain over and starting in 2nd ch from hook, draw up a loop in the back bump of each chain across.
Row 1: Pull up a loop in the space between your 1st and 2nd stitch and in every stitch across, skipping the final space before your last stitch then Tunisian Simple Stitch (tss) in your final stitch.
Row 2: Skip the first space, draw up a loop in the space between your 2nd and 3rd stitches. Draw up a loop in all the spaces across and don’t skip the final space before your last stitch. Ending row with tss in final stitch.
Rows 3-14: Repeat rows 1-2. CC at end of row 14 RetP to white
You will continue rows 1 & 2 repeats even with bobble rows (for example: row 14 is a row 2 repeat so row 15 (bobble row) is a row 1 repeat and row 16 is a row 2 repeat).
Row 15: Bobble Row: *tfs 4 sts then bo* repeat across the row ending row with tss (just like previous rows). CC to the next Pink at the end of RetP.
Rows 16-29: tfs in each row. CC to white at end of Row 29 RetP.
Row 30: Bobble Row (Repeat Row 15)
Rows 31-44: tfs in each row. CC to white at end of Row 44 RetP.
Row 45: Bobble Row (Repeat Row 15)
Rows: 46-59: tfs in each row. CC to white at end of Row 59 RetP.
Row 60: Bobble Row (Repeat Row 15)
Rows 61-74: tfs in each row. CC to white at end of Row 74 RetP.
Row 75: Bobble Row (Repeat Row 15)
Rows 76-89: tf in each row.
Row 90: Tunisian Slip Stitch Bind Off. Insert hook in the designated gap (just like a normal tfs) and work a slip stitch (draw up and loop and pull through the loop on your hook) and repeat across the row in each designated gap. Cut yarn, tie off and weave in all your ends.
Congratulations, you’re done! I would love to see your finished work and the colors you used!
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Ravelry: Kelsey Jane Designs
I’m wanting to make a texas tech lapaghan using a j afghan stitch hook. Where can I find a hook with a long cord that will hold 131 stitches? Also what size cable will hold that many stitches? I would appreciate your input.
Hi Brenda!
Great question! I have this ChiaGoo Bamboo, size J hook, with 32″ fixed cable.
This is the link to it on Amazon https://amzn.to/3DVkWS4 (affiliate link).
I really like ChiaGoo hook in particular because the cable is flexible and moves well.
I also have the Susan Bates, size J, afghan hook and do not recommend it. It’s aluminum, which is nice, but the cable is extremely stiff and difficult to use.
As for cable length, I believe 32 inches will be perfect. It’s surprising how many stitches you can fit!