In my last post, I shared some of the current projects on my loom, wheel and hook. One of the joys of being a designer is looking back at where it all began. Sometimes you discover just how much you’ve learned. Sometimes you find a design that still makes you smile, and sometimes you realise an old favourite deserves a second chance. I’ve been writing and publishing patterns for crochet and Tunisian crochet since December 2020, and currently have over 70 active listings across Etsy and Ravelry, with some free patterns on my own website. This week, I’m revisiting the very first Tunisian crochet pattern I ever published.
On the origins of a Tunisan crochet blanket
The very first pattern for Tunisian crochet that I ever published was, not very imaginatively, called the Tunisian Bobble Blanket. It was a relatively simple pattern that involved, unsurprisingly, lots of bobbles and the lovely Honeycomb stitch that helps counteract the curling that is often an issue with Tunisian crochet.
How it started
Back in 2020, in the midst of lockdowns, sometimes yarn became quite tricky to get hold of. My mum had a large stash of yarns that she needed to get rid of, and so I acquired nine 50g balls of Debbie Bliss Pure Cotton, an Aran weight yarn that had ceased being made in the 2010s, so clearly my mum had stored it for some time. It was in a soft sage green colour, not one I would have chosen but, as I say, I was not really in a position to be picky.
Armed with little more than enthusiasm and a handful of Tunisian crochet stitches, I started designing a small blanket. I wrote the pattern, checked it carefully, and published it to Ravelry for free (because hello lack of confidence). I never imagined how many people would download it. It remains one of the most popular patterns I’ve ever released.
Tunisan Crochet Pattern in review
Size-wise, the blanket works as a small throw, and can easily be made bigger by working more pattern repeats. I like that the pattern is asymmetric, and that the bobble stripe down one side adds interesting texture. The main body of the blanket, worked in honeycomb stitch, drapes beautifully. What needs improving is the edging. For some reason, I worked the outer borders in Tunisian Purl Stitch, which curls greatly, and then had to counteract that by working quite a chunky edging in standard crochet. Looking at it now, I can clearly see how much my Tunisian crochet technique has improved over the last five years. ‘Work the end stitch’ is the instruction at the end of most rows of Tunisian crochet, but where to insert the hook is not always clear. You can almost see my confidence growing across the blanket. By the end I’d finally worked out exactly where to place that elusive end stitch.
For the future
Revisiting older designs reminds me that creativity is a journey. Every pattern captures what I knew at that moment, and each one has taught me something new. The Tunisian Bobble Blanket may have been my first published Tunisian crochet pattern, but I’m looking forward to giving it the update it deserves and sharing it with a whole new generation of crocheters.
If you’d like to see more of my older designs, I share regular updates every Throwback Thursday on Facebook and Instagram. I’d love for you to join me there and see what I’ve been making each week.
Until next time, happy crafting!
Sue
Pearson Handmade 