Tunisian Cast On - Using two hooks

[@PiepenHaus]

This is what is called the Chinese Waitress Cast On in knitting. It's my favorite. I had just gotten the idea to try it for Tunisian with two hooks when your video popped up. 😃

[@StoneGnome]

Lovely, that you like this! -- I checked the Chinese Waitress Cast On for knitters now. I'm not a knitter, but it does look very similar. Some of the videos include a lot of twisting and yarn between the hooks (needles). I wonder, if that is necessary when you knit?

[@ikreer9777]

Wow! Where has this video been? Tunisian is my favorite! Thank you SOOO much for making it!

[@frangourdet]

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Working with Bernat Blanket yarn is a nightmare trying to get that first row. Now I don't have to worry about it anymore.

[@StoneGnome]

I’m just happy you can use this!

[@lorrefl7072]

I also looked at Kim Guzman's video and tried both and your method is easier. Ty for sharing!

[@StoneGnome]

Glad that you found out what works for you. :) Yes, we are all different and luckily there are more ways to do and think of the same thing.

[@EvieO1950]

Wow! Can't believe I'm just now seeing this!! Gotta try it now, this has to be so much faster than trying to work into the chain or even making foundation SC then picking up loops.

[@StoneGnome]

Yes, this IS much faster. Keep it loose though! :)

[@tasnimjedidi8282]

Hi from Tunisia

[@GrannyReplica]

This is easily the most brilliant thing I've seen in a long time. 😶 Thank you for sharing this with us.

[@carolindodea9636]

thank you so much for sharing this technique. my chains are always different sizes. so much better now.

[@StoneGnome]

Glad it helps you :)

[@heidilynnm6522]

Question: Will this make a regular chain or a stretchy chain?

[@StoneGnome]

I would say a regular chain row IS somewhat stretchy. At the least if you make the first row of stitches in the back bump. The casting-on here has a similar stretchiness as a regular stretchy chain row. If you cast-on using ONE hook (see the video: Tunisian Cast On - Using one hook), and want it to be stretchy, then you need to watch your tension, so the loops under the hook stay loose.

[@crochetindia5363]

beautiful easy technique

[@zachholder3456]

thank you for showing this type of cast on. so much easier

[@StoneGnome]

You are most welcome. And yes, it is much easier. You should also check the one-hook cast on method. I made a tutorial for that one too.

[@queentutt1959]

this is great! i will probably never do a chain for tunisian crochet again!

[@rajeshwarikarthikeyan5941]

Thank you so much for this tutorial! I think I will use this technique to start my Tunisian crochet henceforth. 😊 😘

[@sandrinemayer38]

Hi. Thank you for sharing. Neat perfect fondation row. Do you think we can use this technique in a join as you go project? Have difficulties to imagine how to link it with the rest.

[@StoneGnome]

Sandrine Mayer. Are you thinking of something like making blankets of panels? It should be possible to use it for a join-as-you-go project. When you have created all the stitches you need, then you can join to the right edge of another panel as usual. You will have to join the ‘chain-row’ part afterwards, though. But it should work with a few tiny needle in-out. Make a sample and see if it works for you :)

[@edwyna7]

This is so blinkin' useful and easy !! ❤️ Thank You so much for sharing...😃 x x

[@m.tieman5863]

Lovely clear, slow instruction. Very handy! Thanks!

[@StoneGnome]

Thank you so much. You are most welcome :)

[@ciannacoleman5125]

Am I the only one thinking of using this for knitting too? This is brilliant

[@StoneGnome]

I like your way of thinking :) Some version of this way of casting on might be out there for knitting already. I hear knitters have a ton of ways to do this. Btw, have you seen my Tunisian Cast On Using ONE hook? It gives you another type of edge, which might be good for some projects.

[@drumpointer]

@@StoneGnome knitter here. It’s called by some Japanese cast on. It is a version of cable cast on. In knitting as in this application, no need to hold the needle and crochet hook parallel. The procedure is identical to slip stitching around a length of yarn as in a circle or an essential element of Irish crochet.

[@StoneGnome]

@@drumpointer A Japanese cast on. Thank you for sharing this with us :). I need to hold my hooks parallel or I might drop one. But, I've seen it done a bit differently too. Yes, we also stitch around a length of yarn. Rarely with slip stitches though as it is difficult for us to hook into them afterward due to the head of a hook. If we do it in circles and the circle can be closed, we call it a magic circle :)

[@mamapooki49]

Great idea, thank you!

[@thatgaljill]

Life changing!

[@nryane]

Basically a provisional cast-on!

[@StoneGnome]

Yes, it probably belongs to the group of provisional cast-ons that knitters have in their toolbox. It might be done a little different here. Not all types of cast-on work well for Tunisian crochet. So, it's more matter of finding a way that works for you and your Tunisian Crochet project.

[@aprilalfred2151]

When doing this do the hooks have to be the same size?

[@StoneGnome]

Hi April, Yes. For a well-formed border, the hooks need to be the same size, to make the V’s the right size. (If you look at the border after making the first row, you will see something that looks like a row of V’s). HOWEVER, there are other ways to cast-on, if you only have one hook. Here is a link for you: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iaLLeGOle7l_rrM

[@rachelraye285]

Also, beautiful yarn!!

[@PDvW]

Thank you for sharing. How can this be used in the round? If so how?

[@StoneGnome]

Hi Pam, You are most welcome. I don't recall having done this in the round yet, but it shouldn't be a problem. You will need a crohook/double-ended hook or similar. When you are done making loops for the foundation row, slide your work to the other end of the hook and start using your second yarn ball for working off loops. Before you work off all loops of your foundation row, slide the work back again and start pulling up more loops from the newly made part of the foundation row. (If you find it difficult to visualize, then first think of two hooks with a cable in between. ) I hope this helps you?

[@PDvW]

StoneGnome Design thank you for the fast reply. When I have worked in the round, I usually start by joining a chain for the base row. How would the rows be joined? This method would eliminate so many issues.

[@StoneGnome]

You can't join immediately after finishing the casting on, BUT as soon as you have worked off some stitches you are able to work into those, by sliding the whole project to the other end of the hook. (see my answer above for this part - make sure you expand the answer to see it all). So the key is to 'free' some stitches before finishing the join. Just like you are probably used to already from other working-in-the-round-projects. When you join, join to the foundation row, by finding what looks like the first bottom chain and join here. Then proceed like you would have done in any other project, by either pulling up loops on the next row or slide the work back and work off more loops for the foundation row. This IS hard to explain without images :). With a little luck and if you try a couple of times, you'll might find out what works. I will also put on my list to make a little sample for this, but if you are in a hurry, trying yourself might be faster.

[@victoriarivero3219]

You are brilliant!! Ty for this!!!

[@DeerlyMusical2]

Brilliant! Thank you.

[@francaperotti5934]

How do you do Tunisian crochet with 2 hooks?

[@StoneGnome]

:) You don't - or you can actually, but this is just about one way to cast on. :)

[@dianeradley1712]

👍♥️♥️♥️Thank you. From. Canada P.Q

[@TheSupijas]

Awesome thanks a lot allways have a mess with the start😍😍❤️❤️

[@pinapina4108]

Fantastic! ❤

[@ya2709]

Can you do a tutorial using this technique please

[@StoneGnome]

Hi A, Have a look at my blog. There is a tutorial for this with photos. I hope this helps you :) www.stonegnome.com/2018/02/tunisian-crochet-cast-on.html

[@rachelraye285]

So cool!!!

[@filizmh-c-y4239]

God idea thanks

[@StoneGnome]

You are most welcome

[@mayolson2]

Wow no curl. Thank you !

[@God_I.]

Thanks for sharing.

[@Gisele.DS.Pereira]

👏👏👏🤗😚💕🇧🇷