The “Ethereal Diamond” Tunisian Crochet Blanket Pattern

Tunisian crochet, a beautiful fusion of knitting and traditional crochet, creates a fabric that is dense, squishy, and wonderfully unique. The “Ethereal Diamond” Tunisian Crochet Blanket is a project that showcases this technique beautifully, featuring a stunning textured diamond motif that appears to float on the surface of the fabric. The visual impact is simply breathtaking, and you’ll find it’s surprisingly simple to create once you master the basics.

This detailed blog post will guide you through the process of creating this eye-catching blanket, from understanding the stitches to building the mesmerizing pattern. It’s a fantastic project for anyone looking to try Tunisian crochet for the first time or for experienced crafters who want a truly “wow” project.

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Why Crochet the Ethereal Diamond Blanket?

• Striking Visuals: The diamond pattern creates a sophisticated and elegant look that’s perfect for a modern or traditional home.
• Unique Texture: The Tunisian stitch creates a thick, cozy fabric that is perfect for blankets, making it warmer than traditional crochet.
• Meditative Process: Once you get into the rhythm, the repetitive nature of the stitches is incredibly relaxing.
• Skill Building: Learn the fundamental forward and return passes of Tunisian crochet, as well as how to create stitches that form the pattern.
• Heirloom Quality: The dense fabric and beautiful design make this a blanket that will be treasured for years to come.

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1. Planning Your Blanket: Size & Materials

• Finished Size: The pattern is written for a versatile baby blanket size (approx. 36 x 36 inches / 91 x 91 cm). You can easily adapt the size by adjusting your starting chain and the number of pattern repeats.
• Yarn Choice: Choose a yarn that is soft, durable, and has good stitch definition.
  • Fiber: A smooth, worsted weight acrylic, wool, or cotton blend is recommended. Avoid highly textured or fuzzy yarns, as they can obscure the beautiful stitch pattern.
  • Weight: Worsted Weight (#4) is ideal for this project, as it works up quickly and provides a good balance of warmth and drape.
  • Color: A solid color will best highlight the raised texture of the diamond pattern.
• Quantity: For a 36×36 inch blanket, you will need approximately 1200-1500 yards (1100-1370 meters) of worsted weight yarn.

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2. Materials You’ll Need

• Yarn: Your chosen quantity of Worsted Weight (#4) yarn.
• Tunisian Crochet Hook: A long crochet hook with a stopper on the end. A 6.0 mm (J-10 US) or 6.5 mm (K-10.5 US) hook is recommended, or the size that gives you a nice, flexible fabric with your yarn.
  • Note: Tunisian crochet hooks come in various lengths, so choose one that can hold all the stitches for your desired blanket width.
• Scissors: For cutting yarn.
• Yarn Needle (Tapestry Needle): For weaving in ends.
• Blocking Mats and T-Pins: Recommended for blocking the finished blanket, as Tunisian crochet can curl.

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3. Essential Tunisian Crochet Stitches & Techniques

Before we begin the pattern, let’s review the basic stitches. In Tunisian crochet, each row is made of two passes: a Forward Pass (FP) and a Return Pass (RP).

• Tunisian Simple Stitch (TSS):
  • Forward Pass (FP): Insert hook from right to left under the vertical bar of the next stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop. Leave the loop on the hook. Repeat across the row.
  • Return Pass (RP): Yarn over, pull through one loop on hook (this creates your first stitch and a side edge). Yarn over, pull through two loops on hook. Repeat from * to * until you have only one loop left on your hook.
• Tunisian Purl Stitch (TPS):
  • Forward Pass (FP): Bring the yarn to the front of your work. Insert hook under the vertical bar of the next stitch, bring the yarn back behind the hook, yarn over, and pull up a loop. Leave the loop on the hook. Repeat across the row.
• Bind Off Row: This is worked just like a regular crochet row to finish your work. Insert hook under the vertical bar of the next stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop, and pull that loop through the loop on your hook. This creates a slip stitch. Repeat across the row.

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4. Let’s Crochet the “Ethereal Diamond” Blanket!

We will start with a foundation chain, and then work the pattern in alternating rows of TSS and TPS to create the texture.

Pattern Notes:

• The first vertical bar of each row is created by the return pass and should not be worked into. Always skip the first bar and work into the second.
• The last stitch of each row is worked into the last full stitch of the previous row (the full side edge).
• The diamond pattern is created using a combination of TSS and TPS. The TPS pushes the fabric forward, creating a raised “purl” bump that stands out.

Step 1: Foundation Row

1. Using your Tunisian hook, Ch 101 (or your desired width in an odd number for a symmetrical pattern repeat).
2. Forward Pass (FP): Insert hook into the back bump of the second chain from the hook, yarn over and pull up a loop. Leave the loop on the hook. Repeat from back bump of each chain across the row.
   • [101 loops on hook]
3. Return Pass (RP): Yarn over, pull through one loop. Yarn over, pull through two loops. Repeat from * to * until 1 loop remains on the hook.

Step 2: The Pattern Rows

We will now begin the repeating pattern that creates the diamonds. The pattern is a multiple of 10 stitches plus 1.

Row 1 (Pattern Setup – FP):

1. Skip first vertical bar.
2. Work 5 TSS, work 5 TPS. Repeat from * to * across the row until you have 1 stitch remaining.
3. Work 1 TSS in the last stitch (the last full stitch of the previous row).
   • [101 loops on hook]
4. Return Pass (RP): Standard RP as described above.

Row 2 (FP):

1. Skip first vertical bar.
2. Work 1 TSS.
3. Work 4 TPS, work 5 TSS, work 1 TPS. Repeat from * to * across the row until you have 6 stitches remaining.
4. Work 4 TPS, 1 TSS in the last stitch.
   • [101 loops on hook]
5. Return Pass (RP): Standard RP.

Row 3 (FP):

1. Skip first vertical bar.
2. Work 2 TSS.
3. Work 3 TPS, work 5 TSS, work 2 TPS. Repeat from * to * across the row until you have 7 stitches remaining.
4. Work 3 TPS, 1 TSS in the last stitch.
   • [101 loops on hook]
5. Return Pass (RP): Standard RP.

Row 4 (FP):

1. Skip first vertical bar.
2. Work 3 TSS.
3. Work 2 TPS, work 5 TSS, work 3 TPS. Repeat from * to * across the row until you have 8 stitches remaining.
4. Work 2 TPS, 1 TSS in the last stitch.
   • [101 loops on hook]
5. Return Pass (RP): Standard RP.

Row 5 (FP):

1. Skip first vertical bar.
2. Work 4 TSS.
3. Work 1 TPS, work 5 TSS, work 4 TPS. Repeat from * to * across the row until you have 9 stitches remaining.
4. Work 1 TPS, 1 TSS in the last stitch.
   • [101 loops on hook]
5. Return Pass (RP): Standard RP.

Row 6 (FP):

1. Skip first vertical bar.
2. Work 5 TSS.
3. Work 5 TPS, work 5 TSS. Repeat from * to * across the row until you have 1 stitch remaining.
4. Work 1 TSS in the last stitch.
   • [101 loops on hook]
5. Return Pass (RP): Standard RP.

Row 7 (FP):

1. Skip first vertical bar.
2. Work 5 TPS, work 5 TSS. Repeat from * to * across the row until you have 1 stitch remaining.
3. Work 1 TSS in the last stitch.
   • [101 loops on hook]
4. Return Pass (RP): Standard RP.

Row 8 (FP):

1. Skip first vertical bar.
2. Work 1 TPS.
3. Work 5 TSS, work 4 TPS, work 1 TSS. Repeat from * to * across the row until you have 6 stitches remaining.
4. Work 5 TSS, 1 TPS in the last stitch.
   • [101 loops on hook]
5. Return Pass (RP): Standard RP.

Row 9 (FP):

1. Skip first vertical bar.
2. Work 2 TPS.
3. Work 5 TSS, work 3 TPS, work 2 TSS. Repeat from * to * across the row until you have 7 stitches remaining.
4. Work 5 TSS, 1 TPS in the last stitch.
   • [101 loops on hook]
5. Return Pass (RP): Standard RP.

Row 10 (FP):

1. Skip first vertical bar.
2. Work 3 TPS.
3. Work 5 TSS, work 2 TPS, work 3 TSS. Repeat from * to * across the row until you have 8 stitches remaining.
4. Work 5 TSS, 1 TPS in the last stitch.
   • [101 loops on hook]
5. Return Pass (RP): Standard RP.

Row 11 (FP):

1. Skip first vertical bar.
2. Work 4 TPS.
3. Work 5 TSS, work 1 TPS, work 4 TSS. Repeat from * to * across the row until you have 9 stitches remaining.
4. Work 5 TSS, 1 TPS in the last stitch.
   • [101 loops on hook]
5. Return Pass (RP): Standard RP.

Row 12 (FP):

1. Skip first vertical bar.
2. Work 5 TPS.
3. Work 5 TSS, work 5 TPS. Repeat from * to * across the row until you have 1 stitch remaining.
4. Work 1 TSS in the last stitch.
   • [101 loops on hook]
5. Return Pass (RP): Standard RP.

Step 3: Repeating and Finishing

• Repeat Rows 1-12 until your blanket reaches the desired length.
• To finish your blanket, work a final Bind Off Row across the last row. This will create a clean, finished edge that matches the beginning chain.
• Fasten off, and weave in all ends securely.
• Block your finished blanket! This is especially important for Tunisian crochet, as the fabric has a tendency to curl. Pin it to your blocking mats and either wet or steam block it to relax the fibers and set the shape.

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Tips for a Perfect Tunisian Project

• Practice Passes: The forward and return passes are the heart of Tunisian crochet. Practice them until they feel natural.
• Consistent Tension: Try to maintain a loose, consistent tension to prevent the fabric from becoming too stiff or curling excessively.
• Count Your Stitches: It’s easy to lose or gain a stitch, so count the loops on your hook after each forward pass.
• The Right Hook: Using a hook that is a size or two larger than you would for traditional crochet with the same yarn will help keep your fabric flexible and prevent curling.

Enjoy creating your stunning “Ethereal Diamond” Tunisian Crochet Blanket. Its unique texture and beautiful pattern are a testament to the versatility and beauty of this craft!

Video tutorial: