Welcome back to Part 2 of the Tunisian crochet pattern for the Sunset Stripes Blanket! If you landed here first, you may want to check out the Sunset Stripes Blanket: Part 1 for the story behind the stash busting miracle that is this blanket.
This project is made in collaboration with Lion Brand Yarn, and includes affiliate links.
In the previous post, you learned how to crochet the Tunisian Simple Stitch to create a dense woven texture. Pair this stitch with Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick and Quick and you get a squishy, cozy, super-sturdy blanket that can handle a lot of wear and tear.
Armed with your new Tunisian crochet skills, you should be able to get about 3 rows into the Sunset Stripes Blanket. That’s just enough to get the hang of the Simple Stitch. Now we’ll take a look at how to change yarns in Tunisian crochet, so you can add in those stripes of color.
As you work through the written instructions in this post, you may want to refer back to the color chart in Part 1. A printable and downloadable PDF is also available for purchase. The PDF includes all the information from both posts – links to the video tutorials, a full page color chart with black and white symbols, and the written instructions as shared below. You can find this inexpensive PDF on Etsy, Ravelry, or LoveCrochet. (TBD)
The Goods, Part 2
How to Change Colors in Tunisian Crochet
Supplies
- [MC] 6 skeins of Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick and Quick in Fisherman
- [C1] 2 skeins of Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick and Quick in Spice Market. NOTE: You can also use Wool Ease Thick and Quick Bonus Bundles for the Fisherman (3) and Spice Market (1), since the Bonus Bundles for those 2 colorways are exactly twice as large as a regular skein. Depending on current sales and availability, the Bonus Bundles may be a better value. Always remember to check the yardage, as they differ per colorway.
- [C2] 1 skein of Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick and Quick in Mesquite
- [C3] 1 skein of Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick and Quick in Glacier
- 32-Inch Flexible Tunisian Hook, Size P/11.5mm
- scissors
- tapestry needle
Abbreviations
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- sl st – slip stitch
- ch – chain stitch
- yo – yarn over
- TSS – Tunisian Simple Stitch: (forward pass) insert hook behind the front vertical bar, yarn over and bring up a loop, leaving the loop on the hook.
- MC – main color – Fisherman
- C1 – Spice Market
- C2 – Mesquite
- C3 – Glacier
Notes
- Skill level: Easy
- Sizes: One size – 46 in wide x 65 in long
- Gauge: 6 sts and 5.5 rows per 4 inches of Tunisian Simple Stitch.
- At the beginning of the TSS row, you already have a loop on your hook, so you’ll work the first TSS stitch by inserting your hook into the 2nd front vertical bar.
Sunset Stripes Blanket Tunisian Crochet Pattern Instructions
Ch 70.
Row 1 (Foundation row, forward): [MC] Starting with the 2nd ch from hook, insert your hook into the back bump, yo, and bring up a loop. Keep the loop on your hook. Continue to work into each back bump across, yo and bring up a loop, keeping all loops on your Tunisian crochet hook.
Row 1 (Foundation row, reverse): [MC] YO, pull through 1 loop on hook. Repeat [YO, pull through 2 loops on hook] to end of row. You will have completed 70 stitches in the row.
From here onwards, each row consists of both a forward and reverse row.
Forward row: Insert your hook under the next vertical bar, YO and bring up a loop. Repeat across for the number of each color as indicated.
Reverse row: Using the color you ended with, YO, pull through 1 loop on hook. Repeat [YO, pull through 2 loops on hook.] for the number of sts as indicated for the color, minus 1. If you’re switching colors, YO with the new color, and repeat [YO, pull through 2 loops on hook] for the number of sts as indicated for that color. Continue to the end of the row, changing colors as indicated. You’ll notice that you switch colors when the next 2 loops are of 2 different colors.
Row 2: [MC] 70 sts (70 stitches across on all rows)
Row 3: [MC] 70 sts
Row 4: [MC] 37 sts, [C1] 33 sts
For example:
Row 4, forward row: [MC] YO and bring up a loop for each of 37 sts. [C1] YO, bring up a loop for each of 33 sts.
Row 4, reverse row: [C1] YO, pull through 1 loop on hook. Work [YO, pull through 2 loops on hook] 32x. [MC] Work [YO, pull through 2 loops on hook] 37x, to the end of the row.
Row 5: [MC] 60 sts, [C1] 10 sts
Row 6: [MC] 70
Row 7: [C3] 11 sts, [MC] 59 sts
Row 8: [C3] 22 sts, [MC] 48 sts
Row 9: [C2] 70 sts
Row 10: [MC] 70 sts
Row 11: [MC] 70 sts
Row 12: [C1] 70 sts
Row 13: [C1] 70 sts
Row 14: [C1] 70 sts
Row 15: [MC] 70 sts
Row 16: [MC] 70 sts
Row 17: [C2] 70 sts
Row 18: [C1] 18 sts, [MC] 52 sts
Row 19: [C1] 7 sts, [MC] 63 sts
Row 20: [MC] 70 sts
Row 21: [MC] 70 sts
Row 22: [MC] 70 sts
Row 23: [MC] 40 sts, [C3] 25 sts, [MC] 5 sts
Row 24: [MC] 44 sts, [C3] 8 sts, [C2] 16 sts, [MC] 2 sts
Row 25: [MC] 62 sts, [C2] 8 sts
Row 26: [C1] 70 sts
Row 27: [C1] 70 sts
Row 28: [C1] 70 sts
Row 29: [MC] 70 sts
Row 30: [MC] 70 sts
Row 31: [MC] 21 sts, [C2] 10 sts, [MC] 39 sts
Row 32: [MC] 15 sts, [C2] 21 sts, [MC] 34 sts
Row 33: [MC] 70 sts
Row 34: [MC] 70 sts
Row 35: [C3] 6 sts, [MC] 64 sts
Row 36: [C3] 11 sts, [MC] 59 sts
Row 37: [C1] 70 sts
Row 38: [C1] 70 sts
Row 39: [MC] 70 sts
Row 40: [C2] 70 sts
Row 41: [MC] 70 sts
Row 42: [MC] 70 sts
Row 43: [MC] 58 sts, [C1] 12 sts
Row 44: [MC] 62 sts, [C1] 8 sts
Row 45: [MC] 70 sts
Row 46: [MC] 70 sts
Row 47: [C3] 70 sts
Row 48: [C3] 70 sts
Row 49: [MC] 70 sts
Row 50: [MC] 70 sts
Row 51: [MC] 25 sts, [C2] 40 sts, [MC] 5 sts
Row 52: [MC] 33 sts, [C2] 26 sts, [MC] 11 sts
Row 53: [MC] 36 sts, [C2] 18 sts, [MC] 16 sts
Row 54: [C1] 70 sts
Row 55: [C1] 70 sts
Row 56: [C1] 70 sts
Row 57: [MC] 70 sts
Row 58: [MC] 70 sts
Row 59: [MC] 70 sts
Row 60: [C2] 12 sts, [C3] 6 sts, [MC] 52 sts
Row 61: [MC] 70 sts
Row 62: [C1] 70 sts
Row 63: [C1] 70 sts
Row 64: [C1] 70 sts
Row 65: [MC] 70 sts
Row 66: [MC] 70 sts
Row 67: [MC] 70 sts
Row 68: [MC] 70 sts
Row 69: [MC] 42 sts, [C2] 28 sts
Row 70: [MC] 53 sts, [C3] 17 sts
Row 71: [MC] 59 sts, [C3] 11 sts
Row 72: [MC] 70 sts
Row 73: [MC] 70 sts
Row 74: [C1] 9 sts, [MC] 61 sts
Row 75: [C1] 15 sts, [MC] 55 sts
Row 76: [C2] 70 sts
Row 77: [MC] 70 sts
Row 78: [C2] 70 sts
Row 79: [MC] 70 sts
Row 80: [MC] 70 sts
Row 81: [MC] 70 sts
Row 82: [C2] 22 sts, [MC] 48 sts
Row 83: [C1] 70 sts
Row 84: [C1] 70 sts
Row 85: [MC] 19 sts, [C3] 31 sts, [MC] 20 sts
Row 86: [MC] 24 sts, [C3] 21 sts, [MC] 25 sts
Row 87: [MC] 70 sts
Row 88: [MC] 70 sts
Row 89: [MC] 70 sts
Row 90 (Bind off): [MC] *Insert your hook under the next vertical bar, YO and pull through both the vertical bar and the loop on the hook, similar to a slip stitch.* Repeat from * to the end of the row. You should end up with 1 loop left on your hook. Cut the yarn, and pull the end through the loop to fasten off.
Finishing: Weave in all remaining ends. Pin the blanket to a flat surface and steam or wet block the edges to relax the yarn and prevent the ends from curling.
[Optional] If you have yarn left over, you can add fringe along both ends, or tassels at each corner. I chose to leave the blanket unadorned as it’s more minimal and functional for my family.
What’s Next
Grab the downloadable PDF to get all the Sunset Stripes info in one place. You can buy it on Ravelry, LoveCrochet, or Etsy.
Share your progress on social media with hashtag #1dogwoof and #SunsetStripesBlanket for a chance to get featured!
Grab a book or some more yarn and settle in with your own Sunset Stripes creation!
THANK YOU for this beautiful pattern! I ended up purchasing yarn and needle from your links and am on row 68! Having the written instructions made this doable for me. I don’t really like graphs, and having the actual stitch count for every single row has been wonderful! I appreciate all the time and work involved in sharing this with us, and truly am grateful. This blanket is big and squishy and warm and I love love it ????
Thank you for a beautiful pattern, and for the excellent videos to accompany the pattern.
That’s just enough to get the hang of the Simple Stitch. As you work through the written instructions in this post, you may want to refer back to the color chart in Part 1.
This blanket is big and squishy and warm and I love love it ????
This is beautiful,the softness and gentle color changes keep you waiting for the next one as this blanket goes along. Your directions and the videos you provide are excellent and much appreciated.
Thank you for a beautiful pattern and the tutorials, you are a gifted designer.
Jen j
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