Upgrade Your Crochet Skills with These Six Crochet Techniques

How to Do Tunisian Crochet, Double-Ended Crochet, Hairpin Lace Crochet, Broomstick Lace Crochet, Pineapple Lace Crochet and Corner-to-Corner Crochet

I love experimenting with crochet stitches and techniques. It keeps things interesting and a bit challenging, too. As long asI'm learning new skills, I'll never take my favorite hobby for granted! In this post, I'll be sharing 6 crochet techniques you can learn or master to take your stitching to the next level, along with links to tutorials and patterns to inspire your creativity.

Tunisian Crochet

Tunisian crochet, also known as Afghan crochet, is a technique that uses a specialized crochet hook with a stopper at the end. Tunisian crochet is often described as a cross between knitting and crocheting because loops are kept on the hook and then worked off. Some Tunisian crochet stitches mimic the look of knitting. AlthoughTunisian crochet can create a dense fabric, it can also be used to make beautiful lace.

You can learn more about Tunisian crochet, get photo and video tutorials of basic stitches, and find seven free Tunisian crochet patterns in the Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Tunisian Crochet. Don't forget you'll need an Afghan hook, like the Silvalume Aluminum 10" hook.

Nadia Fuad from YARNutopia has a video tutorial available for her free Tunisian crochet pattern Tutti Frutti Slippers in Red Heart Super Saver. The tutorial will guide you through Tunisian entrelac.

Upgrade Your Crochet Skills with These Six Crochet Techniques

Double-Ended Crochet

Double-ended crochet, sometimes called double end crochet, crochet on the double, or crochet knit, is a variation of Tunisian crochet that uses a double-ended hook. Typically, designs are worked using a different color or yarn weight for each hook. In this way, reversible projects with intricate color work can be created.

Upgrade Your Crochet Skills with These Six Crochet Techniques

Learn the basic double-ended crochet stitch while making the Let's Be Warm Throw in Red Heart Super Saver. You can watch Part 1 and Part 2 of the video tutorials and get the pattern here. Don't forget you'll need a double-ended hook, like the Luxite Double-End 10" hook, for double-ended crochet projects.

Upgrade Your Crochet Skills with These Six Crochet Techniques

If you'd like to get started with a smaller project, try the Dueling Colors Cowl, a free double-ended crochet pattern by Kim Guzman. The pattern, in Red Heart Unforgettable and Red Heart With Love, includes links to helpful video tutorials.

Upgrade Your Crochet Skills with These Six Crochet Techniques

Hairpin Lace

Hairpin lace is another crochet technique that uses a special tool. Using your standard crochet hooks in combination with an Adjustable Hair Pin Lace Loom, you can create stunning lace patterns. Working with the loom in your hand can take some practice to get used to, but you'll need only basic stitches like single crochet to make a stunning project.

You can learn more about hairpin lace, get photo and video tutorials of basic stitches, and find four free hairpin lace crochet patterns in the Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Hairpin Lace Crochet.

Donna Wolfe from Naztazia has a beautiful free crochet pattern with a video tutorial available for her Hairpin Lace Crochet Scarf in Red Heart Super Saver.

Upgrade Your Crochet Skills with These Six Crochet Techniques

Broomstick Lace

Broomstick lace, also known as jiffy lace or peacock lace, is a crochet technique that relies on a crochet hook and an object with large diameter (such as a US size 50/25 mm knitting needle) to make surprisingly simple lace stitches.

You can learn more about broomstick lace and get photo and video tutorials of basic stitches including increases and decreases in the Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Broomstick Lace.

You can try out your new broomstick lace skills with the Broomstick Lace Baby Blanket in Red Heart Super Saver.

Upgrade Your Crochet Skills with These Six Crochet Techniques

If you'd like a smaller project to start with, or if you want to practice more variations on the broomstick lace stitch, try the Sampler Broomstick Scarf in Red Heart Soft.

Upgrade Your Crochet Skills with These Six Crochet Techniques

Pineapple Lace

If you'd like to make beautiful lace without any special tools, pineapple lace patterns are sure to delight. These patterns use traveling chain stitches to make pineapple shapes. It can take dedicated focus to make sure you don't lose your place in the pineapple lace patterns, but since these use just basic stitches, even a determined beginner can take on these projects.

Upgrade Your Crochet Skills with These Six Crochet Techniques

If you want video tutorials to guide you through making pineapple lace, try the Lacy Pineapple Shawl in Red Heart Heart & Sole. Watch Part 1 and Part 2 of the video tutorials for help working on the project.

The Gardenia Shawl in Aunt Lydia's Fashion 3 is another beautiful lacy shawl using pineapple stitches for the curved edge.

Upgrade Your Crochet Skills with These Six Crochet Techniques

If you prefer to try out new techniques with home decor projects or using motifs, try the Pineapple Squares Throw in Red Heart Super Saver.

Upgrade Your Crochet Skills with These Six Crochet Techniques

Corner-to-Corner (C2C)

As the name suggests, corner-to-corner crochet projects, also known as C2C or diagonal box stitch projects, are worked from corner to corner. You can make perfectly square projects without worrying too much about gauge up front and you can also customize thesize your C2C projects as you work.

You can learn the basics of C2C by following the photo tutorial for the Corner to Corner Shell Stitch Square in Red Heart With Love by Oombawka Design Crochet.

Upgrade Your Crochet Skills with These Six Crochet Techniques

If you'd like to take on a larger project, the Corner-to-Corner Throw in Super Saver is a great option. You can watch the full video tutorial for this pattern here.

Upgrade Your Crochet Skills with These Six Crochet Techniques

Another thing that crocheters love about corner-to-corner crochet is that you can use the grid of boxes formed by the pattern to create graphic projects. If you'd like to try a C2C graphic project, the Corner-to-Corner Snowflake Blanket in Red Heart Super Saver is a great place to start. You can watch the video tutorial here.

Upgrade Your Crochet Skills with These Six Crochet Techniques

I hope you've enjoyed this roundup of 6 crochet techniques to learn or master! Whether you're looking for beautiful lace, colorwork, or new stitches, you're sure to find a great project with these techniques.