Looking to seamlessly connect two Tunisian crochet fabrics?
Whether you’re aiming for a flawless shoulder join, mending a mid-section cut, attaching separate sleeves to the body, or transforming a flat scarf into a chic cowl by linking both ends – a seamless join is key. In fact, certain unique constructions demand an invisible seam, ensuring your final product looks smooth and professional.
This technique will undoubtedly assist you in these scenarios, providing a neat finish. While this guide doesn’t delve into crafting an unseen seam in the round, mastering this method will elevate your crochet projects to the next level. Get ready to enhance the continuity of your Tunisian crochet pieces effortlessly.
In this comprehensive tutorial, I provide both photo and video guides to assist you every step of the way. For the video tutorial, simply scroll down to the end of the page.
What is grafting?
Grafting in knitting and crochet means seamlessly joining two fabric pieces. This method offers a smooth join, ensuring the fabrics merge without any visible seams, creating the appearance of a continuous piece.
What is a seamless join?
Before we proceed, let’s clarify the concept of a seamless join. In essence, a seamless join is a connection that conceals any visible indication of a join’s existence. This technique seamlessly melds two sections of fabric together, creating the illusion of a single, uninterrupted piece. The end result is a cohesive and polished appearance, where the join remains imperceptible to the observer.
Which stitch should be used for seams to be invisible?
You should be able to seamlessly join using any stitch your fabric is built with. I have not experimented with any other stitches yet so this tutorial only contains grafting Tunisian Knit stitches. If you have any other stitch that you’ve used for grafting, please share it with me.
To achieve the best results, the seamless join should align with the stitch used in your fabric’s construction. Currently, this tutorial focuses exclusively on grafting Tunisian Knit stitches, as that’s where my experimentation lies. However, if you’ve successfully grafted using other stitches, I’d love to learn about your experience. Please feel free to share your insights with me.
Using a needle with yarn or thread, grafting mimics the fabric’s stitch pattern, ensuring a seamless blend. The standout feature of grafting is its consistent and invisible finish, preserving the design’s integrity.
Anatomy of a Tunisian Crochet Stitch
Before we delve deep, it’s crucial to grasp the structure of a Tunisian crochet stitch. The images below depict two panels of Tunisian Knit Stitches without a bind-off row, essentially making the last row of each a ‘live’ row. For clarity, one fabric is flipped and layered over the other, aligning the first stitch of the bottom piece with the last stitch of the top piece.
Each ‘live’ stitch comprises two defining vertical bars – the front vertical bar, typically used for Tunisian Simple Stitches, and the back vertical bar, usually used for Tunisian Reverse Stitches. In the second image below:
- The stitches marked in red represent the front vertical bar of the first stitch in the lower fabric and the front vertical bar of the last stitch in the upper fabric.
- The stitches marked in blue signify the front vertical bar of the remaining stitches.
- The stitches marked in green indicate the back vertical bar of the remaining stitches.
Grafting Tunisian Crochet Knit Stitches – Photo Tutorial
In this tutorial, I’ll cover all the essentials of grafting Tunisian Crochet Knit Stitches.
Step 1: Thread your needle with the desired yarn for the grafting process.
Step 2: Begin with the lower fabric.
Insert the needle under the front vertical bar of the first stitch. Pull the yarn through, ensuring you have enough length for the entire grafting process, and leave a tail of about 3 to 4 inches for weaving in later.
Step 3: Work in the upper fabric.
Insert the needle under the front vertical bar of the last stitch and also the front vertical bar of the next stitch. Then, pull the yarn through.
Throughout this tutorial, ensure you don’t pull the yarn too tightly. Aim to maintain the yarn’s height consistent with the height of the knit stitches you’re grafting.
Step 4: Work in the lower fabric
Insert the needle under the front vertical bar of the first stitch (the same one from Step 2) and also through the back vertical bar of the next stitch. Then, pull the yarn through.
With this, the initial setup is complete.
Step 5: Work in the upper fabric
Pick the back vertical bar of the stitch we previously worked on AND the front vertical bar of the next stitch, then pull the yarn through.
Step 6: Work in the lower fabric
Pick up the front vertical bar of the stitch we previously worked on AND the back vertical bar of the next stitch, then pull the yarn through.
Step 7 onwards: Repeat steps 5 and 6 until you’ve covered the entire width of the fabric.
Step 8: Work in the upper fabric
Pick up the back vertical bar of the stitch we previously worked on AND the front vertical bar of the first stitch, then pull the yarn through.
Step 9: Work in the lower fabric
Pick up the front vertical bar of the stitch we previously worked on AND the front vertical bar of the last stitch, then pull the yarn through.
With that, the grafting process is finished. Observe the fabric below; the join is indistinguishable. Using the same color as both panels will make the seam nearly invisible. Curious about how this appears? Check out my video tutorial below to see it in action.
Grafting Tunisian Crochet Knit Stitches – Video Tutorial
Right Handed
Left Handed
To conclude, mastering the grafting of Tunisian crochet knit stitches offers a smooth, polished finish to your work. This method, with a touch of dedication, can transform your crochet projects. Excited to try? If you use or adapt this technique, I’d love to see your creations. Share them with me and happy crocheting!
I’m currently crafting a pattern that incorporates this technique. If you’re eager to see it, make sure to subscribe to my email list. You’ll be the first to know once it’s out!
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[…] of the highlights of this design is the seamless join achieved by grafting Tunisian knit stitches. This cardigan also marks a personal milestone as my very first cardigan design. If you’re […]
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