How to Tunisian crochet a continuous spiral

I had not tried making a continuous spiral using Tunisian crochet for the longest time. It turns out that it is super easy and so much fun to make! I started with a small swatch that turned into a rug, and I am already planning on making a few more things with it! 🙂

Use a regular hook to make the Tunisian crochet spiral

It is possible to make some Tunisian crochet projects with a regular crochet hook. You would work in rows with a small number of stitches, all of which can be accommodated on a regular hook. For instance, The Join Me Tunisian mittens are made with strips of 5 stitches – there will be 5 loops on your hook at once – that are joined together to make the mittens.

The Tunisian crochet spiral pattern is similar in that it is made with a maximum of 6 loops on the hook at once. You can use a regular crochet hook to make this pattern, you don’t have to buy a Tunisian crochet hook (or Afghan hook) to make this. This makes it a great pattern to try if you are just starting to explore Tunisian crochet.

How do you make a circular Tunisian crochet pattern

The continuous spiral is a great way to make a circular pattern using Tunisian crochet. Before we discuss this technique in detail, here are a few different ways that you can use to make a circular pattern using Tunisian crochet –

1. Continuous Spiral – A continuous spiral starts at the center and we crochet continuous rounds of Tunisian crochet rows and stop when we achieve the desired diameter. This way, we can crochet a seamless round to create a swirl pattern. Scroll down for written instructions and a video tutorial.
2. Work in the round with a double ended hook – In this technique the forward and reverse passes are worked with different strands of yarn. Usually 2 different colors are used to show off the stitches and the pattern. There are 2 different kinds of projects that can be made with this method:
   1. Work from the center growing outwards. It is possible to make different shapes – circular, square, or hexagonal.
   2. Work in the round to make scarves and cowls.
3. Work rows in the round and join – this is not a continuous spiral and rows will be worked in a round that will be joined to complete the circle. For that reason, there will be a seam where the join will be made. The sun square designed by YarnAndy is a made using this technique.

The hook

I used one of my Denise Interchangeable hooks to make my rug. It is possible to make it with a Clover Amour Hook as well (you will need a larger hook if you are working with worsted weight or heavier yarn).

In Tunisian crochet, we usually use a hook that is at least 2 sizes larger than the hook recommended for the yarn. The recommended hook size for this yarn is 6 mm and I used a 8 mm Tunisian crochet hook to work on this project.

There are a bunch of other Tunisian crochet hooks that I use. You can read a review of all the hooks I use here.

PURCHASE THE DENISE INTERCHANGEABLE TUNISIAN CROCHET HOOK SET

PURCHASE THE CLOVER AMOUR CROCHET HOOK SET

Video Tutorials

I have right and left handed video tutorials for the spiral Tunisian crochet technique on my Youtube channel. You can find all my Tunisian crochet video tutorials here.

In this tutorial, I will show you how to make this spiral pattern and I make use of color changes to explain row increases so they are easy to understand.

All the tutorials that I have seen so far for this technique start with 8 single crochet stitches in the magic ring. That didn’t work out for me and my project wouldn’t lay flat. I had to start mine with 9 single crochet stitches. I recommend making at least 2 rounds of your spiral with 9 single crochet stitches. If it ruffles, then go down to 8 single crochet stitches.

Right handed

Left handed

Pattern

Scroll down for the free 2′ diameter rug pattern. An inexpensive, printable ad-free PDF version with 6 sizes (diameter – 2′, 4′, 6′, 8′, 10′, 12′) is available for purchase in my Ravelry, Etsy and LoveCrochet shops. Click on a link below to grab the PDF version of this design.

I would love to see your projects on Instagram! Tag your posts with:
@knitterknotter #knitterknotter #madewithknitterknotter

Get the PDF from Ravelry

Get the PDF from Etsy

Get the PDF from LoveCrochet

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What you will need (with clickable affiliate links)

1. Yarn: Worsted weight yarn – gradient or variegated yarn works best with this pattern. I used Caron Cakes yarn by Yarnspirations in color Funfetti. See the Sizing section for yardage.
2. Hook: 8 mm (L – 11) Tunisian crochet hook, 6.5 mm (K – 10.5) crochet hook
3. Scissors
4. Measuring Tape
5. Tapestry needle to weave in tails
6. Stitch markers (optional)
7. Yarn bowl (optional)

Experience Level

Advanced Beginner – The pattern expects basic knowledge Tunisian crochet and how to make Tunisian Simple Stitches.

Gauge

3 rows of 4 Tunisian Simple Stitches is a 1” (2.5 cms) square (with a 8 mm Tunisian crochet hook).

Sizing

Yarn requirements are just estimates. If your yarn, hook size, crochet style, or gauge differ, you might need more / less yarn than mentioned below.

Diameter (in feet)	Yardage	# of cakes
2’	380 yards / 350 m	1
4’	1600 yards / 1500 m	5
6’	3700 yards / 3400 m	10
8’	6500 yards / 6000 m	17
10’	10300 yards / 9400 m	27
12’	15000 yards / 13700 m	39

Resources

1. How to make a Tunisian Simple Stitch
2. Tunisian Crochet Hooks
3. How to block a crochet project
4. How to change color at the beginning of a Forward Pass 

Construction

The spiral starts at the center with a foundation round which will be a few single crochet stitches in a magic ring.

Every round made after the foundation row consists of a collection of rows:

• Round 1 starts with short rows that eventually build up to rows of 6 stitches each (indicated as sp-rows in the pattern). 
• Rounds 2 and 3 (and any more rounds that are made before the final round) will consist of sp-rows. The number of sp-rows in each round will increase after every round. 
• Round 4 (or the final round) is where the width of the rows is gradually decreased to close the spiral. 

A border is added in the end to give the project a finishing touch.

Pattern Notes

1. This pattern is written in US terms.
2. This rug is made in a continuous spiral.
3. The pattern starts with 9 single crochet stitches in a magic ring. If, after 2 rounds, your rug ruffles, then try making it with 8 single crochet stitches instead.
4. We will add 27 rows in the spiral in every round. If you decide to make your spiral with 8 single crochet stitches, the number of rows added in every round will be 24.
5. In the tables below, the first column indicates the number of loops that are on the hook at the end of the forward pass, the second column indicates the row number, and the last column contains the instructions.
6. The number of rows in each round are mentioned in brackets at the end of each round.
7. Tip: Don’t stop counting! It is very easy to forget where you are and what the counts for your current round are in this pattern. I recommend making notes and writing down where you are before you put your project down. That will make it very easy to continue working on it when you pick it up the next time. 
8. Tip: I strongly recommend using a stitch marker to mark the first stitch of every round.
9. Tip: I strongly recommend viewing the video tutorial (scroll up) for the spiral technique before starting your final project.

Abbreviations

1. ch – chain
2. fs – First Stitch – Skip the first vertical bar of the previous row (the one right under the one on the hook). The loop on the hook will count as the first stitch for every row. 
3. sc – Single Crochet – Insert hook into the indicated stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop on the hook, yarn over, pull through two loops.
4. st(s) – stitch(es)
5. tss –  Tunisian Simple Stitch – Insert hook in the vertical bar, yarn over, pull up a loop on the hook.
6. yo – yarn over
7. FP – Forward Pass
8. RP – Return Pass

Special Abbreviations

1. join – Insert hook in the indicated stitch from the previous round, yarn over, pull up a loop on the hook.
2. RP – (yo, pull through two loops)* all the way till the end of the row.
3. RPdec – yo, pull through three loops, (yo, pull through two loops)* all the way till the end of the row.
4. sp-row(s) – FP: fs, tss in the next 4 sts, join, RP

Instructions

Foundation Round: Make 9 sc stitches in a magic ring, do not join.

Round 1: [27 rows]

# loops on hook	Row #	Instructions
3	1	FP: fs, tss in the vertical bar of the last sc, tss in first sc, RP
3	2, 3	FP: fs, tss, join into the same sc as the previous row, RP
4	4	FP: fs, tss, tss in the horizontal bar from the join in the previous row, join into the next sc, RP
4	5, 6	FP: fs, tss in the next 2 sts, join into the same sc as the previous row, RP
5	7	FP: fs, tss in the next 2 sts, tss in the horizontal bar from the join in the previous row, join into the next sc, RP
5	8, 9	FP: fs, tss in the next 3 sts, join into the same sc as the previous row, RP
6	10	FP: fs, tss in the next 3 sts, tss in the horizontal bar from the join in the previous row, join into the next sc, RP
6	11, 12	FP: fs, tss in the next 4 sts, join into the same sc as the previous row, RP
6	13 – 27	FP: *Make 3 sp-rows in the next edge stitch; repeat from * to the end of the round, RP

Round 2: *Make 2 sp-rows in the next edge stitch; repeat from * to the end of the round. [54 rows]

Round 3: *Make 2 sp-rows in the next edge stitch, 1 sp-row in the next edge stitch; repeat from * to the end of the round. [81 rows]

Round 4: *Make 2 sp-rows in the next edge stitch, 1 sp-row in the next two edge stitches; repeat from * to the end of the round. [108 rows]

Round 5: *Make 2 sp-rows in the next edge stitch, 1 sp-row in the next three edge stitches; repeat from * to the end of the round. [135 rows]

Round 6: *Make 2 sp-rows in the next edge stitch, 1 sp-row in the next four edge stitches; repeat from * to the end of the round. [162 rows]

Round 7: *Make 2 sp-rows in the next edge stitch, 1 sp-row in the next five edge stitches; repeat from * to the end of the round. [189 rows]

Round 8: *Make 2 sp-rows in the next edge stitch, 1 sp-row in the next six edge stitches; repeat from * to the end of the round. [216 rows]

Round 9: *Make 2 sp-rows in the next edge stitch, 1 sp-row in the next seven edge stitches; repeat from * to the end of the round. [243 rows]

Round 10: This round is made to complete a 2’ rug. [31 rows]

# loops on hook	Row #	Instructions
6	1	FP: fs, tss in the next 4 sts, join into the next edge stitch, RPdec
5	2	FP: fs, tss in the next 2 sts, insert hook into the two vertical bars from the decrease in the previous row, join into the same edge stitch as the previous row, RP
5	3 – 10	FP: fs, tss in the next 3 sts, join into the next edge stitch, RP
5	11	FP: fs, tss in the next 3 sts, join into the next edge stitch, RPdec
4	12	FP: fs, tss in the next st, insert hook into the two vertical bars from the decrease in the previous row, join into the same edge stitch as the previous row, RP
4	13 – 20	FP: fs, tss in the next 2 sts, join into the next edge stitch, RP
4	21	FP: fs, tss in the next 2 sts, join into the next edge stitch, RPdec
3	22	FP: fs, insert hook into the two vertical bars from the decrease in the previous row, join into the same edge stitch as the previous row, RP
3	23 – 30	FP: fs, tss in the next st, join into the next edge stitch, RP
3	31	FP: fs, tss in the next st, join into the next edge stitch, RPdec Jump to the BORDER section.

Border

With a traditional crochet hook, make a single crochet stitch in each edge stitch from the previous round to make a clean edge.

Blocking

Use your preferred blocking technique to block your rug.

Pattern

Scroll up for the free 2′ diameter rug pattern. An inexpensive, printable ad-free PDF version with 6 sizes (diameter – 2′, 4′, 6′, 8′, 10′, 12′) is available for purchase in my Ravelry, Etsy and LoveCrochet shops. Click on a link below to grab the PDF version of this design.

I would love to see your projects on Instagram! Tag your posts with:
@knitterknotter #knitterknotter #madewithknitterknotter

Get the PDF from Ravelry

Get the PDF from Etsy

Get the PDF from LoveCrochet

Pin it!

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Copyright and Terms of Use

This pattern is for personal use only. You are welcome to make and sell handmade items using this pattern but you are required to credit the design to Arunima Goel @ KnitterKnotter by linking back to https://knitterknotter.com. Do not publish or sell this pattern, in part or in full and do not make any video tutorials of this pattern without my permission. When featuring KnitterKnotter in pattern roundups, blog articles or Facebook posts, you may use one of my photos and provide a link back to the original source.

Disclosure

This page may contain affiliate links where I earn a small commission. While using these links doesn’t cost you more, it helps me continue to offer patterns for free. Thank you for your continued support!

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