Floral Illusions Tunisian Baby Afghan

This beautiful striped Tunisian Baby Afghan gives the illusion of flowers without making flowers. The yarn magically makes these gorgeous stripes and the blanket is sure to please every new mom.

“Floral Illusions Baby Afghan” free Tunisian crochet pattern by Kim Guzman © Apr. 2023. All rights reserved.
Technique: Tunisian crochet.
Skill Level: Intermediate.

This pattern is a great way to learn some more unusual stitches in Tunisian crochet. You’ll be using Tunisian Simple Stitch and Full Stitch, but there is also a twisted stitch and a slipped stitch.

Ordinarily, a blanket without shaping would be an easy skill level. With this blanket, though, there are so many different Tunisian crochet stitches. One of them is difficult to maneuver for a beginner too. I think it warrants Intermediate unless you are experienced and confident in Tunisian crochet.

Crochet Pattern At A Glance

This is a free crochet pattern and the written instructions are below. If you prefer a printable download, a PDF is also available for purchase.

My Crochet Pattern Notes

This baby blanket is worked in one piece with a simple 2-round border. The stripes are formed by the yarn itself.

The blanket is made with the yarn as it comes out of the skein. There is no special consideration for color placement, except for the border.

For aesthetics, I cut out all the white floral colors and used only the primary color for the border. It meant there were more ends to weave in, but it was worth it for me.

Tunisian Crochet Stitch Pattern

This stitch pattern is a 3-row repeat throughout. The stitch multiple is a starting chain on any even number.

I made up this stitch pattern myself so it’s a Kim Guzman exclusive. I think making up Tunisian crochet stitch patterns is one of my favorite things to do when designing.

You may already know about my book from Leisure Arts, Tunisian Crochet Stitch Guide (aff link). Almost all of these stitch patterns came right out of my head. I loved writing this one.

The book is readily available. As with the Japanese stitch dictionaries, the stitch patterns are only charted.

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Finished Size

30″ x 30″

Yarn

Premier Yarns “Bloom”, self-striping floral print, DK Size 3 weight, 7 oz/200g, 656 yds/600m, 100% acrylic per skein: 2 skeins of colorway Hummingbird, approx. 1200 yards used. There are about 200-250 yards remaining. This helps if you need to cut out portions to customize the coloring to your preference.

Popular Free Crochet Patterns

Other Materials

Suggested Tunisian Crochet Hook Size K-10 1/2 (6.5mm), or size needed to meet gauge, extending cord optional.
Suggested Crochet Hook Size G-7 (4.5mm), for border only.
Yarn Needle for weaving ends.

This blanket is fairly small and should easily fit on a standard 13″ or 14″ length Tunisian crochet hook. It may be more comfortable with a smaller hook and an extension cord. I’ve used a Knitpro Spectra Interchangeable Hook.

Gauge

In stitch pattern, 15 stitches for 16 rows measures 4″ x 4″.

Knitpro Tunisian Crochet Hooks

The Tunisian crochet hook I’ve used is a Knitpro Spectra. The entire set is in this gorgeous purple. I don’t believe they make the Spectra line anymore. But, they still make the Trendz line in a variety of colors instead of purple only. They’re available in regular crochet hooks, single point Tunisian, double point Tunisian and even interchangeable.

Special Stitches

Foundation: For best results, turn the chain over and work into the back horizontal bar to pull up loops. Chain the number indicated, insert hook in second chain, yarn over, pull loop through (2 loops now on hook), *insert hook in next chain, yarn over, pull loop through, keep loop on hook, repeat from * across, ending with the same number of loops on the hook as the starting chain. Right-Handed Video | Left-Handed Video.

Tunisian Simple Stitch (tss): Insert hook in a side to side motion (right to left for right-handers or left to right for left-handers) under front vertical bar, yarn over, pull loop through. Right-Handed Video | Left-Handed Video.

Slip 1 Over: Insert hook in a side to side motion, as though you’re making a simple stitch, except do not yarn over and pull through. For this stitch, you will pull the vertical bar through the previous stitch. The vertical bar of the slipped stitch is now surrounding the previous stitch. It will look purled. It helps to grasp the bottom of the previous vertical bar with your non-hook hand. The best knitting equivalent to this stitch is the psso (pass slipped stitch over). I don’t currently have a video link for it. It’s possible it’s something never seen before. You never know with me. It’s very easy, though. Just grab the vertical bar and pull it through the previous vertical bar. Let me know if you’ve seen it somewhere.

Tunisian Twisted Simple Stitch (ttwss): Using the hook tip, pull the front vertical bar in the direction of the beginning of the row then loop it around like you are doing a yarn over, yarn over and pull loop through. The vertical bar will be lifted and will form a small “x” at the top. Right-Handed Video | Left-Handed Video.

Tunisian Full Stitch (tfs): Insert hook from front to back under the closing chain, yarn over, pull loop through. This stitch isn’t worked in any vertical bar. It’s worked between the vertical bars. Right-Handed Video | Left-Handed Video.

Last Stitch of a Row: The last stitch of each row is worked into the outer 2 vertical bars. It’s basically a knit stitch with an extra loop. You don’t want to work under only one vertical bar since it will cause the loop to stretch too much. Working under both loops makes a nice, clean, sturdy edge. Right-Handed Video | Left-Handed Video.

Other Abbreviations

This crochet pattern is written in US crochet terminology.

ch=chain; lp(s)=loop(s), rep=repeat; sc=single crochet; sk=skip; st(s)=stitch(es); yo=yarn over.

Stitch Multiple

If you would like to change the width of the afghan, you’ll need to start with a chain in any even number.

Free Crochet Pattern Instructions

Note: Every row is closed with a typical Tunisian crochet closing as follows: Ch 1, [yo, pull through 2 lps on hook] across. 1 lp remains on hook which counts for the first st of the next row.

Row 1: Ch 110, work Foundation (see Special Stitches above), close (see Note above for closing instructions).

Note: Don’t forget to do the last yarn over on the next row. Each time I realized the stitch count was off, it was always because I forgot that last yarn over.

Row 2: Sk first vertical bar, *tss (see Special Stitches above), slip 1 over (see Special Stitches above), yo, rep from * to last st, work last stitch (see Special Stitches above), close. The stitch count is 110 lps on hook here and throughout.

Row 3: Sk first vertical bar, *tss, ttwss (see Special Stitches above), rep from * to last st, work last stitch, close.

Row 4: Sk first vertical bar, tfs (see Special Stitches above) under the horizontal bar immediately following that first vertical bar, *sk next vertical bar, tfs under next horizontal bar, rep from * to last vertical bar. There is one vertical bar and the last stitch remaining. Sk last vertical bar and pull up a lp in the last stitch as usual. You are purposefully leaving out the last horizontal bar space. You will be working across in between each of the vertical bars, except that last one. If you’re confused at all, count the stitches to make sure you have 110 total.

Rows 5-118: Rep rows 2-4.

Rows 119-120: Rep rows 2-3. Do not fasten off.

Single Crochet Bind Off

Sk first vertical bar, *insert hook under next vertical bar as you would for tss AND in top lp of horizontal bar, yo, pull lp through, yo, pull through 2 lps on hook (single crochet made), rep from * across. Do not fasten off.

Border

Begin working in the round.

Round 1: Ch 1, *3 sc at corner, sc in each st/row to next corner, rep from * three times more, sl st to first sc.

Round 2: Working in back loops only (the top loop furthest away from you), sc in each sc, with 3 sc at each 2nd sc of corner, sl st to first sc. Fasten off.

Finishing

Weave in all ends securely.

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TERMS: To my fellow crafters, you have my permission to use my patterns to make and sell your projects* anywhere you like. You cannot use my images to sell your projects, though. You must take photos of your own work. All patterns have been tested but mistakes can happen. If you find a mistake, please let me know. Everything at MakeItCrochet.com is protected by copyright to Kim Guzman. Other than the permissions previously given, no one other than Kim Guzman has permission to: reproduce, copy, publish or distribute this pattern, its parts or photos in any way or form, including, but not limited to, translations into foreign languages & video production.

*Not intended to be blanket permission for mass production.