Tunisian Circles
Learn how to make a Tunisian Circle. It's much easier than you realize.
This learning article is brought to you by Dela Wilkins, the Railway Knitter. Dela is my mentor of Tunisian and taught me this technique.
The technique below is about increasing the triangles from the outside in. There is a technique which is the opposite of decreasing to a point instead of what is shown below.
Video Tutorial
Understanding the Circle
Tunisian Circles are made up of pie shapes that go around in a circle. Unlike a typical crochet circle where we go around and around until we get the size we need, we must figure out the radius dimension of the circle first before beginning.
For those who need a geometric refresher. Radius is the distance from the centre of the circle to the outside of the circle.
For example, say you want your circle to be 10" in diameter. Half of the diameter is the radius which equals 5".
Once you know your radius, your starting chain is based on that radius dimension. In this case, would be 5" long chain to begin.
The number of pie shapes going around is typically 6 - 8. You will get an idea once you are working on it how many you need to accomplish in order to have your circle sit flat. Once you are satisfied, you will sew the beginning chain to the final edge to complete your circle.
Barbara St. Denny says
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I've been trying to figure this out for quite a while, since I saw it in an old crochet stitch book. By the way, if you want the tip of the "pie wedge" from curling into the camera, try clipping a clothes pin on the corner once a few rows are done, It will weight it down and keep it out of the camera.
Mikey, The Crochet Crowd says
Brilliant IDEA! Never thought of that!
Annette says
I would like to know how to expand on a Tunisian circle. For example, how to add rings of color to expand it and enlarge it like a bullseye. I can see how to change color within the circle for the different pie wedges but have not found anywhere how to continue to build onto it to make it larger or to change colors to form bands or rings of color.
Lyn DeFehr says
I'm hoping that I the promised video on Tunisian circles in wedges will help. Is it to be made available soon? I seem to add more stitches than required & need the help....in the meantime, I'll try again. Thanks, Lyn
Mikey, The Crochet Crowd says
It's on the way... Late June/Early July. It's as fast as I can get it out. Thanks for your patience.