The Yarn That Binds - Connecting TSS To Knit Edges

The first afghan/blanket that I ever made was some forty years ago.  Mama crocheted the granny squares.  I crochet squares using the "afghan stitch" which is now known as Tunisian Simple Stitch (TSS).  Mama sewed the whole thing together and off I went to my first dorm experience at Louisiana College.

TSS is quite popular (finally or once again.  I can't figure it out) and has many variants and extensions such that Tunisian Crochet is a genre unto itself.  I still consider it that old stitch from way back when.

TSS has made it into the 2014 blanket.  Oh, don't get started lecturing me about it still being 2013.  I am an artist.  I am whimsical.  If I want to work on the 2014 blanket in November of 2013, I can.  Just smile and nod and go with the flow.

Meet Ida.  She is the 2014 blanket of my own design and is sketched out in this post.  Because I am not Mama (Ida Mae), I avoid seams whenever possible.  Each section will be attached to the previous as it is worked. 

The first section is knit in seed stitch and all edges are slipped so as to create a chain that is easy to pick up.  Section 2 of Ida is TSS that is connected to Section 1 on the bind off edge and a slipped stitch edge.  It is very easy to accomplish. 

 Let's assume that you already know how to work TSS or you watched a video.  To connect TSS to a knit edge is quite easy.

1.  Work the TSS forward pass until ready to pick up the last loop.
2.  Pick up for the TSS stitch AND the back loop from the knit bind off or slipped edge.

3.  Yarn over and draw through both the knit edge loop and for the TSS  loop to create the last stitch of the TSS forward pass.






4.  Connection is made!
5.  Work the TSS reverse pass in the normal way. 

It is so easy.  Working through the back look on the knit edge creates a decorative twist where the different styles of yarn work meet. 

Can I get a Voila?

No Special Tool Needed

Either a very simple bag or the first of a pair of fingerless mitts is on the hook.  I've not yet decided what I'm making.  I'll just be happy if this yarn makes a decision.  It has been ripped out so often that I'm sick of the color and still have nothing to show for all the work.

Currently, the incarnation is Tunisian Crochet across 35 stitches.  I don't own a Tunisian hook, so this is about the limit of how many stitches, in a DK weight, that fit across my regular hook.

You can see where the bigger bumpy part of my old hook stretches the stitches.  This does not seem to matter at all.  Of course I never put the hook down with just this first pass of the TSS completed.  I always make the return quickly so that only one loop is on the hook when I stop working.

If this wants to be for the hand, I'll just work until it stretches around my palm and then seam up the wrist and finger sections leaving an opening for the thumb.  That is surely the simplest of all fingerless mitts.  If it decides to become a small purse, I'll keep on working until it is an appropriate depth when folded and stop.  Then, a simple side gusset/handle/side gusset will fit in place to add width and a strap all in one.

This is a discontinued wool that I found down in the bottom of the secondary stash location.  As I stated earlier, it has been ripped out several times.  This is as close to "something" as I've gotten with the stuff.  I sure hope it speaks to me soon.  I'm tired of winding the ball!