Tunisian Crochet Under The Sea CAL 2020

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THIS CROCHET ALONG (CAL) IS GEARED TOWARDS AN ABSOLUTE BEGINNER. This was a MYSTERY CAL THAT IS NOW COMPLETE.  I completed the graphghan in 4 block increments with 40 x 40 graphs and the Tss (Tunisian Simple Stitch). This mystery CAL is complete and all of the PDF graphs can be downloaded for free. There are also YouTube video tutorials to get you started with this Tunisian Crochet Under The Sea Mystery CAL 2020 Graphghan and to show how I finished my Graphghan.

This Crochet Along has an ongoing surprise Giveaway!!! Please check out my Contests and Giveaways link at the top of my Blog’s HOME page for details. The random surprise free giveaway winners will be announced on 1Oct2020.

If you like my crochet work, please consider becoming a Helenmay Crochet Special Donor Member! To find out details and what member benefits you will receive, here is the direct link: Helenmay Crochet Special Donor Members Information

For those that want to practice with a Tunisian Crochet dish towel and/or soap saver first, you may like this YouTube video tutorial: Tunisian Crochet Simple Beginner Dish Towel and/or soap saver

For those of us with a lot of yarn in our stash, this is the perfect crochet project for having fun with a lot of our different colors. If I have a lot of different yarn colors left over, I may have to attempt this Crochet Chevron Scrap Blanket by Maria’s Blue Crayon!!! Here is the direct Ravelry link to check it out! Crochet Chevron Scrap Blanket by Maria’s Blue Crayon

Under The Sea Mystery CAL START DATE 5JAN20. Join in at any time. 

This CAL was completed APR 2020. I finished the bonus graphs as well. You can use the bonus graphs to substitute graphs that I used for the main Graphghan, and/or to make pillows to match your finished Tunisian Crochet Under The Sea Graphghan!

  The first block will be in more detail, and then each subsequent block will be for getting people started, teaching points, and answering any questions asked during the CAL.

People who have been following my crochet work know how much I love Tunisian Crochet for my Graphghans! I want to share that love with others. So far, I have completed 3 Tunisian Crochet graphghans: Minecraft, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Wizard of Oz! I had tons of fun making each one, and each one is treasured by the recipient! I can’t put a price on them because they are priceless.  Each Tunisian Crochet graphghan that I have ever made was for family. This “Under The Sea” Tunisian Afghan was also requested by a family member.

Whether you use my graphs for your graphghan or make your own, you may like this National Geographic Kids link for fun education material:

National Geographic Kids

In the past, I provided the YouTube video tutorials for Minecraft, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Wizard of Oz for free and the PDF “rough” graphs that I used to make them. I decided to take the YouTube video tutorials down because they are copyrighted/trademarked images, and now, I only provide the “rough” graphs that I used in my Private (but free and NON-monetized) Facebook crochet group.  Just look in the group files for the free graphs. Here are the direct links to each of my Facebook Groups:

• Helenmay Crochet Public Facebook Group 

In this private group, I share crochet & craft ideas with others. Anyone can join this private group for free and visit, post, and receive updates from me.  This is the group with the free downloadable files:

• Helenmay Crochet Private Facebook Group

 

In my private Facebook group, you can go into the photo albums and see detailed pictures of my prior Tunisian Crochet Afghans and how the “rough” graphs come to life!!

In this video tutorial, I explain how I got started with using the Tss (Tunisian Simple Stitch) for my afghans. I also show how I make my graphs!!!

If you decide that you want to make your own graphs too, you may like the same doodling kit that I use! Click here, or the picture below to go directly to the affiliate link:

This video tutorial is just a quick video showing how I hold my Tunisian Crochet hook:

My “Tunisian Crochet Under The Sea Afghan” will be the first FULL step-by-step YouTube video tutorial through my WHOLE process of making an Afghan similar to mine! Before we begin, I like to let people know a couple of things about my unique Tunisian Afghans:

1. There are a lot of loose yarn ends due to the color changing, and I like to tie knots. I have NEVER had any knots showing EVER. I also don’t bury the loose yarn ends because I like to put an inexpensive fleece backing to cover the back of the afghan! I know that most of you are singing “Hallelujah” at this point!
2. I am more comfortable working in blocks, and I found that I enjoy working in blocks of 4 best. There will be 3 blocks of 4 at the bottom, middle, and top of the blanket. The whole blanket will consist of a total of 36 blocks! This is how I made my Wizard of Oz Tunisian Afghan, and I found that it fit together much easier! The finished size should be similar, which is 72.5″ x 58″. This includes the clamshell border. I found that the clamshell border is my favorite for the finished Tunisian Afghan, also it would fit perfectly with the theme of this CAL!!
3. I always use the Tunisian Hook approximate size 5.75mm for all of my Afghans. The number rubbed off of my Tunisian Hook, so I had to hold it up to my crochet hooks to get the approximate size!
4. I have always used my yarn stash for the different colors in my Tunisian Afghan. Most of my yarn stash is inexpensive 100% acrylic medium 4 yarn, but sometimes I would use colors from my 100% cotton stash or even other styles of yarn without difficulties in the finished Tunisian crochet work. If anything, it is fun adding a different texture in your unique afghan! I would stay close to the size of a medium 4 yarn though! I wouldn’t recommend using a bulky yarn with a medium 4 yarn! I don’t think that would work. PLEASE REMEMBER THAT USING DIFFERENT STYLES OF YARN CAN ALTER THE SIZE OF YOUR WORK, SO BE CAREFUL IF YOU CHOOSE TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.  You want your finished blocks to fit together.  For beginners, I would recommend using 100% acrylic medium 4 yarn for your first time making these blocks.  When you get more comfortable, you can start to experiment with adding different styles of yarn.
5. If you have questions, you can always contact me via my blog (Look at the top of my HOME page), Facebook, or YouTube comments.

Helenmay Crochet “Under The Sea Mystery CAL Part 1 video tutorial”

Getting Started:

Here is the first free downloadable graph:

Left Bottom Sea Floor Crab Block #1

Helenmay Crochet Under The Sea Mystery CAL Part 2 Crab Block Cont:

 

Tunisian Crochet Under The Sea Mystery CAL Crab Part 3 DIY Video Tutorial:

Tunisian Crochet Under The Sea Mystery CAL Crab Part 4 DIY Video Tutorial:

I wanted to recommend some helpful tips that worked for me:

I purchased a few of these yarn tote bags from Mary Maxim a while back (I am not an affiliate for Mary Maxim).  I found that they worked great for when I Tunisian Crochet. When I am not using them, they are also great as a yarn storage bag, or a future project storage bag. As of 14Jan20, these bags were on clearance for $9.99 on Mary Maxim’s site!!

I also stocked up on these Jumbo Clothespins (Affiliate link)

For those of you that are not near a dollar tree, which is where I found my Jumbo Clothespins, you may like this Amazon Prime Deal! Click here, or the picture below, to go directly to the affiliate link.

I stocked up with a LOT of Jumbo Clothespins because I really like how much easier it is to work with the yarn, instead of the larger skein of yarn!

At night time, I like to sit and watch television while I crochet. I found that if I folded a length of cardboard, I could attach my clothespins to it. I can unravel the yarn off of the back of the clothespin as I crochet!! I use the storage bag to hold my extra clothespins. I found that if I clipped it to the storage bag, I could find the colors easier. In my house, the Television room is dark, except for my night light. Now, I don’t have trouble finding the excess color.

Block 1 for the Crab completed 15Jan20:

Finished crab block measures approximately: Width 9″ x height 12″.

I am thrilled with how my adorable crab turned out!! I just love all of the different colors!! There is no need to block your crochet work unless you want to. Blocking your crochet work means to give it an even, professional appearance. Your Tunisian Crab Block will curl and that is normal.  As we join the blocks, and complete the border, the images will lay flat.

I wanted to show the back of the block. “The Horror!” LOL! Don’t worry, we don’t have to bury the loose yarn ends:

Even with the use of clothespins, I still have a lot of loose yarn ends due to the multiple color changes. However, we don’t have to worry about this…”Hallelujah”…LOL…These loose yarn ends will be covered by the fleece blanket, when we have completed the whole Tunisian Crochet Under The Sea Blanket. I will show you how I attach my fleece when we get to that point.

Tunisian Crochet Under The Sea CAL 2020 Left Bottom Sea Horse Block#2

Here is the free downloadable PDF graph for the Sea Horse:

Under The Sea CAL left bottom Sea Horse Block #2

Tunisian Crochet left lower 4 block, Seahorse block #2:

 

Tunisian Crocheting the Crab block #1 and Seahorse block #2 together.

Tunisian Crochet Left Lower 4 block Clownfish block #3:

Under The Sea CAL Left Lower Bottom Block #3 Clownfish

Most of you know that I love sharing my Crochet skills with others. I also am constantly learning myself. So, I wanted to share this story with all of you that are starting to love this wonderful Tunisian Simple Afghan Stitch (also known as, aka, Tunisian Simple Stitch, Tss) as much as I do! I shared pictures of my finished crab and seahorse blocks in one of the Tunisian Crochet Facebook Groups, which are wonderful by the way. The groups are especially good for those that want to veer off into the Tunisian Crochet World. I basically only like the Tss for my graphic design afghans. Anyway, back to my story. One of the members mentioned that I had “broken lines” in my finished Tunisian Blocks. I had no clue what she was talking about because I have 40 vertical stitches for each row that lines up with the previous rows vertical stitches. She said that some of my vertical lines curve. So yes, I wanted all of you to know that with multiple color changes, you may have some curving of the vertical lines. I actually think that this blends well with the image. It doesn’t bother me in the slightest. Just so that people are aware, I am sharing how I like to make my Tunisian Crochet Afghans. You don’t have to make your Tunisian Crochet Afghans just like mine. You are free to use the graphs and make your finished Afghans any way that you like. I just ask that if you use my graphs, please give me credit. Thank you very much!

This Facebook Group “Hooked on Tunisian Crochet” made my Tunisian Crochet Under The Sea Mystery CAL their group photo!!!

If you think that you would like to join a Facebook Tunisian Group, you may like this group: Fun Tunisian Crochet Facebook Group!

Here is the video tutorial for those that need additional help getting started with the Tunisian Crochet Clownfish Block #3 and the Octopus Block #4. I also show how to Tunisian crochet these blocks together too (Just like the Crab block#1 and Seahorse Block#2).

Tunisian Crochet Left Lower 4 block Octopus block #4:

Crochet Under The Sea Left Lower Bottom Octopus Block#4

This next video tutorial will show you how to attach the top blocks Clownfish #3 and Octopus #4 to the bottom blocks Crab Block #1 and Seahorse Block #2:

Some people have asked me in the past why I make my Tunisian Crochet Afghan’s in blocks instead of one solid block. I found it easiest for myself to work in 40 x 40 blocks. There is more than one way to use the Tunisian Simple Stitch (Tss) to make a graphghan. I am showing you the method that I like to use. The other benefit to working in blocks is that you can use the blocks to make pillows, bags, and/or kitchen hot pads too! Check out my Tunisian Crochet Cardinal pillow and/or kitchen hot pad to see how I did this.

I already have the next Tunisian Crochet Lower Middle Afghan 4 blocks drawn and graphed!

Here is Block #5 the Treasure Chest block. Can you guess what is reaching into Block#5 from Block#6?  It is a true Mystery!

Treasure Chest Block#5 Under The SeaCAL

Surprise BONUS!!! If you share a picture of one of your finished Tunisian Crochet Under The Sea Blocks, you are eligible to receive my FREE Koala graph 40 x 40 block! At the top of my blog’s HOME page, you will see a contact link. Just contact me and you can share the crochet picture and let me know that you would like to receive the free Koala graph!

You are also eligible to receive my Tunisian Crochet Koala Laptop Bag PDF written pattern!

I used Lion Brand Pound of Love for my main ocean blue color. I am running out of my 2nd skein of the main ocean blue color towards the top of the Graphghan. You can see how I started blending a lighter ocean blue color towards the top of the Graphghan (See Part 7 blog post). I have decided to add more of the lighter ocean blue for the rest of the top blocks so I don’t need to purchase another skein of my main ocean blue color. If you used the same color ocean blue as I did, you can decide if you want to purchase another skein of the main ocean blue color, or add another lighter ocean blue color like I am doing.

Please go to this link to continue on with the Crochet Along:

Tunisian Crochet Under The Sea Mystery CAL 2020 Part 2..