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Tunisian Crochet Entrelac Initial Square: How to Begin Each Row

ByGemma Williams
3 Comments

Tunisian crochet entrelac can look complex at first glance, but once you understand how the structure works, it becomes a beautifully rhythmic and surprisingly approachable technique.

In this tutorial, I’ll walk you through how to begin each row with an initial square, step by step. Once we have completed a first square, the next step is an initial square which we will use to start every row. The initial square is similar to the first square, but there are some differences, so I wanted it to have its own tutorial.

Entrelac is built in stages, with each row made up of different types of squares that work together to create that woven, basket-like effect. The initial square is a little different from the others — it starts each row. Once you’ve mastered the first square and this initial square, you’ll be perfectly placed to move on to the joining square, and final square, which you will need for the rest of your Tunisian Entrelac project.

A lady wears a colourful, triangle crochet shawl and holds it up to show the camera, so we can see the different coloured entrelac crochet blocks

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This initial square tutorial is the second square you’ll need to learn for my Tunisian Entrelac Temperature Shawl, a slow, year-long project where you create one small square for each day of the year based on the temperature. Each square becomes part of a growing, textured fabric that tells the story of your year in colour and stitch. Whether you’re following along with the temperature shawl or simply learning Tunisian crochet entrelac for the first time, this tutorial will guide you through the process calmly and clearly, one stitch at a time.

Head over to the Tunisian Entrelac Temperature Shawl crochet pattern and find out more about this stunning year-long project.

One small square per day, beautiful texture, and a project that actually feels fun to come back to.

A lady stands in a garden with her head on one side wearing a grey long sleeved dress and a checked, multi-coloured crochet shawl in a triangle shape around her neck

What is Tunisian Crochet?

Tunisian Crochet, also sometimes called Afghan crochet, is a technique that combines elements of both crochet and knitting. Like crochet, you use a hook, but this is usually elongated with a stopper on the end. For this project, you will just need to use a hook with a straight shaft. Like knitting, you work multiple loops onto the hook at once. The resulting fabric is thicker and denser than regular crochet, with a less stretchy texture. There are a large variety of Tunisian stitches available, some resembling knit stitches and others offering unique textures.

Click here to watch an introductory tutorial on Tunisian Crochet and the Tunisian simple stitch.

With Tunisian Crochet, the right side of the work always faces you. Each row of Tunisian Crochet consists of a forward pass and a return pass. The forward pass varies for different stitches, whilst the return pass is largely the same for all Tunisian stitches. If you are right handed, you will work from right to left for the forward pass. If you are left handed, you will work from left to right for the forward pass.

Tunisian Crochet Stitches

Set up Row

  1. Make a normal crochet chain of the number of stitches you require.
  2. Insert your hook into the back bump of the 2nd chain from the hook.
  3. Yarn over and pull through a loop (2 loops on your hook).
  4. Keep repeating steps 2 and 3 adding more loops onto your hook, until you reach the end of the chain. You should then have the same number of loops on your hook as the number of chains you made initially.

This and the return pass are shown in the tss video tutorial

Return Pass

If you are right-handed you will have done your set up row working from right to left, and now you are going to work back along the row from left to right. If you’re left handed, this will be the other way round.

  1. Chain one.
  2. Yarn over.
  3. Pull through two loops.
  4. Repeat steps 2-3 until you have one loop left on your hook.
A brightly coloured shawl made out of lots of small crochet squares hangs on a wooden chair in a garden

Tunisian Simple Stitch Forward Pass

This is probably the most basic of the Tunisian Crochet stitches and the one used in this entrelac shawl. Once you have completed the set up row and return pass, you have one loop on your hoop. This is the first stitch of the row.

  1. Insert hook under the front vertical bar of the second stitch.
  2. Yarn over.
  3. Pull through a loop.
  4. Repeat steps 1-3 instead working into the next vertical bar of each stitch across to the last stitch.
  5. The last stitch is slightly different. After picking up a loop in every vertical bar, you will still need to work the last stitch to get the right number of loops on your hook. Remember you need the same number as the number of starting chains.
  6. To make the last stitch, turn your work to look at the end and insert your hook into the 2 loops of the chain 1 that we made at the start of the return pass. Yarn over and pull through a loop.
  7. Following the forward pass, you will then carry on to do a return pass to complete the row.

How to Start a Tunisian Crochet Entrelac Row

Tunisian Crochet Entrelac is worked using four different types of squares, each with its own role in the structure of the fabric. You begin with a First Square, which starts the project. The second row joins to the first square and starts with an Initial Square, followed by a Final Square.

Each subsequent row then begins with an Initial Square, followed by one or more Joining Squares that connect into the previous row, and ends with a Final Square to neatly close the row. Once you understand how these four squares work together, you can confidently tackle any entrelac project — including large, long-term makes like a temperature shawl.

This blogpost tackles the Initial Square, which is worked at the start of every row.

Initial Square Step by Step

You will need

You can try this tutorial with any yarn and a corresponding hook. I used:

Stylecraft Special DK, 100% Acrylic, (100g/3.53oz, 295m/323yds)

5.0mm Crochet Hook with a straight shaft or hook 1mm larger than recommended for your yarn

Tapestry needle for working in ends

Scissors

Stitch markers (optional)

Pin this Tunisian Crochet Entrelac First Square Tutorial to Your Crochet Pinterest Board for Later

A pin image titled: entrelac tunisian crochet. The image shows an orange and a blue square joined together with a crochet hook using the entrelac Tunisian Crochet technique

Tunisian Crochet Entrelac YouTube Video Tutorial

If you prefer crocheting from a video tutorial, watch as I crochet the Tunisian entrelac temperature shawl. The initial square is shown from timestamp 18:45.

Watch on YouTube

How to Do an Entrelac Initial Square? – Photo Tutorial

Step 1: Join your yarn in the first stitch of the previous square and chain 6.

2 hands are holding a blue crochet square and have just joined orange yarn and made a chain with a red crochet hook in tunisian crochet entrelac

Step 2: Working in the back bumps, insert your hook into the back bump of the second chain from hook, yarn over and pull through a loop. Repeat across the chain until you have 6 loops on your hook.

2 hands are showing the first row of a Tunisian crochet entrelac initial square using orange yarn and joining it to a blue first square

Step 3: Pick up the final loop by inserting into the same stitch that you joined your yarn in step 1.

A hand holds a blue tunisian crochet entrelac first square and is joining on an initial square in orange yarn

Step 4: Make a return pass, but do not chain 1 at the start. Just yarn over, pull through 2, to the end.

2 hands are partway through a return pass in Tunisian crochet entrelac making an initial square in orange yarn

Step 5: Insert your hook under the vertical bar of the second stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop. Repeat this across going under each vertical bar across to last stitch. This is called the Forward Pass.

Tunisian crochet entrelac initial square forward pass is being done by a red crochet hook and orange yarn. It is being joined to a blue square already made.

Step 6: For the last stitch, insert your hook into the first stitch of the next row of the previous square, yarn over and pull up a loop.

2 hands are crocheting a Tunisian crochet entrelac initial square and working on joining it to the adjacent block

Step 7: Repeat step 4 for the the return pass.

2 rows of the Tunisian crochet entrelac initial square have been completed in orange yarn, joining to a blue square, both held in 2 hands.

Step 8: Repeat steps 5-7 three more times until you have 5 rows.

To bind off your square, insert the hook into the vertical bar of the second stitch as before, yarn over and pull up a loop, then pull through the loop on your hook as well, leaving 1 loop on your hook. Repeat this across the row, making the last stitch in the previous square.

If your next square is the same colour, do not fasten off, go straight to the joining square or final square instructions. Otherwise, fasten off.

A Tunisian crochet entrelac initial square completed and held in 2 hands

This is your initial square completed. You will need to make an initial square every time you start a new row (worked on the diagonal). These will be on the right for right-handers. The next square you’ll need to learn is a final square, so head on over to that tutorial once you are happy with your initial square.

Tips for Crocheting Tunisian Entrelac

  • Keep your stitches nice and loose, particularly on the bind off.
  • Pull up your stitches to their full height in the forward pass to ensure the stitches don’t end up too tight.
  • Mark the last stitch with a stitch marker to help see where to insert your hook on the next row.
  • Use a hook that is 1 size (1mm) larger than the recommended for your yarn.
A sample of tunisian crochet entrelac showing a blue first square and a orange initial square next to a larger sample of entrelac

What Next?

After completing your initial square and your first square, there are 2 more squares to learn, and then you’ll easily be able to make the Tunisian Entrelac Temperature Shawl:

I hope you’ve enjoyed this tutorial, please do stick around and see what else you’d like to try on my website. You can find my other stitch tutorials here. You might like to learn the Waistcoat stitch!

I’m Gemma, a crochet tech editor, designer and overall crochet enthusiast. I’m also a mum of 3 kids, and enjoy running, reading, walking and crafting, but mostly crochet!

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If you enjoyed learning how to make an initial square in Tunisian Crochet Entrelac or maybe made a project using this tutorial, please consider sharing it to social media tagging @concretegemscrochet

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I have lots of crochet stitch tutorials over on my YouTube channel so please do check them out. Here are some you might like:

More Crochet Stitches

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What Projects can I make with Tunisian Crochet?

If you enjoyed learning how to do Tunisian Crochet in the entrelac style, then you might like to learn some other Tunisian Crochet stitches:

A lady holding a patchwork Tunisian Crochet market bag

This roomy and comfy Tunisian Crochet market bag is not only practical but also a delightful exploration of Tunisian crochet techniques. Try your hand at a new technique with this Tunisian Crochet pattern.

Other crochet patterns you might enjoy

Don’t forget to check out my crochet patterns for more crochet inspiration.

At the top are the words: tunisian crochet free, underneath is an image of 2 crochet entrelac squares in blue and orange

Thanks for reading and happy crocheting! 🧶

Hello! I’m Gemma - crochet designer, tech editor, and lover of texture and nature. I create beautifully textured, nature-inspired crochet patterns designed for easy-level makers, and I help crochet designers bring their own patterns to life with clear, professional tech editing. Whether you're here to stitch your next project or perfect your own designs, I'm passionate about making crochet a joyful, accessible experience for everyone.

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