loose Tks edge

An answer to the Tks wobbly edge

tl;dr: You can use a modified final stitch in each return pass to create a neat and tidy Tks leading edge.

Have you noticed that the very first stitch of each row, at the leading edge, of your Tunisian knit stitch (Tks) is always looser than the rest of your stitches? Your starting edge gets a bit floppy and untidy?

There is a reason for this and, more importantly, a solution.

Why is it so?

Think about the way Tunisian crochet is worked — you always skip the edge loop and work your first Tks into the second set of vertical bars from the previous row. 

So — that troublesome first loop is actually a Tunisian simple stitch (Tss).

Tss forms higher, less dense rows than Tks. 

Hence the loosey-goosey, wibbly-wobbly, timey-whimey (oops, sorry, got carried away) edge.

The remedy

Earlier this year, after much fruitless searching, I stumbled across an old Reddit thread that held the answer — a modified stitch at the end of the return pass. I'm now sharing this special stitch with you as it remains hard to find in an online search. 

The swatch on the right is regular Tks with no modified return stitch. The swatch on the left used the modified return stitch at the end of each return pass.

For now, I will name it the “firm edge return stitch” — FeRetS.

Let’s practice — create a small Tks swatch, or use your current project.

For your next Tks row, make your forward pass and start your return pass as usual, but stop before making the final return stitch. 

You should have 2 loops left on your hook — the working loop and the first loop collected on the forward pass.

Work the FeRetS as the final return stitch. 

1. Temporarily remove the working loop (i.e. the loop closest to the tip) from your hook and hold it with your thumb and finger from your non-hook hand (the hand holding your work) — make sure to leave the final (end) loop on the hook.
2. With the tip of your hook, pick up the outside edge loop from the row below (you should now have 2 loops on your hook).
3. Place the working loop back on the tip of the hook (3 loops on hook).
4. Yarn over and pull through all 3 loops, while making sure the final 2 loops don’t swap order.

A small example pattern

Coming soon — watch this space!

Credit for original idea

I do not claim the idea for the special return stitch as my own, but I really wanted to share it with you — it has been a game-changer for me. Here’s a big shout-out to Annette for the original inspiration.