Tunisian crochet has been on my “must-try” list for a while now, and I finally decided to start with a throw pillow. Because why start small when you can immediately attempt home décor, right?

The pattern is the Penthouse Throw Pillow Cover by Toni Lipsey from TL Yarn Crafts. (Seriously, if you haven't checked out her designs, go do that—they’re so good.) The pattern is beginner-friendly and even comes with a video tutorial that walks you through all the basics, including mysterious terms like “forward pass” and “return pass.”

Now, when I first read those terms, my brain immediately went to sports. And as someone who is not a sports person, you can imagine my confusion. (True story: a coworker recently asked me to “pinch hit” for her, and I just stood there like, “Excuse me? You want me to what?”) But Tunisian crochet terms aside, I was ready to give it a go—sports references and all.

Yarn + Tools: A Learning Curve

The pattern recommends Bernat Maker yarn, but I couldn’t find it at my local Michaels, so I grabbed some yarn from my local dollar store that seemed like it might work. Spoiler alert: It did not.

The yarn was on the lighter side and a bit tricky to work with, plus my Tunisian crochet hooks—an inexpensive wooden set I found on Amazon—weren’t as smooth as I’d hoped. The yarn fibers would snag on the hook, making the process slower and more frustrating than expected to the point that I could not actually start. But hey, it was my first project, and I didn’t want to splurge on fancy tools until I knew I liked Tunisian crochet.

After a bit of trial and error (and some deep breaths), I switched to a bulky yarn from my stash. Much better. The thicker yarn paired well with the wooden hook, and suddenly, everything started to flow. Pro tip: If you’re just starting out with Tunisian crochet, go for smooth, easy-to-work yarn—it makes a huge difference.

The Process: Learning as I Go

Once I found my rhythm, the project became really enjoyable. The pattern itself is straightforward, and Toni’s video tutorials were super helpful, especially for explaining those forward and return passes (which, thankfully, required zero sports knowledge).

One of the things I loved most was the woven look of the stitches—it adds such a cozy, textured vibe to the pillow. Plus, the repetitive nature of Tunisian crochet is incredibly relaxing once you get the hang of it. It’s like regular crochet’s laid-back cousin who’s all about slow, meditative stitches.

The Finished Pillow: Success!

After a few evenings of stitching I had a finished pillow cover! It’s not perfect, but that’s part of the charm of a first project, right? I learned a new skill, used up yarn from my stash, and now have a stylish handmade pillow to show for it.

Would I recommend this pattern to other beginners? Absolutely. It’s simple, quick, and a great introduction to Tunisian crochet. Plus, it gave me the confidence to keep exploring this technique—and maybe even invest in some nicer hooks next time.

Side note: I did deviate from the original pattern and made the pillow cover one piece with an envelope-style closure.

Final Thoughts + Tips for Fellow Beginners

• Choose the Right Yarn: Go for a smooth, medium-weight yarn that won’t snag on your hook. It makes the process so much more enjoyable.

• Use the Video Tutorials: Don’t skip them—they’re a lifesaver when learning new stitches.

• Embrace the Learning Process: It might not be perfect the first time, but every stitch is progress.

So there you have it—my first Tunisian crochet adventure! If you’ve been curious about trying this technique, I highly recommend giving the Penthouse Throw Pillow Cover a shot. And who knows? You might just fall in love with Tunisian crochet like I did.