Crochet Stitch Patterns:  Learn a new stitch or two here

Crochet stitch patterns have evolved over the years.  Becoming more intricate and beautiful.  Older crochet patterns were very lacey with many holes. 

Modern crochet designers learned to combine basic stitches to produce denser crochet fabrics.  More suited for colder climates.  Many crochet stitches have even been adapted to look like knitted stitches. 

Know that UK crochet terms differ from American terms.  So if you are looking at patterns know if it was written for the UK or US audience.  The patterns on this site are written with US terms. 

 There are six main types of basic stitches.

  • Chain (ch) How to Chain Video
  • Slip stitch (sl st)
  • Single Crochet (sc) (called double crochet in the UK)
  • Half Double Crochet (hdc) (called half treble stitch in the UK)
  • Double Crochet (dc) (called treble stitch in the UK)
  • Treble Crochet (called double treble in the UK)

The Magic Loop step by step

magic loopmagic loop

The magic loop is a technique used to make a starting circle. 

See how to do it.  

Learn 2 more ways to start a circle.  

How to make the Magic Loop Video

Other kinds of Crochet Stitch Pattern

Extensions of the basic stitches are made by looping over an additional time and pulling the yarn through one more time.  These extended stitches make a longer variation of the basic stitch. 

Basic and extended stitches can be worked in the front loop or the back loop. 

Basic stitches are further combined to make special stitch patterns.    Some of these patterns are:  

  • Alpine
  • Bobble (Bo)
  • Lemon Peal      
  • Moss (Granite)     
  • Star     
  • V Stitch      
  • Waistcoat      
  • Wave

Cluster Stitches (cl)

Cluster Stitches are comprised of several stitches worked in one base stitch or connected at the top into one stitch.

These are only a few of the more common clusters.

Popcorn Stitch (pc)

Making the popcorn StitchMaking the popcorn Stitch

Work the group of stitches (dcs are used in this example).

Then, remove the hook from the loop and insert it from the front through the two top loops of the first stitch, back into the loop.

Draw the loop through the two top stitches to the front. Pull on the yarn to cinch up the top of the cluster. The cluster of stitches will be raised. 

You can make Popcorn stitches from the front or backside of the work.  When making the backside popcorn insert the hook from the back of two top loops of the first stitch.

Popcorn stitchPopcorn stitch

Puff Stitch

puff stitchpuff stitch

Half Double Crochets are used in this example.

(Work an unfinished hdc by yo, insert hook into base stitch.

Pick up a loop and pull it through to the front.

Yo and pull through 2 loops only). This leaves 2 loops on the hook.   

Repeat ().  Now there are 3 loops on the hook.

Repeat (). Now there are 4 loops on the hook.

Yo, and draw through all 4 loops. Work 1 ch to secure the puff.

Puff stitch made.  

Pretty ClusterPretty Cluster Stitch Square

Shell Crochet Stitch Pattern

Crochet Shell StitchCrochet Shell Stitch
Crochet Shells StitchCrochet Shells Stitch

Shell Crochet Stitch Pattern looks like a fan because several double crochets are made in one stitch.  The top fans out, and the bottom is small as it is contained in the one stitch.

Crochet Shells BlanketCrochet Shells Blanket

You can make shells with half double crochet, double crochet, or treble crochet, but it's more often made with double crochet.  You can have as many double crochets in your shell as you like.  It is common to have 5 or 7 so that the succeeding row has a middle stitch of the shell to anchor to.

The Shell Crochet Stitch Pattern below is one of my favorite shell patterns.  It is a 2-row repeating pattern that is very versatile.  The stitch works up fast, and you can make blankets, scarves, hats, or anything else your creativity conjures. 

It can be a reversible pattern if worked back and forth.  However, even when you work it on one side, such as in the round for a hat, the shell pattern comes through on the wrong side. 

 Multiple of 6 +1

 1.        Ch 25. 

2.       1 sc in 2nd ch from hook.  {Sk2 st. 5dc in next st, sk2 st.  1sc in next st} to end.  Ch3. turn

3.       2dc in the base of ch.  {1sc in 3rd dc.  5dc in sc.} across.  End with 3 dc in last sc. 

4.       Turn, 1sc in 1st st.  {5dc in sc.  1sc in 3rd dc} across.  End with 1 sc in last st.

5.       Repeat Row 3

6.       Repeat Row 4

Continue pattern repeating rows 3 and 4 until you reach the desired size.  

Crochet Shells BlanketCrochet Shells Blanket

Crochet Stitch Techniques

In addition to the special stitch patterns, techniques have evolved to produce very interesting crochet fabrics.   A few of the more common techniques are:

Corner to Corner Crochet Stitch Pattern (C2C)

c2c crochet patternc2c crochet pattern

The Corner to Corner Crochet pattern (C2C)is created with incremental little blocks of 3 double crochet or 3 half double crochet.

It looks complicated but is super easy even for beginners.

Video Instructions of how to do C2C

Waffle Stitch Crochet Pattern

Waffle Stitch Crochet PatternWaffle Stitch Crochet Pattern

The Waffle Stitch Crochet Pattern makes a modern textured dense fabric with no holes.

It looks like a breakfast waffle.

Very three dimensional.

It is created with double crochet, front post double crochet and back post double crochet.  

It is an intermediary level stitch

Granny Squares, an old time favorite is new again

Granny Squares are square pieces of crochet fabric. Many squares are made and pieced together to form a garment, bag or any other item that you can conceive.

Its a great way to use up small pieces of left over yarn. Maybe that is why they have remained popular over the years.

Go look at the different squares here.  

Granny SquaresGranny Squares

Catherine Wheel Crochet Stitch Pattern

Catherine Wheel Crochet Stitch PatternCatherine Wheel Crochet Stitch Pattern

Catherine Wheel Crochet Stitch Pattern is a pretty and interesting crochet stitch to work with.

It is great for all kinds of blankets and scarves. 

 

Motif Crochet Pattern

Motifs are small crochet pieces that are joined together to make a whole item.  Therefore a Granny Square is a motif.  The two circles on the lower left above are motifs. 

However, in crochet when people speak of motifs, they are probably referring to small  pieces of fabrics made with crochet thread.

Mosiac Stitch Crochet Pattern

Mosiac Stitch Crochet PatternMosiac Stitch Crochet Pattern

Mosiac crochet patterns use various interlocking techniques to create a very dense fabric. 

It is usually done with different color threads for the pattern to stand out. 

 It creates very elaborate fabrics but is not difficult to master. 

Basketweave Crochet Pattern

Basketweave Crochet PatternBasketweave Crochet Pattern



Basketweave Crochet Pattern is a densely textured stitch. 

It is suitable for hats, scarves, blankets or whatever else you can come up with. 

Its a quick easy stitch to work up.  

Be aware - you will need more yarn than usual for a blanket of this size.  

To estimate how much yarn you will need, work a test swatch 5 inches square.  

This stitch is tops for Crochet Gifts for Men.  Scarves, blankets, hats come out great.  

Threes Crochet Stitch Pattern

This is one of my favorite crochet stitches. 

It is a beautifully textured, easy pattern and it works up quickly. 

It’s perfect for hats, scarves, blankets or anything else you can think of. 

 Multiple of 4 ch.

1.        3 dc in 4th ch from hook. {Skip 3 ch.  3dc in next ch} to end.   

2.       Chain 3.  Turn.   In 3 chain space work 1dc.  1 dc in the middle 3 chain below.  (bring dc to the height of previous dc.   1dc in 3ch space. 

Repeat Row 3 until size of garment achieved.

For the last row:

Ch 1. Sc in next 2 stitches

{1sc in the middle 3 chain below. 1sc in space to . 1sc in next 3 dc} to end. 

 

  • Lace
  • Tuisian
  • Filet
  • Amigurami

How to Crochet a Chain

All crochet patterns begins with a series of chains.  

1.  Hold yarn and make slip knot.

2. Pull new loop through the loop on the hook

3.  Repeat step 2 for each chain desired


How to crochet a chain Video

The Slip Stitch Explained

The slip stitch is the shortest of all crochet stitches. It is usually used to join end of rows or move yarn across a group of stitches without adding height.

To make it: Push the needle through the loop on the left to be closed. Hook the yarn and draw it through both loops on the needle.