May
Basic Stitches You Actually Need to Know
okay so single crochet is literally where you’re gonna start and I remember making this dishcloth in summer 2022 with Lily Sugar’n Cream (the yellow one) and just doing rows and rows of single crochet while watching Love Island. it’s the shortest stitch and you just insert your hook, yarn over, pull through, yarn over again and pull through both loops. that’s it. every pattern uses this as a foundation pretty much.
half double crochet is taller and you yarn over BEFORE you insert the hook which feels backward at first but then it clicks. you end up with three loops on your hook and pull through all of them at once. it works up faster than single crochet and has a nice texture that’s not too holey.
double crochet is what I use most honestly because it’s fast and looks good. yarn over, insert, pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through two, yarn over and pull through the last two. it makes a pretty standard fabric that’s not too dense. I made this whole blanket in spring 2024 using Red Heart Super Saver in like four different colors and it was just rows of double crochet but it looked intentional somehow.
treble crochet is tall and I don’t use it as much but it’s good for lacey stuff. you yarn over twice before inserting and then work off the loops in pairs. honestly it feels floppy to me most of the time.
Texture Stitches That Make Things Interesting
the moss stitch is just alternating single crochet and chain stitches and it creates this bumpy texture that I actually love. you work into the chain spaces on the next row instead of into the actual stitches. I made a baby blanket with this pattern during that whole breakup situation in fall 2023 and it was nice because you don’t have to think too hard, just alternate sc and ch1 over and over.
one thing that REALLY annoyed me about moss stitch though is that counting gets weird because are you counting the chains or just the single crochets? I kept losing track and ending up with uneven edges.
the lemon peel stitch is similar but you alternate sc and dc instead of using chains. it lays flatter and has a subtle texture. works great for washcloths or dishcloths when you want something that’s not completely smooth but also not super textured.
bobble stitches are fun but they eat up SO much yarn. you basically work like 5 double crochets into the same stitch but don’t finish them, keep them all on your hook, then yarn over and pull through everything at once. makes a little puff. I used these on a pillow cover with Caron Simply Soft in that grey color and my cat immediately claimed the pillow as his own so I guess it worked.
popcorn stitch is similar but you complete the stitches first, then remove your hook and insert it under the first stitch and pull the last loop through. it pops forward more than bobbles. honestly they’re kind of interchangeable in most patterns.
Shell and Fan Patterns
basic shell stitch is usually 5 or 6 double crochets worked into the same stitch. you skip a few stitches on either side so it actually looks like a shell shape. this works up pretty and looks fancy but it’s actually super easy once you get the rhythm.
I made a scarf with this pattern using some Bernat Blanket yarn (the teal colored one I think?) and it was so fast because the yarn is chunky and the shells make it go even faster. finished it in like two evenings while binge watching something on Netflix, can’t remember what.
the virus shawl pattern is technically a fan pattern and it went viral (haha) on like pinterest years ago. it’s just groups of double crochets that increase and decrease to make this wavelike shape. pretty straightforward once you understand the pattern repeat.
Catherine wheel is more complex and it combines shells with cluster stitches. you work shells in one row then kind of close them up with clusters in the next row. creates this really cool dimensional effect but you gotta pay attention because if you mess up the stitch count it all falls apart.
Lacey Open Stitches
the V-stitch is dead simple – just dc, ch1, dc all in the same stitch. then you work the next V into the chain space of the previous row. makes a nice open fabric that’s good for summer tops or light blankets. I used this with I Love This Yarn from Hobby Lobby (the cotton blend kind) for a beach cover-up type thing.
granny square is technically a pattern but also a stitch combination? it’s just groups of 3 double crochets with chains between them, worked in rounds. everyone knows granny squares. they’re great for using up scrap yarn and you can make literally anything by joining a bunch of them together.
filet crochet is where you make a grid of double crochets and chains, then fill in certain squares to create pictures or patterns. it’s more like following a chart than a written pattern. looks complicated but it’s actually just dc and chains, you’re either making an open space (dc, ch2, skip 2, dc) or a filled space (5 dc in a row).
I tried making a filet crochet curtain panel once with Red Heart Aunt Lydia’s crochet thread and honestly the thing that annoyed me most was how long it took, like I worked on it for weeks and— anyway I never finished it, it’s still in a bag somewhere.
Post Stitches for Texture
front post double crochet means you insert your hook around the post of the stitch from the previous row from front to back to front again. it makes the stitch stick forward and creates ridges. back post is the same but you go from back to front to back.
ribbing is just alternating front post and back post stitches. you usually work them in the same stitch as the previous row (fpdc over fpdc, bpdc over bpdc) to maintain the ribbed pattern. great for hat brims or the edges of sweaters.
basket weave uses blocks of front post and back post stitches to create a woven looking texture. usually you do like 4 fpdc then 4 bpdc across, then switch them on the next set of rows. looks really impressive but it’s just post stitches.
cables are similar but you skip stitches and work out of order to make the cables cross. there are front post stitches involved and you have to follow the pattern carefully but the effect is really cool, looks like knit cables.
Color Work Patterns
stripes are the easiest obviously, you just change colors at the end of rows. but you can do interesting stuff like carrying the yarn up the side or cutting it each time. I usually carry it if the stripe is coming back within a few rows.
tapestry crochet is where you carry both colors across every row and switch between them to create patterns. the unused color gets crocheted over so it’s hidden inside. makes a really thick fabric. you follow charts for this, each square is one stitch.
corner to corner (C2C) is worked diagonally in blocks and you can do color changes really easily. each block is just 3 double crochets. you increase until you hit your desired size then decrease. good for graphgans where you want to make pictures.
I made a C2C baby blanket in summer 2024 with Paintbox Yarns Cotton Aran (used like 6 different colors) and the color changes were so satisfying. just drop one color, pick up the next. my dog kept trying to steal the yarn balls though which was annoying.
Specialty Stitch Patterns
waistcoat stitch looks like knitting because you insert your hook through the vertical bar of the stitch instead of under the top loops. creates a really smooth dense fabric. it’s basically split single crochet worked in every stitch. I used this for a phone case once.
herringbone double crochet is where you yarn over, insert, pull up, then yarn over and pull through just the first loop, then yarn over and pull through both remaining loops. it creates this twisted look that leans diagonally. looks complicated but it’s just one extra step.
spike stitches are when you insert your hook into a row below the current row to create a long stitch that overlaps. you can do them in patterns to create stars or other shapes. the unused stitches behind them get skipped over.
crocodile stitch makes scales basically. you work around the posts of stitches from previous rows to create overlapping scale shapes. it’s fiddly and takes forever but looks really cool for dragon tails or mermaid blankets.
Tunisian Crochet Basics
okay so Tunisian is kind of different because you need a long hook and you keep all the loops on your hook for the forward pass, then work them off on the return pass. Tunisian simple stitch is the basic one where you pick up loops through the vertical bars.
it creates a fabric that looks sort of like knitting but denser. it curls like crazy though which is super annoying. you basically have to block everything you make or add a border to flatten it out.
Tunisian knit stitch is where you insert through the vertical bar from front to back like you’re knitting. Tunisian purl is when you bring the yarn to the front first. you can combine them for ribbing or other textures.
I made a scarf with Tunisian simple stitch using Wool-Ease Thick & Quick and it was nice and warm but yeah, the curling drove me crazy until I added a single crochet border all around.
How Patterns Actually Work
most patterns tell you the foundation chain, then explain what to do for row 1, and then there’s usually a repeat row that you do over and over. sometimes there are multiple repeat rows that alternate.
the thing is you gotta pay attention to whether it says “turn” at the end of rows or “join” if you’re working in rounds. I’ve messed this up before and ended up with a weird spiral when I wanted flat rows.
stitch counts are usually in parentheses at the end of each row. actually count your stitches, especially when you’re learning a new pattern. I know it’s boring but it saves you from having to rip out like 10 rows later when things stop lining up.
abbreviations can be different between patterns. sc is always single crochet but some patterns use tc for treble and some use tr. just check the abbreviations list at the beginning.
gauge matters more for clothing than for blankets or scarves. if the pattern says you need 4 inches = 16 stitches and you’re getting 4 inches = 20 stitches, your finished project will be way smaller. go up a hook size.
