When you first learn how to crochet, there will be a few basic stitches that you will frequently use. You can create crochet projects of every shape and size using just these basic stitches.
If you are more adventurous, though, you will go on to learn a variety of advanced stitches, most of which are made using variations and combinations of the basic crochet stitches. You can purchase crochet stitch dictionaries, which are books that often have instructions for creating hundreds of different stitch variations.
In this glossary, you will learn about some of the most common crochet stitches that you are likely to encounter in your journey through the world of crochet. Note that the terms here are American crochet terms.
Getting Started
There are two important things that you will learn when getting started to crochet: chain stitch and slip stitch. Sometimes people forget these among the basic crochet stitches because they are used in so many patterns that they become second nature to crocheters.
Crochet Chain Stitch
The crochet chain stitch is made by doing a “yarn over” and “pull through.” Keep repeating this to keep growing the chain.
This is used to create the foundation chain that is used at the beginning of many different crochet projects. It is also used to create the turning chain that is used to begin new rows/rounds of crochet.
In rare instances, the crochet chain stitch may be used as a design detail on a more advanced crochet pattern.
Crochet Slip Stitch
The crochet slip stitch is made by inserting the hook into a stitch, doing a “yarn over,” and then doing a “pull through” both of the loops that are on the hook. This creates a very short stitch.
It is most commonly used to join together stitches when working in the round, allowing you to close the circle on that round.
However, it can also be worked across the row; this is often seen when using slip stitch as a crochet edging or when using slip stitch to join two motifs together in crochet.
It is difficult to work multiple rows of slip-stitch crochet into each other, but it can be done. Slip stitches are also used in surface crochet, which is a type of embroidery added to crochet fabric.
Basic Crochet Stitches
In addition to crochet chains and slip stitches, there are four crochet stitches that are considered the basic – most common – crochet stitches.
These are single crochet, half double crochet, double crochet, and treble crochet. These crochet stitches are all variations on each other, increasing in height from single through treble.
Single, double, and treble crochet are worked almost exactly the same except that each is taller than the one before; half double crochet is worked slightly differently but creates a stitch that is halfway in height between single and double crochet and is a commonly used crochet stitch. Learn how to crochet basic stitches here.
Single Crochet
Single crochet is created when you insert the hook into a stitch, yarn over and pull through, yarn over again and pull through both loops on the hook. (You’ll notice that this is similar to crochet slip stitch but includes an extra yarn over, which adds height.)
Half Double Crochet
In half double crochet, you yarn over first, then insert the hook into the stitch, yarn over and pull through, yarn over again and pull through all three loops on the hook.
(The extra loop in comparison to single crochet is created because you did an extra yarn over at the beginning of the stitch.)
Double Crochet
Double crochet is created when you yarn over, insert the hook into the stitch, yarn over and pull through, yarn over and pull through the first two loops on the hook, and then yarn over and pull through the remaining two loops on the hook.
Treble Crochet
In treble crochet, you yarn over twice before inserting the hook into the stitch, then you yarn over and pull through, yarn over and pull through the first two loops on the hook, yarn over and pull through the next two loops on the hook, then yarn over and pull through the remaining two loops on the hook.
You will notice that this is almost the same as the double crochet stitches, except that you have an extra yarn over at the beginning, which creates an extra “yarn over and pull through two loops” at the end, and this adds height in comparison to the double crochet.
Taller “Basic” Crochet Stitches
You can continue the same pattern that increased a “double crochet” to a “treble crochet”(add additional yarn overs at the beginning, which adds additional ‘pull through two loops’ at the end) to create taller and taller crochet stitches.
You can make them as tall as you want, expanding on the basic crochet stitch. You don’t see these stitches as often, but they do occur, especially the double treble crochet (begins with three yarn overs) and the triple treble crochet (four yarn overs).
The next few would be the quadruple treble (five yarn overs to begin) and the quintuple treble crochet stitch.
Advanced Crochet Stitches
Once you have learned the basic crochet stitches, there are many different advanced crochet stitches that you can learn. Most of these build upon the basic stitches. Sometimes , it involves working multiple stitches into the same stitch, as is the case with crochet v-stitch and shell stitch. Sometimes it requires working multiple stitches across several stitches – either to create one new stitch (as with crochet clusters) or to create an advanced stitch pattern (as with crochet seed stitch).
Textured Crochet Stitches
There are a set of advanced crochet stitches that add a lot of texture to a piece. They may be created individually as a design detail, or they may be worked in rows or rounds for a very dense textured fabric.
The most common textured crochet stitches are crochet bobbles, puff stitches, and popcorn stitches. Additional stitches that fall into this category are post stitches and bullion stitches.
Crochet Bobble Stitch
A bobble stitch is created when you work a group of stitches into the same stitch, joining them at the top and the bottom. This is done by beginning each stitch, but not quite finishing it before starting the next stitch, then finishing them all together at the end.
You can make bobble stitches in different heights (single crochet bobbles, double crochet bobbles, for example) as well as in different widths (5 dc bobbles vs 7 dc bobbles, for example).
Crochet Puff Stitch
The crochet puff stitch is a variation on the bobble stitch. It is smaller and narrower.
There are a few different variations out there, but commonly this would be a bobble created using 3 dc or 3 hdc stitches joined at the top in the manner of a bobble stitch.
Crochet Popcorn Stitch
Like the bobble and the puff stitch, the popcorn stitch is created when you work a group of crochet stitches into the same stitch and join them at the top.
The difference is that with popcorn stitch, you will complete each of the stitches and then use a unique method to make the join at the top.
So, for example, you will make 5 dc into the same stitch, and then you will remove the hook from the last stitch, insert it into the first stitch, re-insert it into the last stitch and slip stitch them together to make the join.
The result is similar to a crochet bobble with just a slight variation in the texture or protrusion of the stitch. As with bobbles, popcorn stitch can be made in different heights and widths.
Crochet Post Stitches
Crochet post stitches are stitches that are worked around the post of the stitch below rather than into the loops of the stitch below. Front post crochet stitches are worked around the front of the post; back post crochet stitches are worked around the back.
The name of the specific stitch depends on the height of the stitch and its placement, so if you work a double crochet stitch around the front of the post, then you’ll have a front post double crochet. If you work a treble crochet stitch around the back of the post, then you create a back post treble crochet.
Crochet post stitches are used in basketweave crochet and crochet cables, among other stitch patterns.
Crochet Bullion Stitch
The bullion stitch is a fun, highly textured crochet stitch that takes a little bit of practice because it’s hard to get the tension right to get the stitch to come out well. Basically, you wrap the yarn around the hook (make many “yarn overs”), then insert the hook into the stitch, yarn over, and pull through all of the various wraps that are on the hook. You can make a bullion with as little as three yarn overs or as many as ten or more, although often they are done with 5-9 “wraps.”
Other Advanced Crochet Stitches
In addition to the textured crochet stitches, there are a number of popular advanced crochet stitches that don’t necessarily add a lot of texture (although they may add some, as is the case with a crochet cluster stitch) but add interesting detail. Here are some of the most common advanced crochet stitches:
Crochet Cluster Stitch
The cluster stitch is sometimes considered a textured crochet stitch because it can have a bit of the “puff” of a popcorn or a bullion, depending on how it is made.
The primary difference is that a cluster is created across multiple stitches rather than worked into one stitch. So, for example, a 3 dc cluster would consist of three double crochet stitches, each worked into consecutive stitches from the row below, then joined at the top.
This effectively turns three stitches into one, making it a form of decreasing in crochet as well as a specific stitch type.
One Loop Crochet Stitches
Whereas crochet post stitches are worked around the posts, most stitches are worked through the loops.
However, you don’t have to work everything through both loops (which is the common way of doing it). You can work through the front loop only or the back loop only to completely change the look of a stitch.
In half double crochet, you can even work through the third loop only to create a knit-like fabric. The stitch is named by its height and its placement (for example, front loop only double crochet or back loop only single crochet).
Crochet Shell Stitch
The crochet shell stitch is an extremely popular crochet stitch that has many, many, many variations. There are typically whole chapters dedicated to crochet shell stitches in stitch dictionaries.
Basically, though, the shell stitch is often created by working a set of stitches into the same stitch – enough stitches so that they fan out and create a “shell” shape, a shape often then exaggerated by working short stitches, such as single crochet stitches, into the stitch before and after the shell.
For example, you might work a single crochet, then work five double crochet into the next stitch, then work a single crochet into the next stitch; this creates a 5 dc shell.
Variations include not only height (half double crochet shells) and width (7 dc shells) but also sometimes working multiple stitch heights in one stitch (sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc all in the same stitch) or across multiple stitches (that same pattern with each stitch in its own stitch, repeating across a row.)
Whenever you see a shell stitch in a crochet pattern, make sure that you read the crochet designer’s instructions to see what form of the stitch they are using (which is good advice for any advanced crochet stitch).
Crochet V-Stitch
The crochet v-stitch is a very popular crochet stitch. Typically it is worked by making 1 dc, 1 ch, 1 dc all in the same space (creating what looks like a v because there are two double crochets that are together at the bottom but separated by a chain at the top).
Variations include adding an additional chain (1 dc, ch 2, 1 dc) as well as changing height (using treble crochet instead of double crochet, for example) or changing width (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc).
Crossed Crochet Stitches
Crossed stitches are created when you skip a stitch, work a stitch, then cross back over and work a stitch into the space that you skipped.
For example, in a crossed double crochet, you skip one, double crochet in the next, then double crochet in the skipped stitch. Sometimes you will skip more than one stitch before working back.
Crossed crochet stitches are often used when creating crochet cable patterns.
Advanced Crochet Stitch Patterns
There are some advanced crochet stitches that only develop when worked across entire rows or sets of rows.
For example, seed stitch is created when you alternate single and double crochet across a row, typically for several rows where single crochet is worked into double crochet in the row below and vice versa.
If you simply worked a single crochet next to a double crochet in a pattern, you wouldn’t call this seed stitch (as compared to a v-stitch which is always called a v-stitch even if it’s just worked into the row once.) It’s the repeat that makes the stitch pattern.
Here are some popular advanced crochet stitch patterns:
Crochet Seed Stitch
As explained, crochet seed stitch is sc, dc alternated across a row. In the next row, the sc will be worked into a dc from the row below and vice versa.
You can also do a variation on this stitch called the extended seed stitch, in which you work hdc and treble crochet stitches instead of sc, dc.
Crochet Moss Stitch
The crochet moss stitch, also sometimes called the crochet granite stitch as well as the linen stitch, is similar to the seed stitch except that instead of alternating single crochet and double crochet, you are alternating single crochet and chain stitch. Single crochet stitches are worked into the chain stitches of the row below.
Crochet Wattle Stitch
The crochet wattle stitch is worked by making 1 sc, ch 1, 1 dc all in the same stitch, skipping two chains, and repeating all of this across a row.
In the next row, you’ll work the 1 sc, ch 1, 1 dc into the chain spaces of the previous row.
Crochet Daisy Stitch
This crochet stitch, also sometimes called crochet star stitch, is worked by joining a set of stitches together, then working the next group into the join.
Crochet Wave Stitch
As with many of the advanced crochet techniques, the crochet wave stitch can be made in many different ways.
Basically, though, what you are doing is working a set of short stitches followed by a set of taller stitches and then repeating that across the row to create an undulating design, an effect that is heightened when you work the rows in different colors.
Crochet Cable Stitch
There are many varied ways to crochet cables, and it can take entire books or classes to learn them. Typically, though, crochet cables are worked using crossed stitches and often post stitches.
The idea is to have textured crochet stitches that cross over one another in a specific pattern that creates a raised design that looks similar to cables in knitting.
Advanced Crochet Techniques
Most of the crochet stitches that you will learn are created using variations and combinations of the basic crochet stitches.
However, there are also techniques that you can learn in crochet that use specific tools or specific strategies to create niches in the craft that are very different from the basics.
For example, you draw up huge loops onto a dowel in broomstick crochet, work with different materials in wire and bead crochet and use a special loom for hairpin lace.
Here are some common advanced crochet techniques that are interesting to learn:
Tapestry Crochet
Tapestry crochet is a form of colorwork in crochet in which multiple yarn colors are carried across the row, sometimes worked in front and other times in back, to create beautiful graphic designs.
Tunisian Crochet
Tunisian crochet is a niche of the craft that looks very similar to knitting. Instead of working one loop at a time, as is typical in crochet, you work many loops at once (as is done when you knit).
It typically uses a longer crochet hook – called a Tunisian crochet hook or an afghan crochet hook.
Tunisian crochet has its own set of crochet stitches (such as Tunisian simple stitch.) Entrelac crochet is another technique that usually uses Tunisian crochet for construction.
Wire Crochet
Crochet is typically done with yarn or thread. However, you can crochet with a whole range of alternative materials, from plastic to glass.
Wire crochet is most commonly used to create crochet jewelry, although it can also be used to create sculptures.
Bead Crochet
As the name suggests, you can crochet with beads. Of course, you don’t crochet the beads themselves, but instead, add the beads to the crochet to create a fabric that combines yarn and beads.
Bead crochet is common in crochet jewelry making but is also used in other accessories and garments.
Broomstick Lace
Broomstick lace is a specific type of crochet in which you draw up loops onto a dowel (or, originally, a broomstick) and then work back across to group them together into loops. This creates a very unique fabric.
Hairpin Lace
With hairpin lace, you combine the use of a crochet hook with the use of a specific type of loom to create a very lacy, beautiful fabric.
Solomon’s Knot
The Solomon’s Knot, also called Lovers Knot, is essentially created by drawing up tall loops and securing them with single crochet stitches. It is used to create a very openwork, lacy fabric.