Expand your Skill with Advanced Crochet stitches

These free crochet stitches will help you grow your library of stitches quickly. When you learn how to crochet and you have mastered the basic stitches, you might want to move on to more advanced stitches. Advanced crochet stitches are not as difficult as it seems or you might think. They are usually just a combination of basic crochet stitches and is great for meditative crochet.

You might feel overwhelmed by all the techniques and variations that are available. Not to worry, if you have been wondering how to do a specific stitch, you have come to the right place to learn and find crochet patterns for free.

Crochet is a fun and meditative craft. These are some of the most popular advanced stitches that use basic stitches.

Advanced Crochet Stitches

Advanced crochet stitches normally build on the basic crochet stitches. This could be that multiple stitches are worked into the same stitch, or multiple stitches could be worked across several stitches to create a special stitch.

Some stitches, like Star stitch and Catherine’s Wheel, use a combination of basic stitches. Follow these simple steps to learn how to crochet some of the most popular stitches. You can visit Knitpicks to purchase your hooks and yarns for your projects.

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Look out for the abbreviations that are used in this post at the bottom of the page, together with crochet patterns for free.

Moss stitch

Moss stitch is also known as Garter stitch. It is an easy stitch to learn and it uses single crochet and chain stitch as the two basic stitches. To crochet a sample piece, make a chain with an odd (uneven) amount of stitches.

• Row 1: Put a marker in the first ch from the hook, sc in the 3rd chain from the hook. * ch 1, skip next ch, sc in next ch. Repeat from * across the row, ch 1 and turn.
• Row 2: * sc in the next ch-1sp, ch 1. Repeat across the row. At the end of the row, make a sc in the stitch where the marker is (first remove the marker), ch 1 and turn.
• Row 3: Work across the row the same as in row 2 till the end of the row. Work the last sc in the turning chain of the previous row, ch 1 and turn.
• All subsequent rows are worked as row 3, until you have reached the required length. No turning ch is required in final row, break yarn and work away the ends.

The marker is an easy way to see which stitch to work into. But once you get the hang of doing moss stitch, you won’t need the marker. To crochet a baby blanket in moss stitch, is an easy pattern for beginners or any skill level and is a great stitch for meditative crochet.

Single Crochet Mesh Stitch

This is similar to moss stitch and only uses the basic stitches of single crochet (sc) and chain stitch (ch), but a different look is achieved. To start, make a chain with an odd number of stitches.

• Row 1: sc in the 3rd chain from the hook, * ch 1, skip next ch, sc in next ch. Repeat across the row, ch 1 and turn.
• Row 2: sc in first sc, skip next ch * sc in next sc, ch 1, skip next ch. Repeat across the row and end with sc in the last sc. ch 1 and turn.
• Repeat row 2 until you have the desired size. On the final row, don’t do the turning chain. Break off yarn and work away ends.

Tip for beginners: instead of making the last sc in the last sc, crochet the last sc into the turning ch. This might help you to achieve straighter edges.

Whichever way you opt for, just be consistent in what you do. Use either of these free crochet stitches to create interesting items.

V stitch

This is another very easy stitch that uses two basic stitches, double crochet and chain stitch. The basis that makes up a V stitch is a dc, followed by a ch, and another dc, all in the same space of the stitch. There are many variations and possibilities that you can construct with this.

Start with a chain that is a multiple of 3 plus 7.

To complete each V stitch, work 1 dc, 1 ch, 1 dc in the same stitch or space. To make a sample piece, make a chain with 22 stitches ((3 x 5) + 7).

• Row 1: dc in the 4th ch from the hook (this will count as the first dc in the row). ch 1, skip next ch, * dc in next ch, ch 1, dc in same ch, skip 2 chains. Repeat the sequence from * across the row. At the end of the row (when there are 4 ch left), ch 1, skip 2ch, then work 1 dc in each of the next 2 chain stitches. ch 3 and turn. In this sample piece there are 5 V stitches and the ends.
• Row 2: the turning chain makes up the first dc in the row. Dc in the next dc, ch 1, work 1 V stitch in each V stitch across the row. Ch 1, skip next ch, work 1 dc in each of the last 2 dc sets.
• Repeat row 2 until you have the desired size. Secure the last stitch and work away the ends.

V Stitch in Brick Repeat

There are many variations of the basic V stitch. In the Brick Repeat the construction is basically the same, but V stitches are repeated in a pattern that resembles brickwork, with V sts made in the space between the V sts in the previous row.

To make a practice piece, make a chain with a multiple of 3 plus 7. I used 22 stitches ((3 x 5) +7)

• Row 1: dc in the 4th ch from the hook (this will count as the first dc in the row). ch 1, skip next ch, * dc in next ch, ch 1, dc in same ch, skip 2 chains. Repeat the sequence from * across the row. At the end of the row (when there are 4 ch left), ch 1, skip 2ch, then work 1 dc in each of the next 2 chain stitches. ch 3 and turn.
• Row 2: the turning ch forms the first dc in the row. * dc in the space between 2 V sts, ch 1, dc in the same space. Repeat from * across the row, dc in the turning chain, ch 3 and turn.
• Row 3: dc in next dc, ch 1, continue with making V sts in the space between the V’s to the end of the row, ch 1, dc in the last dc, dc in the turning chain, ch 3 and turn.
• Continue to repeat row 2 and row 3 till the desired length. Finish without doing the final ch3. Break yarn and work away the ends.

Picot Edging

Picot is a simple edge that only uses chain stitch and single crochet to form a pretty round bump along the edge.

There are many variations and the basic picot is that from the point in the crochet that you want to have a picot, ch 3, insert the hook in the 3rd ch from the hook. Yarn over and pull the yarn through the stitch and the loop. It can be worked over any number of stitches, depending on how far apart you want the picots or bumps to be. Variation no. 1: To make a Picot edging on V stitch: The basis is that you sl st in the space between 2 v sts * sc in next V st, ch 3, sl st in 3rd chain from the hook, sc in same V st, sl st in space between 2 V sts. Repeat from * across the row and finish with sc. Break off yarn and work away the ends.

Variation no. 2: Make a picot edge after an additional row, so do the V st row or round first and followed by 2 rows.

• Next row: sc in space between the dc and V st of the previous row, * ch 3, sc in ch-1sp, ch 3, sc in space between 2 v sts, repeat from * across and at the end sc in turning chain, ch and turn.
• Next row: * sc in ch-1sp, ch4, sl st in 4th chain from hook, sc in same space, sl st in ch-1sp, repeat from * and finish with a sc. Break the yarn and finish the ends.

Use these crochet patterns for free to add trimmings with an edge of crochet. For example, napkins with a crocheted edge, or to make special gifts like a wedding present or birthday gifts.

Shell stitch

Shell stitch is a variety of different crochet stitches, rather than a specific stitch. Normally several basic crochet stitches, like double crochet or treble crochet, are worked together in a single stitch or space. This forms a shell shape.

So the shell shape of the stitch is narrow at the bottom where the stitches are worked together, and then fans out at the top.

Unlimited different effects and textures can be created by combining these free crochet stitches. Shell stitch is often worked in different colors to show up each shell and is another easy meditative crochet stitch.

To crochet a practice piece, make a chain with multiples of 6, plus 1 (so 26 ch or 31 ch etc.)

• Row 1: sc into the second chain from the hook, * skip the next 2 ch, dc into the next ch, and another 4 dc into the same ch (so that you have a total of 5 dc in the same stitch), skip next 2 ch, sc into the next ch. Repeat from * to the end of the chain and sc in the final ch. Make a turning chain of 3 stitches, which becomes the first dc of the new row. Turn.
  • If you are using different colors, then make the turning chain in the new color.
• Row 2: start with a half shell. 2dc in the first stitch. * skip next 2 stitches, sc in next dc (so the center stitch of the 5 stitch shell), skip next 2 stitches, 5dc in next sc. Repeat from * to the end of the row. 3dc in last sc to form another half shell. ch 1 and turn.
  • Change colors for the turning chain if you are using multiple colors.
• Row 3: sc in first dc, * skip next 2 dc, 5dc in sc, skip next 2 dc, sc in next dc (which is middle of the shell). Repeat from * to the end of the row, skip next 2 dc and sc in turning chain, chain 3 and turn.
  • Once again do the turning chain in a new color if you are using multiple colors.
• Repeat row 2 and row 3 until it has the desired length. Remember to change colors on the turning chain.
• On the final row, do not make the turning chain. Break off yarn and work away the ends.

Tip for beginners: when joining colors, crochet over the ends to secure them.

A single row of shell stitch makes a great edging for napkins or bed linen, or combine it with a picot edging to personalize gifts.

Seed Stitch

Seed stitch is another simple stitch that uses basic stitches of single crochet and double crochet and is suitable for beginners to try. Rows are worked alternating the two stitches in each row. The result is a dense fabric which is great for items where warmth is important, like blankets and accessories. Seed stitch is not too lacy or open.

For meditative crochet you want a repetitive stitch, and seed stitch is great for that.

To make a sample piece, make a chain with an odd number of stitches.

• Row 1: sc in the fourth chain from the hook, * dc in the next ch, sc in the next ch. Repeat from * across the row and end with sc in the last ch. Ch 3 and turn.
• Row 2: Work each row with dc in the sc below and visa versa. Ch 3 and turn.
• The ch 3 and the end of each row forms the first dc in each row.
• Continue until you have reached the desired length and finish with sc. Break yarn and work away the ends.

Seed stitch is a great stitch to use for potholders, blankets, scarves and other accessories.

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Abbreviations

These are the abbreviations that you will come across in these directions for free crochet stitches.

• ch = chain
• ch-1sp = chain – 1 space, which is the space that is created when there is a chain stitch in the previous row.
• dc = double crochet
• hdc= half double crochet
• sc = single crochet
• sl st = slip stitch
• st = stitch
• sts = stitches
• tr = treble crochet
• yo = yarn over

Textured Crochet Stitches are advanced stitches that add dimension and thickness to your projects.

I hope you will expand your skill with these free crochet stitches, but if you have any questions or suggestions about advanced crochet stitches, please leave them below and I will get back to you.