Crochet guide
Which crochet stitch to use
Choose a stitch by what the project needs from its fabric. Tall and open stitches drape. Short, tight stitches are firm. Ribbing stretches. Closed, thick stitches are warm. This guide matches each need to stitches you can learn on this site.
On this page 9 parts
Choose by what the fabric has to do
Stitch names on this page are United States terms, with the United Kingdom name in brackets where it differs.
| The project needs | Look for | Stitches to try |
|---|---|---|
| Drape: a fabric that hangs and folds | A tall or an open stitch | Double crochet (UK treble crochet), V-stitch, moss stitch |
| Firmness: a fabric that keeps its shape | A short, tight stitch | Single crochet (UK double crochet), waistcoat stitch |
| Stretch | Ribbing, worked in the back loop only | Back loop and front loop |
| Warmth | A closed, thick fabric | Blanket stitch, waffle stitch |
| No holes | A closed stitch | Single crochet, moss stitch, lemon peel stitch |
| Both sides alike | A stitch with no raised side | Moss stitch, basketweave stitch |
| Less yarn | A tall stitch. Short stitches and thick, textured ones take more yarn for the same area. Take it as an estimate. | Double crochet, V-stitch |
| A hat with a snug fit | Ribbing, which stretches to fit | Ribbing, worked in half double crochet (UK half treble crochet) in the back loop only |
| Rows that grow quickly | A tall stitch: each row adds more height | Double crochet, treble crochet (UK double treble crochet) |
| A picture from a graph | One square of the graph worked as one stitch, or as one block | Single crochet, a stitch to a square; corner to corner, a block to a square. See how to read a crochet graph. |
Two things change any stitch. A larger hook loosens the fabric and adds drape. A smaller hook tightens it. And many textured stitches have a right side and a wrong side: bobbles, for one, stand out on one side only.
Scarves
A scarf is a long rectangle that is wrapped and folded, so its drape matters. Moss stitch and V-stitch both drape well. Single crochet is stiffer. If you want the scarf to look the same from either side, moss stitch does that too.
Hats
A hat has two jobs. The body should be closed and warm, and the brim has to grip. Ribbing worked in the back loop only is stretchy and springs back, which is why so many brims are ribbed. For a hat worked in the round, camel stitch is one choice. If a hat comes out the wrong shape or size, see why a crochet hat comes out wavy, pointy or too big.
Dishcloths
Dishcloths are small and quick, and most are made in cotton yarn, which soaks up water. Many cloths are made in a stitch with some texture. Moss stitch is one common choice. See the dishcloth patterns.
Blankets
Blankets have a page of their own: crochet stitches for blankets compares ten stitches.
Bulky yarn
Thick yarn makes large stitches. One stitch that is often suggested for chunky yarn is the camel stitch, a half double crochet (UK half treble crochet) worked into the third loop, which gives a fabric that looks knitted. Start from the hook size the yarn's label suggests, and go up if the fabric feels stiff.
Variegated yarn
Yarn that changes color often is busy by itself. Simple stitches tend to suit it: in a fancy stitch, the shape of the stitches can get lost among the colors. Moss stitch is the usual stitch for planned pooling, where the color changes are made to line up into a pattern.
Before you commit
Make a swatch in the yarn and hook you mean to use, and see how the fabric hangs before you start the real thing. Crochet gauge shows how to make and measure one.
Where to go next
- Browse all the crochet stitches, grouped by the kind of fabric they make.
- For a blanket, go to crochet stitches for blankets.