Texture · Easy
Crunch stitch
Crunch stitch is a slip stitch and a half double crochet (UK half treble) taking turns along the row. In the next row each slip stitch goes into a half double crochet and each half double crochet into a slip stitch. The result is a tight, pebbly fabric.
How to work it
A half double crochet into the flat stitch
The next stitch of the row below is a slip stitch. Work a half double crochet into it: yarn over, put the hook in, pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through all three loops. The picture shows the pair.
The stitch pattern, row by row
- Multiple
- Chain a multiple of 2 plus 1 (7 or more).
- Starting chain
- The rows here are written for a chain of 21, which is 10 times the multiple of 2, plus 1.
- The ch 1 at the start of a row does not count as a stitch.
- Row 1 is the right side.
- The slip stitches of this pattern are part of the fabric: each is counted and the next row works into it. Keep them loose.
- Foundation. Ch 21.
- Row 1 (RS). Sl st in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in next ch, [sl st in next ch, hdc in next ch] 9 times (10 sl sts, 10 hdc).
- Row 2. Ch 1, turn; [sl st in next st, hdc in next st] 10 times (10 sl sts, 10 hdc).
Repeat row 2 for the pattern.
What each symbol meansHow to read a chart
Abbreviations in these rows
- ch
- chain stitch
- sl st
- slip stitch
- hdc
- half double crochet (UK half treble)
- RS
- right side
- st
- stitch
At a glance
- Used for
- washcloths, potholders and other things that should be firm and hard-wearing
- Multiple
- The chain is a multiple of 2 plus 1 (7 or more).
- Row repeat
- Row 2.
- Made of
- Slip stitch and half double crochet
- Where the stitches go
- A slip stitch into each half double crochet, a half double crochet into each slip stitch
- Start and end of a row
- A row begins with a chain 1 that does not count and a slip stitch in the first stitch, and ends with a half double crochet in the last stitch.
A slip stitch is the shortest stitch there is, and here it stands beside a taller one all along the row. The fabric that comes of it is tight and firm, with a surface that looks crunched.
The rows here begin with a chain 1 that does not count and work the pairs right across. Many published crunch stitch rows begin with chain 2 instead: that chain stands for the first half double crochet, and the last slip stitch of the next row goes into the top of it. Rows of the same two stitches that begin with chain 1 are also published as even moss stitch.
Every row is the same row, worked from each side in turn, and the two sides of the fabric look the same.
When it goes wrong
- I have two of the same stitch side by side.
- One stitch went into the wrong kind. Look at the row below: each tall stitch gets a slip stitch and each flat stitch gets a half double crochet.
- My stitch count changes from row to row.
- Count after each row: every row has the same number of stitches. The chain 1 at the start does not count, so the first slip stitch goes into the very first stitch.
Left-handed
The pictures show the hook held in the right hand. For the left hand, read each picture as its mirror image.
Questions
- Is crunch stitch the same as even moss stitch?
- Nearly. Both are slip stitch and half double crochet taking turns. Published rows called crunch stitch usually begin a row with chain 2, and those called even moss stitch with chain 1.
- How many chains do I start with for crunch stitch?
- A multiple of 2 plus 1. One chain is skipped at the start of row 1, which leaves an even number of stitches in every row.
- What do I need to know before I try it?
- How to chain, slip stitch and half double crochet. Nothing else is used.